5277 NY-42, South Fallsburg, NY 12779
Spark Rural Worker Education Center in South Fallsburg is located in Sullivan County, one of the most marginalized counties in New York. Spark was given its name by members of the Youth Econcomic Group who wanted to have a center that would be the “spark for change” in the Catskills. Spark is home to the Youth Economic Group, Bags For Justice (youth screen-printing cooperative), Cociendo Culturas: Crafting Cultures (adult artisan cooperative), Youth Entrepreneurship Symposium and monthly community check-ins. Spark also serves as a gathering place for workers from the food processing plants that dot the landscape.
Team members
Coordinator of the College Prep Program & Western NY Associate Coordinator
Programs
Cociendo Culturas is an emerging sewing cooperative that works hand-in-hand with the Bags For Justice Cooperative as well as on other projects.
The Youth Economic Group (YEG) manages its own cooperative business, Bags for Justice. Members design images and silkscreen them onto shirts and tote bags. Members learn essential life skills that include: public speaking, marketing, time management, communication, design and silkscreen production. The bags are sold around the state at many events. Bags for Justice is also proud to be an affiliate of the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT).
Each year, we welcome artists in residence, as we are intent on incorporating the arts into all of our programs and our centers.
RMM is honored to host the annual Rural Women’s Assembly, which welcomes more than 200 rural women and their allies from across New York.
RMM offers regular opportunities for ally groups to visit our Centers, meet with our people and explore our programs.
RMM works hard to support the dreams and opportunities of the members of the Youth Empowerment Program through two scholarship programs.
The Youth Economic Group (YEG) was founded by young people in the Catskill mountains in 2010 to help them develop economic security while also working for economic justice.
For more than 30 years, RMM has welcomed children, ages 8-17, from across rural New York to a one-week overnight camp. Along with our Summer Day Programs, young leaders get to meet RMM, and we get to meet them.
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Through the Rural Academy of the People (RAP), RMM offers a variety of adult education programs through our Centers and online that are initiated and designed by rural, grass-roots leaders. A key focus lies in supporting people as they create their own cooperatives.