The Village Revival Project

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The Village Revival Project A Transformative Justice initiative reviving the collective heartbeat of community through art.

This free Newark Arts Festival event invites you to witness, to feel and to reflect on this years theme— ON PURPOSE ✨✨ ...
10/08/2026

This free Newark Arts Festival event invites you to witness, to feel and to reflect on this years theme— ON PURPOSE ✨✨

Special shout out to Mia X, my long time community sister from Clinton Hill Community Action and Producer Marcus Beckett from for being dynamic partners with on this. Teamwork makes the dream work!!!

Particularly excited about bringing the city’s Arts & Culture practioners and the Community-based Violence Intervention/Prevention ecosystem together. This unprecedented marriage of resources, healing gifts and lived experiences is a piece of local history VRP is committed to contributing to our Village

Following the film screening, there will be an interactive workshop, healing circle and a family style meal featuring live violin by 🎻 Register and/or walk in on your Sunday Gallery crawl…

Registration Link: https://forms.gle/4z8v6egHgogaRK638

What does it mean for a community to WIN? (as brother Ryan Haygood always says) Not one person, one block, or one side– ...
10/02/2026

What does it mean for a community to WIN? (as brother Ryan Haygood always says) Not one person, one block, or one side– but all of us together ✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿

Join us for a screening of “From Love, We Heal” a filmed stage reading written by Alia Berry of The Village Revival Project and co-written by Margie ‘Mia X’ Johnson, The City of Newark Poet Laureate.

This free Newark Arts Festival event invites you to witness, to feel and to reflect on this years theme— ON PURPOSE ✨✨ Special shout out to Mia X, my long time community sister from Clinton Hill Community Action and Producer Marcus Beckett from for being dynamic partners with on this. Following the film screening, there will be an interactive workshop, healing circle and a family style meal featuring live violin by 🎻

Come see the beauty of arts and community-based public safety ecosystems working together to create safe space and cultivate neighborhood safety!!!

This trauma-informed, healing-centered theatrical piece tells a multi-faceted story regarding the ripple effect of community gun violence as it holds the full picture of harm– told through the voices of both those who cause violence and the surrounding community. Each perspective is given room to be honest, layered and human as the film moves between these worlds and shows how closely they are connected.

The people on screen are our neighbors, our family and our friends yet an “us versus them” dynamic plagues our Village between both sides of violence.

REVIVAL on PURPOSE is not something we find alone.

It grows when we stop seeing each other as separate or “other” and start recognizing how our lives are tied together and seeing ourselves in the “other.” When we see each other fully, we can no longer look away and we can no longer stand apart.

What we do next, we do for each other ON PURPOSE.

You will leave this experience with a renewed sense of connection to your neighbors and a PURPOSE rooted in collective love.

Because we only win when we win together.

The health of systemically marginalized people is a civil rights issue— and fighting for equitable healthcare, dignity a...
09/27/2026

The health of systemically marginalized people is a civil rights issue— and fighting for equitable healthcare, dignity and access is a critical fight.

The NAACP Health Equity Summit, “We the People: A Nation Rooted in Health” in Chicago brought together leaders, medical professionals and activists from across the country to explore the systems, practices and conditions that shape health— including healthcare access, trauma, violence, food, policy and the environments where we live.

The Village Revival Project not only learned so much in the conference space but was honored to contribute to the conversation on the Violence & Trauma panel alongside powerful national thought leaders.

When it comes to health outcomes, VRP believes social cohesion is the foundation of healthy neighborhoods and thriving communities. In our work, the Revival is the moment when the “us versus them” dynamic between those on both sides of violence is challenged and dismantled. By creating safe, trauma-informed spaces and using arts-based dialogue, we can begin to see ourselves in the “other” and lean into our shared humanity thus collective power.

I was so honored to be considered and chosen for this opportunity to serve by our great local Dr Chris Pernell 🫡 I admire Dr Chris for her brilliance, her bold leadership, the courage in her walk, her powerhouse anointing and her unwavering commitment to the people. As I sit at her feet as a student, I do not take her ongoing support of my work for granted. To have someone like her in your corner standing 10 toes down is a blessing I count twice!!!! A cornerstone of the Village and a Revivalist for sure 🔥🔥🔥

✍🏼 I just witnessed a community call the police for an injured seagull. Dare I say this is what SAFETY FEELS LIKE? 😳 Thi...
09/06/2026

✍🏼 I just witnessed a community call the police for an injured seagull. Dare I say this is what SAFETY FEELS LIKE? 😳 This made me both sad and motivated to revive a Village to the point that we FEEL safe at the depth that we deserve— not only based on actually BEING free from danger but also FEELING safe in our neighborhoods.

