I work with the Director to manage Programs, Initiatives, and Partnerships of the Sage Street Mill Project, including but not limited to: Soulspace Wellness Programs, professional training and mentoring, lofts and studio rentals, pop-ups, exhibitions, events, and entrepreneurial activities,.
Summer 2020
Developing the facility to multiple sectors, and managing the new digital branding, marketing, and online presence for the Sage Street Mill Project. The Mill has huge potential and contributing to its capacity building will bring various wonderful opportunities to the local community, and I’m hoping that our efforts will further develop the local sense of community and collectiveness. Through offering equitable opportunities for small businesses, young entrepreneur, college and high school students, independent contractors, and most importantly artists.
The Linley Foundation
Collaboration through consultation and creative production, with the Linley Foundation – non-profit based in Brazil and the US. On their upcoming campaign titled The America I Want Is, which is a social media project on a mission to bring dialogue in a form of talking circles to schools, higher-ed institutions, NGOs, the working space and more.
Green Mountain Aquaponics
Established a 2 year partnership with Green Mountain Aquaponics. An indoors urban family farm, based in Vermont that’s pioneering various techniques in producing the freshest herbs at the lowest cost of production. I launched their online shop and provided them with consultancy services on expanding their capacity for nationwide shipping. I found a great opportunity during COVID for these two entities to partner-up, the Mill has huge interest in combating food insecurity, and GMA needed to expand their production space, and have a costumer facing venue.
Winter 2021
Hosted Field Work Term Interns from Bennington College and collaborated on several projects around the Mill campus. The new(temporary) team members had the agency of choosing which creative projects that they would like to conduct around the facility. We designed 8 addition multi-purpose spaces, that are flexible to be re-arranged in different dimensions. This project helped with the launch of the Generator program that will host several artists and young entrepreneurs.
Summer 2021
Expanded the Summer Wellness Camps for Kids from 5 to 8 weeks after proving compliance with CDC procedures. Strategizing for multiple outreach plans for employment and camp registration. The camp is thematic based on the skills and passions of the people running it. In here I am experimenting with a model of no-hierarchy where the essential sessions that are tied to the camp philosophy will be given by one team member, while the other members have the agency of hosting their own programming. This strategy builds a team of counselors, rather than assigning ranks on them. Additionally, It will make the counselors more passionate about their work, and connected with the material. But most importantly, it will allow the children to experience wonderful programming brought by several people and organized by a group effort.
Exhibitions Launch
The Sage Street Mill’s open, multi-sector, and multi-disciplinary approach to programming allows for new ideas, perspectives, and forms in art and culture. We also provide much-needed exhibition space for artists, critics, scholars, students, and community organizations and are a vital supporter of arts and culture in the Southern Vermont area. Not only by providing space for local residents to express creativity, but the gallery also offers a welcoming center for community engagement, exploration, and enjoyment of contemporary art and cultural events. During the summer of 2021 we hosted 3 exhibits: Summer Joy; showing the connection between the artwork of a teacher and their students, Les Tres Hermanas: a feminist show bringing together 3 women artists, and Re-envisioning Renewables: a gallery show highlighting the progress of Vermont’s alternative sustainable models with partnership with Solar PowerGuru.
POP UP Launch
Multi-sector community events generating joyful and relaxing experiences, through local empowerment and family oriented programming! Ever heard of a place that promotes and generates art, green energy, cultural diversity, and microgreens? Here you can meet the Mill team, and our resident artists and neighbors. You can experience an intergenerational art exhibit, talk with an organic microgreens farmer, learn how to build a solar oven, and make Sun Prints! The only alternative market that doesn’t charge fees to organic farmers, and runs collaboratively on a weekly basis. This initiative have led us to receive the Mellon Foundation Award for fighting food insecurity in the Bennington region.
Ahmad Yassir 