Initiatives of Change USA Chooses Common House for New Office

August 20, 2021 

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 Dear Friends of Initiatives of Change USA,

 For more than a decade, our office has been located in the historic Bookbindery building at 2201 West Broad Street in Richmond, Virginia. At this location, we have been able to galvanize our peacebuilding programming and social justice work in the city and beyond in deeply profound ways. During the course of 2020’s dual pandemics of COVID-19 and racism, our team worked together remotely, determined to persevere and keep forging ahead with programming in a virtual landscape. 2021 finds us rebounding in new ways with a fresh lens towards imagination, possibility and collectivity.  

Therefore, we are excited to share a big update with you! Our office officially has a new address. Over the course of August 2021, we are transitioning our organization to Common House - a new, bustling cooperative working space in downtown Richmond’s Art District. Common House is “a gathering space on a mission to rebuild the social fabric of communities.” The flagship location began in Charlottesville’s historic downtown mall (2017) with the Richmond location opening in 2020 and another location in Chattanooga debuting in May 2021. 

WHY COMMON HOUSE?

We chose Common House as our new office for a number of reasons. Common House reflects valued commitments to “building a vibrant community that incorporates many different voices and perspectives” and demonstrating a sustained focus on BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and other underrepresented communities, particularly through monthly diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives including classes, seminars, and workshops plus creative art expressions from a wide range of voices (music, film, poetry, visual art and more). 

Moving our office to Common House allows us greater opportunity to build relationships with a widely expansive network of social organizations, enterprises and individuals based in Richmond or transiting through the city. This also provides space for deeper cooperative building, learning, resource sharing and growth not only for our organization but what we can potentially accomplish together with our local and international community partners. Our new office space is still very accessible to public transportation and there is an ADA entrance and elevators for use. 

The images above are from the Common House website.

Got more questions? We have answers. Here are some FAQs we’d like to share about our upcoming move below.

 Can visitors stop by IofC USA’s office at the Common House?

We are happy to welcome old and new friends alike. However, please note that our organization is on a flexible, teleworking schedule. Therefore, we ask that you visit our calend.ly team page, to schedule meetings with our Richmond-based team members who are also working from home some days of the week. On our team page, you may also schedule virtual meetings with our team members based outside of Richmond and internationally. To protect the health and safety of our team members, please note that there is a mask policy in effect for visitors to our office even if you are fully vaccinated. 

Will IofC USA resume physical programming and events?

This is a question our staff and board are currently considering very closely. It is of utmost importance to us to ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of our team, alumni and community partners, and we continue to monitor recommendations by the CDC and follow those protocols and guidelines. At this time, we will continue to focus on virtual programming and events and limit domestic and international travel. Any updates in this regard will be shared via our website and email newsletter.

Have the IofC USA Archives also moved to the new office?

A majority of our IofC USA Archives have been moved to a secure, temperature-controlled storage facility located near our new office at Common House. Over the next year, an online repository is being organized and curated that will include press and media files from the IofC USA Archives, including photographs, articles, news clippings and commentaries.

Where can I send mail to the new office?

We will accept mail at the following address: Initiatives of Change USA, P.O. Box 11304, Richmond, VA 23230.

How do I contact the team for additional information?

Feel free to email us at info.us@iofc.org. You can also visit our website at us.iofc.org for more information and to sign up for the IofC USA newsletter.