If you’re outside, you know folks (on BOTH sides of violence) don’t feel safe and that’s why they double down on negative narratives and reject/doubt the progressive public safety data 😔

Newark has the #1 reduction in homicide in the country based on single digit losses this year as compared to this time last year. I’m proud of myself, my colleagues and the community for what we’ve built over the course of +15 years out here. An ecosystem of boots on the ground who created systems from scratch, shifted culture, committed fiscal investment in public health approaches and tapped into nontraditional leadership to get real life-saving results.

And for this, our city is revolutionary.

Full stop.

But I also can never bring myself to “celebrate” until the number is 0 😩 Each one of those “statistics” are real people, with real families…real, profound loss.

Selah.

But also WOW! How close the number IS to 0 affirms we are on the right track and we need that glimmer of hope on the hard, dark days out here.

Am thinking a metric for success for folks FEELING safe is a drop in residents calling law enforcement LOOKING FOR and depending on THEM to FEEL safe. It also looks like an increase in folks not only calling community-based public safety professionals for support but BECOMING one!!! It also looks like those who cause harm that’s rooted in “I just don’t want to die out here” making different nonviolent decisions

The city of Newark is indeed safer than its ever been but when it comes to a people’s MINDSET regarding safety— The Village Revival Project and other folks in the Healer Ecosystem are currently looking at the next step. While we get the homicide and crime rate to 0, we must also revive the FEELING OF SAFETY.

Honored to be on it because VRP is already working on interpersonal perception, trust and connection between neighbors.

But one thing for sure, we will NEVER give up on peace— both on the sidewalk AND the hearts of our people……

Until our own very last breath ✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿

Been creating safe space in community for almost 30 years and yes, nerves still come every time but NOTHING compares to ...
08/10/2026

Been creating safe space in community for almost 30 years and yes, nerves still come every time but NOTHING compares to the nerves that you feel when sharing your ART with others 😳 That is by far the most vulnerable, brave act but apparently I can do hard things and we DID IT!!! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

The Village Revival Project has officially launched a theatrical storytelling-based healing movement ‘round my way.

And with this, a Revival is definitely in motion— places, spaces, methods and audiences I didn’t expect in our inception 💭

Footage, reels, recap videos are on the way with more formal acknowledgments but for now, tonight….

Am TRULY TRULY thanking the +70 community members, stakeholders, partners, supporters and friends for walking into “Unseen in Plain Sight” … more than a play written by Alia Berry for entertainment but a tool for community mobilization, collective storytelling, emotional liberation and a Call to Action!!!

We honor those who were there in spirit, both your words and legacy were in the building 🕊️🔐

Am humbled, inspired and very motivated.

Onward.

📸: The Play’s Props— Bible in the prayer scene with flowers, candles and RIP signs from the story’s candle light vigil in the neighborhood.

🎊🎁 Celebrating our 3rd Birthday: The DAY OF (501c3) BIRTH for The Village Revival Project today!!! .2023As we raise thi...
07/24/2026

🎊🎁 Celebrating our 3rd Birthday: The DAY OF (501c3) BIRTH for The Village Revival Project today!!! .2023

As we raise this movement day by day, week by week, year by year— we have refined the model, thoroughly discussed language, built a team, created infrastructure and continue to build out strategy for local, statewide and even national implementation.

In fact, I was just on the West Coast today having a few conversations!! 🌿😎🌿

In case you’re new to The Revival— we workto create safer neighborhoods by using Art Therapy to build social cohesion between those found on both sides of violence.

We believe humanizing our neighbors and finding mutual empathy cures violence.

And in YEAR THREE, I’m proud to say we are currently providing…

🔹 Transformative Justice Programming
🔹 Art Therapy Curriculum & Fee for Service
🔹 Trauma Education Classes
🔹 Tabling Events
🔹 Healing Circles
🔹 Community-based Participatory Research
🔹 Theatrical Workshops (we wrote a play!)
🔹 Keynote Speaking on our Approach across the country
🔹 (2027) A Training Program for Ecosystem Providers

Passing a big slice of cake to the dynamic Board of Directors, our small but mighty team and our host of Revivalists building people-power out here ✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿 VRP wouldn’t exist without folks who truly believe in this vision to “revive the collective heartbeat of our Village”

by featuring at the NACCP’s 117th National Convention in Chicago 🌾 ….when “seeds” blaze trails of “fruit” for a ...
07/13/2026

by featuring at the NACCP’s 117th National Convention in Chicago 🌾

….when “seeds” blaze trails of “fruit” for a movement!!

