Vermont Business Magazine At around 10 AM Saturday, August 10 on Ennis Hill Road in Marshfield, VT the 4,500 square foot Grassroots Center community space burned to the ground. No people or animals were inside at the time of the fire, which fully engulfed the building in minutes. Emergency personnel responded in full force and kept the blaze from spreading to any surrounding residences and outbuildings. Early evidence points to an electrical short as the likely cause of the structure fire.
“We are incredibly grateful that no one was hurt, that is the most important thing. The response from local fire departments and emergency responders from Marshfield, Cabot, Plainfield, East Montpelier, and Walden was fast and amazing. We can’t thank them enough.” Said Sarah Cofey, Board Member of the Grassroots Center.
The Grassroots Center is a social justice movement hub and hosts events and organizations centered around youth leadership, regenerative agriculture, racial equity, and climate justice. This month marks six years of local and international groups using the community space for events, workshops, art builds, concerts, and more.
The former dairy barn was a massive collective renovation effort, representing hundreds of volunteer hours on the building itself and the projects it housed. The Grassroots Center witnessed over half a decade of pivotal events like the Each One Teach One Encounter in 2024, where social movement leaders from six countries came together to work on a unified Food Sovereignty Movement for North and South America.
The Grassroots Center was a total loss, including the forestry, farming, construction, arts and office equipment and memories housed inside. The annual Uprise! Youth Action Camp, artists, musicians, and allied community organizations used the barn to create and store banners, art, instruments, and costumes. Just Construction, a volunteer construction team of builders and social justice organizers for People of Color-led organizations lost the majority of their equipment. Henry Harris, owner of the Grassroots Center farmstead and programs coordinator for the Center also lost all of his tools and equipment, his primary livelihood.
To support the Grassroots Center and Henry Harris as they work to recover and rebuild visit www.grassrootscenter.net.
Source: [Marshfeild, VT, August 11, 2024]
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