Mission

Connecting Generations to Make a Better World

Bailey's Cafe, connecting generations to make a better world, is a center for educational and cultural activity. We believe in nurturing and guiding individuals in their pursuit of self-knowledge through acting, video making, writing, cooking, music, dance and fine arts. We aim to create an atmosphere of collective awareness, respect and responsibility, built on the talents and resources of the community.

What We Do

Since its founding in 2003, Bailey's Café has focused in primarily two areas:
1) community building and service, and
2) arts education and production.

Across our programs, Bailey's Cafe builds intergenerational connections and story sharing; these bridges are critical to strengthening the next generation of leaders, and to preserving and creating history, cultural traditions, and the collective wisdom of communities. The idea "it takes a village to raise a child" under girds our approach. Programs have included working with eight schools, over twenty youth and/or community-based organizations and over twenty-five teaching artists in Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights through food justice projects at local community gardens, building intergenerational mentoring, and artistic expression: including theater, dance, music, creative writing, visual arts and video making. We expose our participants to new experiences, preserve the stories of those whose voices are seldom heard and help develop a sense of possibility, healing and renewal.

Our Core Values:
1. Relationships are Key: positive, reciprocal relationship building is a primary part of our process. They are key to individual healing, creativity and community building.
2. Intergenerational Matters: in our work and relationships we are always striving to find new ways to “bridge the gap” between all generations and to break down barriers that prevent us from building healthy, peaceful communities.
3. Everyone’s Story Counts: story sharing is fundamental to our creative work; it is a tool for gaining understanding of ourselves, others and the world around us.
4. Environment Matters: we respect and nurture our surroundings, the ones we find ourselves in and the ones we create.
5. Practice Non Violence in Our Speech and Actions: we strive to model non violence in our work and relationships, between staff, participants, community and our environment.