The front of the new headquarters of Upstream Prevention, an organization focused on improving public health. The group is hosting a fundraising open house Tuesday to show the community their new space and share their vision for what they hope to do with it. RYAN TRARES | DAILY JOURNAL
The rooms are mostly empty and unfinished in the Greenwood house.
But leaders with Upstream Prevention have grand visions of their new home’s possibilities.
Community members can sip coffee, chat and meet in a gathering space at the front of the building. Trainings and programs can be held in more private rooms. A kitchen would be able to serve food to people, and a serene garden space with a memory rock wall can serve as a way to remember and honor community members.
“It just has a whole bunch of potential. Part of the challenge is, it has the potential; it’s not cookie-cutter ready to go,” said Kathleen Ratcliff, executive director of Upstream Prevention. “It has a lot of work that has to be done to get it where we want it to be.”
Upstream Prevention, a group focused on improving public health, is in the very first stages of creating its new headquarters. Still, they want to share their excitement about the development with the community.
The organization will host their #WelcomeHome Dream-in-Progress open house from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at 530 U.S. 31 S., Greenwood. People will be able to tour the newly acquired house as Upstream Prevention officials describe their hopes for what the space can become.
At the same time, the open house will serve as a fundraiser as the organization works to raise $100,000 to match a Johnson County Community Foundation grant they received to renovate the house.
“This was our hopeful attempt to raise some money where people can actually see where their money is going and why we need funds to do some of these things,” Ratcliff said. “Also, it all gets matched. It’s nice to give when you know your dollar counts for two.”
Upstream Prevention, Inc. seeks to support systems-level changes to promote public health, specifically related to the prevention and reduction of youth substance use, improved mental health of the community, and creating an environment conducive to healthy behaviors for all citizens.
For years, the group has operated out of a small office in Yeager Office Suites in Greenwood that allowed them to do their work but did not offer space for trainings, community events or the Recovery Cafe they wanted to open.
A larger home of their own had been in discussions for a long time, Ratcliff said.
“It really came out in our strategic planning session in the spring that, within five years, we really wanted to say we have this space that is ours, fully Upstream’s to use with all of its initiatives,” she said. “The board decided it was more interested in purchasing something for the equity and ownership as opposed to a five-year rental some place.”
Ratcliff watched for available properties in the area and found a structure in Greenwood with more than 4,000 square feet that seemed ideal for community gathering and office space.
The house also sits on a parcel of land making outdoor activities a possibility.
The new headquarters is in its infancy, though. Upstream Prevention faces a long list of projects needed to make the house what they want it to be. Electrical and plumbing systems need to be upgraded. A ramp has to be built and bathrooms redone to make the center accessible to all.
Transforming their new home became more realistic when Upstream Prevention was awarded a $100,000 matching grant through the Capital and Capacity Building Community Projects program created by the Johnson County Community Foundation.
Upstream Prevention would need to raise up to $100,000 of their own. But taken together, the funding will help the organization renovate their headquarters much more quickly than they otherwise could have, Ratcliff said.
“Every dollar we raise up to $100,000 gets matched dollar for dollar.
It’s our attempt to raise some money while people can see where they money can go
With the fundraising process gaining momentum, leaders thought it would be a perfect time to show the new space “as is” while sharing their plans for it. Donations will be accepted at the same time.
Upstream Prevention staff will guide people through the home, with displays in different rooms outlining what the spaces can become.
“We’ll have pictures of what this community space could look like as they walk around, to see that vision and dream with us,” Ratcliff said.
Light snacks will be provided by Carpenter Realtors Agent Jobea Trefny, and Sweet-Lee Made is providing cookies. All are welcome to come to the event.
“I’m really excited for people to see our vision of what this can be and what this will be for the Johnson County community,” Ratcliff said.
IF YOU GO
#WelcomeHome Dream-in-Progress
What: An open house event to show the public the new home of Upstream Prevention, as well as raise money to help with the renovation work needed for it. Light snacks and cookies will be provided.
When: 3-7 p.m. Tuesday
Where: 530 U.S. 31 S., Greenwood
How to help: Online donations can be made at this link or through upstreamprevention.org
