Welcome!
We Are So Happy You Are Here
"A Call-In Is Actually A Call-Out Done With Love And Respect"
-Loretta Ross
Our Mission
Our mission is to foster inclusive spaces for all by creating welcoming, community-centered programs that empower youth and adults alike.
Our Vision
We envision a community where every person feels safe, valued, and connected through accessible and inclusive gathering spaces.
DISCLOSURE:
We want to just say up front, we do not know all there is to know about
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION and Belonging.
We are a group of community members that have a passion to learn more about those topics and to apply what we learn to the St. Johns community to make a positive impact.
Third Place
Safe Space
"I would like the Third Place Center to represent the support system that so many LGBTQIA+ youth are devoid of. While some people may be sympathetic to the struggles of queer youth, they will never be able to empathize. The Third Place Center provides an opportunity that many young people who are LGBTQIA+ identifying are not fortunate enough to have—the opportunity to further explore themselves and their identities in a truly supportive and understanding place."
-Darcy Kramer
SJ Call-In Coalition Member/Amazing Human
Our Story
The SJ Call-In Coalition was founded in St. Johns, Michigan, in response to a desire to create meaningful change at the local level. The Coalition's early work grew out of conversations about racism, inequity, belonging, and the ways national social justice issues were also reflected within our own community.
From the beginning, the goal was not simply to call attention to problems, but to “call people in”—creating opportunities for education, conversation, connection, and community action. The Coalition has continued to evolve by listening to residents, identifying gaps in the community, and developing programs in response to those needs.
Over time, our work expanded beyond community education to include youth development, inclusion and belonging, mental wellness, prevention, creative expression, and community connection. This has included initiatives such as Upstanders youth programming, Third Place youth gatherings, creative writing and poetry programs, Community Pride, community education efforts, and the development of a community labyrinth.
Youth have become an especially important part of the Coalition's work. Through our programs, we have seen how much young people value opportunities to create, connect, develop relationships with supportive adults, express themselves, and have a voice in their community.
Increasingly, our work seeks not only to create programs for young people, but to create opportunities with them and led by them.
Collaboration has also been central to the Coalition's development. We have worked alongside libraries, schools, prevention organizations, local businesses, nonprofits, community members, funders, volunteers, and other partners. These relationships allow a small, grassroots organization to extend its reach and respond creatively to emerging community needs.
Like many grassroots organizations, the Coalition has changed as we have learned. Some initiatives have grown, others have concluded or evolved, and new ideas have emerged from what participants and community partners have taught us. We view that adaptability as an important part of community-based social work.
Today, the SJ Call-In Coalition continues to explore how we can create sustainable, accessible, community-led opportunities for connection and belonging while increasing opportunities for young people to participate in shaping the community in which they live.
Our work continues to be guided by a simple question:
What can we do, together, to help more people feel safe, valued, connected, and that they belong in their community?
