134 Collaborative

134 Collaborative works to build collaborations for social good, operating with a mission to connect and integrate social change agencies and their communities under one roof in Downtown Providence. We are a secular, independent nonprofit currently housed in the historic Mathewson Street Church building. We operate on a shared space/shared service model which reduces costs and promotes collaboration among our partners. Services include hunger relief programs, free legal services, resources for those in need, promoting justice and the common good through organizing & advocacy and providing access to the arts. Our 5 year strategic plan includes goals of developing a team atmosphere among collaborative members that continuously searches for better ways to work together, maintain a philosophy of adaptability and innovation to better serve the complete and growing needs of collaborative members.

Our programs & services are focused on three areas: Health, Education and the Arts. The following programs support our goal of Healthy Living: *Hosting the Better Lives Community Meal every Friday to provide a health meal for those in need. *A monthly Health Clinic with Brown University Health. And, skin cancer screening clinics recently done with the Partnership for Cancer Prevention. *Distribution of fresh, local produce during harvest season in partnership with Hope's Harvest/Farm Fresh RI*Public bathrooms available to all when building is open. *Basic needs of toiletries, used clothing, emergency bus tickets, blankets. We partner with Amenity Aid and RI Coalition to End Homelessness and others who enable us to distribute these items. The following programs support our goal of Education: *Supporting Rhode Island Organizing Project which organizes people to promote justice and the common good. *Facilitating a monthly free legal clinic for homeless and low income individuals in partnership with Roger Williams University Law School and staffed by local volunteer lawyers, law students and the RI Public Defender's Office. The following programs support our goal of integrating the Arts: *Gallery Night Providence which allows us to highlight local, lesser known artists and their work and allow for access to the arts to all who come into our building *Tenderloin Opera Company, a theater training program that engages those who are homeless or have experienced homelessness in creating an annual "opera" that is written and performed by the troupe.*We have also support performances & socially engaged theater in our black box theater (e.g. Reverie Theatre, PVD CelloFest) that are open to all. In addition, 134 Collaborative is currently developing a new initiative to create a Nonprofit Hub in Providence to provide shared space & services for micro & small nonprofits. This initiative is in collaboration with the Alliance for Nonprofit Impact at the United Way of RI and local consultant, Michael Fournier.