✍🏼 Villages across the country are gasping for air as their Villagers hide out in silos, duck a public health crisis steeped in interpersonal gun violence while crying silent tears of anxiety, loss and powerlessness.

A Revival is in order.

A resuscitation of sorts.

An urgency to restore the collective heartbeat.

….yet to breathe together, we must love each other better.

We can love each other better.

But do you SEE ME? HEAR ME? FEEL ME?

The Village Revival Project believes that humanizing our neighbors (on both sides of harm) using trauma-informed empathy and accountability creates the social cohesion necessary to cure community violence

Simply put, interconnected humanity is the vaccine to our collective illness.

That said, as a community-based social worker and leader with 25 years experience, I am truly humbled to have the opportunity to share about this healing-centered revolution alongside super dope panelists from across the country. Counting down to this robust conversation about Building Hope & Breaking the Cycle of Trauma & Violence!!!

➡️ Conference Summary: We The People: A Nation Rooted in Health is not just another conference—it is a rallying cry to dismantle a fractured system. This summit brings together the architects of change—community leaders, innovative clinicians, policymakers, and everyday citizens—to demand a new paradigm. We are shifting the focus from treating sickness to cultivating health from the ground up, empowering communities, and redefining what it means to be a healthy nation. Join us to move beyond broken systems and build a sustainable and equitable foundation for health that truly serves all people. The time for incremental change is over. The time to root our nation in health is now.

Looking for creative ways to fund your work? 😳 Federal line items are getting cut. 🫠 Philanthropy can’t hold everything....
07/07/2026

Looking for creative ways to fund your work?
😳 Federal line items are getting cut.
🫠 Philanthropy can’t hold everything.
🥴 Grants are super competitive.

Over the course of the last year, we’ve been taking our Public Safety experience over to the ARTS side of the playground…eager to dissolve the silo between these 2 ecosystems. In our travels, we have learned about an amazing international model of impact and stream of income— called ArtsRx!!!

ArtsRx is an arts-on-prescription program that connects people to arts and cultural activities— such as music, visual arts, dance, and theater— to support mental, emotional, and social well-being through referrals from healthcare or community partners.

Like getting “prescribed” BY A DOCTOR to engage in 6 “music therapy” classes at X org for your anxiety because science proves that

That said, SHARING IS CARING and we care about our folks enough to teach you about how this concept works so you can apply it ‘round your way.

Presented by the Village Revival Project, Seeds & Berries, NJPAC and the NJVIP Coalition….

In this virtual session, you’ll:
Learn how arts and health initiatives are transforming communities across New Jersey while exploring how Arts in Health and Arts Prescribing create pathways to healing. Hear how NJPAC has built sustainable funding and partnerships, discover practical strategies for your own organization and participate in a live Q&A with NJPAC’s subject matter expert.

Who Should Join?
▶️ Community Ecosystem Leaders (across sector)
▶️ Grant Writers
▶️ Arts-Based Healers
▶️ Send a Rep if you can’t come

[Register Here for the ZOOM meeting link or click the QR code] https://lnkd.in/gw9FdKPC

Together, we can fund healing. Transform lives.

At The Village Revival Project, we create safe spaces to humanize the relationship between community members on both sid...
07/03/2026

At The Village Revival Project, we create safe spaces to humanize the relationship between community members on both sides of harm in order to “revive the collective heartbeat” of our Village!! Sometimes that process can be uncomfortable, strange or unfamiliar but with ART— our inner landscape can be expressed past the surface 🖤🩶🤍

by featuring 🔥 You may know my Seeds & Berries’ work across the country— impact strategist, trainer, clinician and...
06/23/2026

by featuring 🔥

You may know my Seeds & Berries’ work across the country— impact strategist, trainer, clinician and Healer of Healers but when you see me outside this summer?

👉🏼 Ask me about my nonprofit— The Village Revival Project— where we use art to build social cohesion between those found on both sides of violence. While we are based in Newark NJ, we are also clear that the Revival is called to Villages far and wide.

That said, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to present at GIFFORDS this year in my capacity of a Revivalist— working to create safe spaces that build humanity, foster empathy and cultivate connection between “neighbors” …. yes, even within a national ecosystem.

We deserve to be well. And whole. Together.

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Newark, NJ

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