Organization Summary

Organization Name: The Workshop Community Center
EIN / TAX ID: 88-3723323
Officers: LeeAnna Chronister (President), Kimberly West (Vice President), Aimee Lucia (Treasurer), Cami McGhee (Secretary)
Non-Profit Status Established: February 13th, 2023
Mailing Address: 1621 Helen Drive, Anchorage, AK 99515
Physical Address: 1120 Huffman Rd, Suite 11, Anchorage, AK 99515
Director Contact: LeeAnna Chronister, Executive Director
Director Email: leeanna@theworkshopanchorage.com
Office Phone: 907-717-3330

About Us (short): The Workshop Community Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting families, art, and education in Anchorage. Founded in November 2022 by LeeAnna and David Chronister, The Workshop addresses critical community needs by offering a safe, inclusive space for learning, creativity, and social cohesion. We seek funding to maintain our operations, including rent, utilities, and essential supplies, enabling us to continue serving as a vital community resource.
We recognized a significant need in Anchorage for a place where people can gather safely, learn without barriers, and develop meaningful relationships. The Workshop was designed to meet these needs. We believe that community-driven programs, supported by larger organizations and trusts, can effectively prevent isolation, abuse, addiction, and suicide. 

Features of The Workshop Community Center:

The Workshop Community Center provides a free, safe, and welcoming space for Anchorage families to connect and learn. Our 4000-square-foot facility offers various programs and resources to foster community engagement.

Learning-Based Play Corner: Educational toys and activities for young children to promote cognitive development and social skills.

Art Table and Games: A space for creative expression and interactive games, encouraging teamwork.

Tables and Lounge Seating: Comfortable areas for families to gather and socialize.

Classroom: Equipped for diverse educational activities, from academics to life skills, this room is rented out affordably and used to host local educators and other non-profits. 

Art Room: Stocked with an abundance of donated and purchased art supplies of all kinds, this art room hosts workshops and classes in painting, drawing, and crafts for artistic expression. This room is also rented out affordably and used to host local educators and other non-profits. 

Story Time and Free Craft Classes for Preschoolers: Fostering a love of reading and creativity from an early age, we host free art classes for Preschoolers and story time for all children to foster a healthy love of reading.

Family & Community Centered Events: Special events that strengthen community bonds and create lasting memories, including inclusive holiday events (i.e. our sensory & allergy friend Halloween party, Christmas with Santa for children from low-income families, etc), family dance parties (i.e. our Saint Patty’s Family Dance Party, Kuzko the Bearded Dragon’s Birthday Bash, etc), and educational & community support events (i.e. Earth Day Upcycle Event, our Children Business Fair - featured in Alaska Business Magazine 2024, Food & Hygiene Supply Drives for other local non-profit partners, etc.) 

Homeschool Enrichment Courses: Offering a range of subjects and group learning opportunities for homeschool families, offered by various local educators and Anchorage School District vendor teachers. These include classes in STEM, Art, Literacy & Reading Support, and Social Studies.

Workshops and Educational Resources: Led by community members, covering personal development and skill-building, such as Free Family Yoga, Music Together Classes, CPR  Babysitting Courses, and workshops hosted by other non-profit organizations.

The Workshop Community Center is a vibrant hub where Anchorage families can connect, learn, and grow together, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual support.

Statement of Need

Anchorage faces several systemic challenges, including youth issues, educational barriers, and social isolation. The Workshop Community Center was established to address these problems by providing a supportive environment where families and individuals can engage in educational, social, and creative activities. Our center promotes healthier relationships and community ties, ultimately working to prevent issues such as abuse, addiction, and suicide.

Community Challenges:

  • High rates of youth systemic problems

  • Barriers to education and learning

  • Social isolation and lack of safe community spaces

The Workshop's Response:

  • Offering free or low-cost community events and services

  • Fostering art and creative expression

  • Increasing educational opportunities

  • Building healthy relationships within the community

Project Description

Organization Overview

The Workshop Community Center is a volunteer-operated non-profit dedicated to fostering community innovation and long-lasting change. Our mission is executed with a fresh approach to what a community center can be, focusing on art, education, and family support.

Positive Childhood Experiences at The Workshop

The Workshop Community Center actively counters ACEs by promoting Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs), which are essential for healthy development and resilience. Key PCEs provided by The Workshop include:

  1. Safe, Stable, and Nurturing Relationships: Through family-oriented events and activities, The Workshop fosters strong, supportive relationships between families and the community.

