COhatch has opened its new location in Duluth, bringing with it a strong commitment to community engagement and impact. One of the first GIVE scholars at this location is Rainbow Village, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of families experiencing homelessness. Rainbow Village’s comprehensive approach to support and heal aligns closely with COhatch’s ethos of strengthening communities and creating positive social impact.

Rainbow Village focuses on providing help, hope, housing, and healing to families facing homelessness. Their programs address a wide range of needs, including family stability, well-being, financial management, education, training, and employment and career development. Their mission is to help families rebuild their lives with the goal of instilling initiative, self-development, and accountability, fostering meaningful growth for all involved.

Our Head of Impact, Dave Anderson, had the opportunity to speak with Michelle Alcorn, who has been involved with Rainbow Village since 2005. Her journey began as a volunteer, inspired by a story she heard during a life skills class at Rainbow Village. One of the residents shared her experience of living in her car with her children, driving around at night to find a safe place to park. The story moved Michelle deeply, motivating her to dedicate herself to Rainbow Village as a “full-time” volunteer.

However, in 2016, as her children moved on to college, Michelle realized she needed to seek employment to help cover their tuition costs. She informed Rainbow Village that she would have to reduce her volunteer hours. As fate would have it, a paid position opened up within the organization, perfectly suited for Michelle’s skills and passion. She became the Community Engagement Director, a role that has allowed her to continue supporting families in need while maintaining financial stability for her own family.

In conversation, Michelle highlighted an interesting parallel between COhatch and Rainbow Village. “COhatch takes forgotten buildings, sees the beauty in them, honors their creation, and helps them come back to life, stronger and showcasing all the forgotten beautiful parts. That’s what we do with families at Rainbow Village. We help people see the forgotten beautiful parts of their lives and bring them back to life, stronger, and better,” she explained.

This shared philosophy of renewal and transformation encapsulates what COhatch and Rainbow Village are all about. That’s why we call it the “Heart of COhatch.” With this kind of collaborative spirit, both organizations are sure to make a significant impact in the community, creating a brighter future for families in need.