Volunteerism & Community
Our goal is to mobilize the Esh community to support positive change – we hope you’ll join us!
About Our Community & Volunteerism Initiatives
Esh is a big-hearted circus community, full of passionate folks who care about the people and world around them.
Through our volunteerism initiative, we aim to give our students and staff the chance to lift up our neighbors and support our planet by sharing their time, energy, and resources.
Our community initiative focuses on partnering with groups that are working to bring about positive change in and beyond the Esh community.
We know there are many, many causes that are worthy of support. After lots of conversations (with staff, students, and each other), we have chosen four specific areas to focus our efforts. These causes are particularly close to our hearts, and we believe they also reflect the priorities of many of our Esh community members.
Our four focus areas are:
- Organizations that support LGBTQ+ people, with a particular focus on organizations that address the intersecting needs of LGBTQ+ and POC communities.
- Organizations that focus on environmentalism and environmental justice.
- Organizations that address food insecurity.
- Organizations that expand access to circus arts education.
We also prioritize working with local organizations in our immediate communities. This doesn’t mean we can’t or won’t work with organizations that act on a regional, national, or global level, but we prioritize working with local groups whenever possible.
We welcome suggestions from our community! Do you know of an organization that you think we should work with? Tell us! You can reach our Community & Volunteerism Coordinator, Ari Green, at ari@eshcircusarts.com.
Upcoming Actions & Events
Community Cooks
Ongoing opportunity
Esh is partnering with Community Cooks to bring home-cooked, nutritious meals to folks in our community who are facing food insecurity, and we need volunteer cooks! Community Cooks has been mobilizing individuals, businesses, and communities to provide vulnerable neighbors with prepared meals since 1990. Since February of 2021, the Esh community has been providing monthly meals to our neighbors in Somerville facing homelessness.
Esh community members are invited to join our team of volunteer cooks! Volunteer cooks provide a meal on the fourth Monday of every month; individual volunteers can choose to cook each month, or rotate in and out as they are able. Each month, we need a minimum of eight cooks to provide main dishes, sides, and desserts. Each dish must feed approximately 10-12 people. Volunteer cooks can participate from anywhere in the Greater Boston area, but they must be able to bring their portion of the meal to Somerville to be dropped off with our Volunteerism Coordinator on meal day.
If you are interested in volunteering to cook, have questions, or would like to learn more, please email Ari Green at ari@eshcircusarts.com.
Partner Organizations
We believe lasting change happens by building relationships. Our partner organizations are folks we work with on recurring or ongoing efforts.
If you’re interested in becoming a partner organization, let’s talk! You can reach our Community & Volunteerism Coordinator, Ari Green, at ari@eshcircusarts.com.
CIRCUS UP
Circus Up uses circus arts to overcome social barriers and build community with students of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Based in Boston, Circus Up is part of an international “social circus” movement that uses circus arts and skills to create stronger, kinder, and more resilient communities.
Esh supports Circus Up through an ongoing fundraising initiative; offering discounted classes for participants in Circus Up’s scholarship program; by supporting Circus Up’s annual fundraising show; and, from time to time, by partnering on staff development and other efforts.
