CREATE Brookville: Fostering a Sense of Pride in the Community

BROOKVILLE, Pa. (EYT) – Like many small towns in Western Pennsylvania, Brookville is at a turning point where its young people can either grow up, move out, and move on – or come of age with a sense of pride and respect for their community that encourages them to stay and raise families in their hometown.

(Photo on right: CREATE Brookville members construct a newspaper fort at ART in the Park.)

CREATE (Community Resource Encouraging Artistic Talent and Education), Brookville, a local non-profit organization, was formed in 2011 by 15 locals dreaming of change in their community.

The organization specifically seeks to address the need to foster a sense of community among local young people through regular meetings, concerts, education in the form of workshops and camps, art exhibits, food and craft swaps, local artisan markets and various other means.

“Our formation was spurred by the desire to support the interests and endeavors of the people of the community of Brookville,” says Christine Hoffman, Vice President and Gallery Coordinator of CREATE Brookville.

Long-term, the organization hopes to ensure the improvement the Brookville community by fostering a sense of responsibility, respect, and pride among its residents. Additionally, the organization seeks to give young people a sense of achievement and success and to develop a love and desire for life-long learning in people of all ages.

In order to accomplish their goals, CREATE Brookville has sponsored various artistic and cultural opportunities and has collaborated with organizations such as the Brookville Area School District, Brookville YMCA, Rebecca M. Arthurs Memorial Library, Brookville Volunteer Fire Company, Pine Creek Volunteer Fire Company, and other organizations in various events to bring the community together through both ideas and experiences.

The organization has also worked to support artists and entrepreneurs through meet and greets, hosted an Earth day Clean-up, and worked with the local school districts and PATHS (Parents and Teachers Helping Students) to provide cultural programs to students and community members.

CREATE Brookville is currently working on several new events and projects, including their 5th Annual ART in the Park, a free and interactive experience to promote interdisciplinary aspects of both art and music.

Additionally, a kitchen project is in the works. Once the project is complete, it will offer a certified, fully operational kitchen for use in cooking classes, canning, home-brewing, wine making, and more.

“This space will provide aspiring chefs and home cooks the opportunities not only to express themselves in their own creative genre, but to try out a possible career or business choice without the overwhelming investment of overhead,” says Hoffman.

The kitchen space will be located in the CREATE Café, located at 168 Main Street in Brookville.

The café, which is managed and operated by the organization, is a coffee shop and gallery space that also serves to host multiple activities including book clubs, game nights, open mic nights, folk jam, fiddle jam, and more.

Open mic night at the CREATE Café.

Local individuals and businesses can become involved with the CREATE community for a donation of an amount of their choosing.

“Our philosophy is to remain donation based and to give individuals/families/businesses the opportunity to choose the amount and/or frequency of the gift,” said Hoffman. “Also, once a part of our community, always a part of our community; no matter the size of the contribution.”
Additional information about CREATE Brookville and a list of scheduled activities and events can be found at www.createbrookville.com.