The Spark of Hudson is a hub for learning and community development in the Hudson Valley. It offers open-source learning and access to information to the Hudson community — while exploring new ways of living and working as a mutual aid network.
A community center, which is currently under construction, will allow visitors to share information and programming — offering an exchange of resources. Once completed, the center will also have a commercial grade kitchen for community use.
There are six branches to Spark of Hudson. Community Regen works to improve housing and transportation and has also piloted the Hudson UP and UBI Programs — a lottery program that offers 50 participants $500 each month for five years, for those who make less than median income.
The self-development branch offers resources from money management, building resilience, to guided meditation. There’s an arts and culture branch. The climate action branch focuses on sustainable building, building hempcrete cabins, and is dedicated to growing climate solutions. The entrepreneurship branch helps with ecosystem building. And Wally Farms, which is part of the agriculture branch, serves as a farm center and agritourism center. There’s also a container-farming project, growing food using hydroponics.
Spark of Hudson is currently offering free virtual programming.
On Saturday, October 9, is the virtual program “On Being of Service with Nova Scott James,” starting at 2 PM. The filmmaker, innovation doula, and community organizer, will lead this workshop on being of service to humanity for socially conscious artists and entrepreneurs.
On Tuesday, October 12, it’s “Investing 101 with Albert Wenger” at 6 PM. The workshop offers an introductory overview on investing for everyone, and also covers basic personal finance topics. Wenger is a managing partner of Union Square Ventures and also the co-founder of The Spark of Hudson and Wally Farms.
To follow on Instagram, visit @sparkofhudson.