North Shore CDC's Crowdfunding Campaign Raises $40,000

North Shore CDC recently reached their crowdfunding campaign goal, raising $40,000 for their new community space - Espacio. This 60-day campaign on Patronicity exceeded their original goal of $30,000 and reached their stretch goal of $40,000. The local nonprofit also became one of the crowdfunding site’s to have the highest number of donors - 372 in total.

Located on Congress Street in Salem’s Point Neighborhood, this dynamic and vibrant space will provide free programming for Salem’s residents and offer a beautiful space for private events. The programming offered to residents of all ages and neighborhoods from Salem, and will include the following: public work and meeting space, dance, art, fitness and sewing classes, healthy and budget cooking classes, reading clubs and a Dominos club, job search assistance, ESL classes, health insurance application assistance, naturalization classes and legal services, first time homeownership workshops, and tax preparation assistance.

“We are ecstatic with the outpouring of support for Espacio,” said North Shore CDC CEO, Mickey Northcutt. “Before this campaign, we knew Espacio would provide Salem residents with meaningful programing, but now it will be housed in a vibrant space that is reflective of the dynamic character of the Point neighborhood."
The stretch goal amount allows North Shore CDC to add new street art on their other owned buildings in the Point Neighborhood this summer. These new murals will achieve the same goals as Espacio – to deeply engage Point residents and to create opportunities within the Point for residents of the broader community to come visit.

There is currently no community space in this area, and, while there are a couple of meeting rooms which are available to the community during limited times, they do not have amenities such as a kitchen facility, much less direct programming.

“Having grown up in Salem’s Point Neighborhood, I’ve seen the need for a dynamic community space like this. Being a part of this neighborhood transformation and collaborating with different organizations to provide free, meaningful programs for our residents is a wonderful thing,” said Rosario Ubiera-Minaya, North Shore CDC’s Chief Programming Officer.

For more information on Espacio or to learn how you can make a donation, please contact Abbie Allenson at Abbie@northshorecdc.org or 978-825-4004.