Avalon Village

Avalon Village is a self-sustaining eco village in Highland Park created by Mama Shu (a CNN Hero) in order to transform a blighted neighborhood into a safe, functional, family-oriented space. Avalon Village is a key partner in the Highland Park Community Crisis Coalition (HPC3.) They have always and continue to advocate for the residents of Avalon Street and greater Highland Park, as well as the senior buildings of Highland Park. They grow vegetables for the community in Geb's Garden. The garden consists of raised beds moved from Buckets of Rain (pictured right.)

The village encompasses an entire city block between Woodward Avenue and Second Street and currently owns 29 plots of land and five houses, including the Homework House. There are plans to acquire and revitalize additional properties and structures in the future.

Summer brings camp to Avalon village; D2N provides support for Music Camp. Music is a fine arts curricular that has been removed from public schools. Music Camp offers hand-on learning instruction in Music Theory and Composition, Instrumentation, Music History and DJ-ing and ends with a community recital to showcase newly-acquired skills.

The Homework House is an afterschool program for neighborhood children that provides tutoring and academic programs, healthy snacks and meals, and recreational activities. D2N provided funds to finish the roof, install drywall and insulation and buy general building materials. D2N also supplied computers for the Homework House.

D2N also worked with Avalon Village and Soulardarity to place five new smart, solar-powered streetlights on Avalon. The streetlights also serve as a WIFI hub for a few-block radius.