Three Braid into One

Three community leaders partner to create one amazing performance space: The Alluvion

Jeff Haas, musician, and one of the three partners at The Alluvion.

Crosshatch Center for Art & Ecology

Founded in 2005, Crosshatch Center for Art & Ecology builds strong communities through the intersections of art, farming, ecology, and economy. Crosshatch envisions communities that are grounded in place: where people connect through stories, music, art, shared work, and food and where the economy and culture are rooted in the restoration of the earth and its people. 

Crosshatch began with the idea that the arts—and artists themselves—were essential to this work.

Crosshatch also promotes community learning, where education of all kinds takes place in the company of friends and neighbors. Crosshatch programs revolve around the essential work of artists, farmers and other creative makers, and so cast a wide net: from the daily details of the home-economy (including bees, mushrooms, fruit and nuts, soil health, food preservation and many many more), to the broader scope of artist residencies, shared resources and other ways to build creative, regenerative, and resilient local economies.

Commongrounds Cooperative

Commongrounds is a non-profit real estate cooperative whose mission is to develop real estate that meets community needs and increases quality of life for all people in the region. As a cooperative, Commongrounds is owned by the people and organizations that use its facilities:  businesses and nonprofits that occupy space in the pilot project building, and community members who have invested money in the organization. The cooperative uses these investments to create intentional spaces that integrate food, family, arts, and wellness—thus creating an opportunity for all to contribute—making the community we love even better, together.

Commongrounds’ pilot project is a 4-story mixed-use building scheduled to open in late 2022, under construction now at 416 E. Eighth Street in Traverse City. This project adds timely momentum to the redevelopment of the North Boardman Lake District, the gateway to downtown. The “NoBo” district has been designated by the city of Traverse City for redevelopment as a multi-modal, compact, vibrant “healthy living” corridor and is proximately located to water and recreation trails. 

The building is designed to meet community needs by including workforce housing, early childhood care, a 150-seat performing arts and events venue, wellness programs, local food access and education, and family amenities that contribute to quality of life for all people in the region. The project has proven community support and has already raised $1.37 million from 500+ community members who are owners.  

Jeff Haas, LLC

Jeff Haas, son of German Jewish immigrants, grew up in Detroit in a home rich with music in the Judaic and classical traditions. He has been a social worker, music teacher, radio show host, composer, and jazz piano performer. He is the founder of Building Bridges with Music Program using his original music as a springboard for interactive discussion about overcoming barriers and creating more awareness and understanding about people from different cultures and backgrounds.

Building Bridges with Music has developed curricula for grades K-2, 3-5, middle and high school as well as community center and workplace workshops. R-E-S-P-E-C-T! & STOP the Bullying! workshops have reached over 50,000 participants in more than 700 schools and many community centers and private sector businesses.