  2. Opportunities for Social Engagement: Our community events and programs encourage children to form positive peer relationships and develop social skills. This provides not only a great learning environment for children, but also for parents who need connection in a healthy social atmosphere too. 

  3. Volunteerism & Community Involvement: By engaging community members young and old in volunteer activities, we create a supportive environment that fosters strong, nurturing relationships regardless of age or skill. Children witness and participate in a culture of giving back and teamwork, which helps them feel valued and connected. This involvement provides them with role models, enhances their social skills, and builds healthy habits that will likely create more individuals passionate about serving our Anchorage community. Such positive interactions are crucial for healthy development and resilience, countering the negative impacts of ACEs.

  4. Breaking Financial Barriers: By offering most services for free, The Workshop makes activities accessible to families and individuals who might otherwise miss out due to cost. This removes barriers created by social status and ensures resources are available without financial, cultural, racial, or social distinctions. Consequently, The Workshop fosters a sense of belonging and equality, supports positive childhood experiences, encourages diverse interactions, and nurtures confident, empathetic individuals who value community and diversity.

  5. Educational and Creative Enrichment: By providing access to educational resources and creative activities, we stimulate intellectual and artistic growth, which are critical components of a well-rounded childhood as well as into adulthood. We believe that families that learn and play together, stay together!

  6. Emotional Support and Well-being: The Workshop offers a safe space where children feel valued, heard, and supported, promoting emotional stability and well-being. It is our goal to learn every child’s name, connect with them individually, and make The Workshop a space where children feel validated, important, and valued.

Goals and Objectives

  1. Create a Free Comfortable Community Space: A free space where community members, primarily families, can enjoy an atmosphere that fosters individual growth, development, openness, creativity, and curiosity. 

  2. Provide Accessible Community Events and Services: Host a variety of free or affordable events, workshops, and classes.

  3. Promote Art and Creative Expression: Offer an 800 square-foot art room stocked with donated and purchased  supplies, a dedicated space for creative activities, classes, & workshops.

  4. Enhance Educational Opportunities: Provide educational experiences, classes, and workshops for all age groups and competency levels, primarily focusing on essential academic advancement, artistic expression, & social skills.

  5. Build Healthy Community Relationships: Create a supportive environment for families and individuals to connect and grow together and with their Anchorage community.

Activities

  • Educational Workshops and Classes: Covering topics from basic literacy to advanced skills, The Workshop hosts a variety of community classes, workshops, and educational events. The Workshop provides a hub for hosting homeschool classes taught by local educators, after school clubs lead by community members, educational and art-centered camps offered by The Workshop, as well as weekly story time and free craft classes for children.  

  • Art Programs and Family Events: Including art classes, family dance parties, and community gatherings, The Workshop offers lots of opportunities to cultivate important family time and creativity together (i.e. our free Rock Painting events, our Earth Day upcycling event, etc.)

  • Supportive Fellowship Initiatives: Facilitating connections and support among community members is one of the most rewarding aspects of The Workshop. We are witnessing friendships being made not only between children, but also parents. 

Impact

The Workshop proudly serves 100-250 individuals weekly during the school year, and between 30-75 individuals weekly during summer months. We are, however, seeing a rise in these numbers, as we are growing at a fast pace. We anticipate those numbers to double again in 2025, as they did from 2023 into 2024. Our innovative approach has redefined what a community center can be, which is drawing in people from a variety of demographics within Anchorage.

Budget

Operational Costs

  • Rent and Utilities: $8,500/month

  • Phone and Internet Service: $150/month

  • Security System: $35/month

Maintenance and Supplies

  • Cleaning Supplies: $100/month

  • Coffee Bar Supplies: $50/month

  • Office Supplies (Paper, Ink, etc.): $100/month

  • Art Supplies (Paint, Glue, etc.): $50/month

  • Classroom Supplies: $50/month

Total Annual Budget

  • Approximately $108,420 annually.

  • Our goal is to one day be able to support a few reasonable salaries for the following positions for the purpose of sustainability and avoiding burn-out: Executive Director, Volunteer Coordinator, Activity & Program Coordinator. But as of now we are completely volunteer run and have no immediate plans to change that on our current budget.