Our Story
Heartwood is a queer-inclusive social justice hub and community restaurant with a mission to nourish the spirit of social justice and liberation. Heartwood's story cannot be told without telling another story first; the story of Rhizome Cafe.
As the now virtual home of Rhizome says, "Rhizome was a café, community space and social justice hub located in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood of Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories. It was created to be a shared living room, a safe(r) space, and a support space for social justice work." As a physical space, it was the glue for many social activist communities for eight wonderful years. When the owners of Rhizome decided to close the doors of that particular iteration of 317 E. Broadway, they wanted to reach out to other community organizations and groups interested in continuing their long legacy of being a welcoming neighbourhood space centred on social justice and community building
As the now virtual home of Rhizome says, "Rhizome was a café, community space and social justice hub located in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood of Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories. It was created to be a shared living room, a safe(r) space, and a support space for social justice work." As a physical space, it was the glue for many social activist communities for eight wonderful years. When the owners of Rhizome decided to close the doors of that particular iteration of 317 E. Broadway, they wanted to reach out to other community organizations and groups interested in continuing their long legacy of being a welcoming neighbourhood space centred on social justice and community building
One of the groups they approached was Trinity United Church, a small congregation known for their activist work in LGBTQ rights, migrant justice, and resistance to anti-mining. In a cultural climate filled with gentrification, depleting resources and lack of funding towards groups working with marginalized communities, arts, and culture, Trinity United stepped forward with their emotional, financial, and spiritual support to re-open with a new name and the continued vision of Rhizome Cafe.
In August 2013, the doors of 317 E. Broadway were opened as Heartwood, a new name with a deep, rich history and legacy. Today, Heartwood As the owners of Heartwood, Trinity United runs as separate entity while still providing financial and organizational support to the Heartwood.
Rhizome Cafe's call to action had always been to rise home; to find and to honour ways our communities and ourselves can rise up while honouring the communities we are coming from and the land we are doing our work in. At Heartwood, we continue with Rhizome's legacy as we rise into our communities of intersecting histories, identities, struggles, and points of healing; as we rise together with the people before us who paved the roads that have led us to now; as we rise as towards a community of collaboration, creation, and celebration.
Learn about our mission and vision and how we guided by it here.
For more information about Rhizome Cafe, visit their website here.
In August 2013, the doors of 317 E. Broadway were opened as Heartwood, a new name with a deep, rich history and legacy. Today, Heartwood As the owners of Heartwood, Trinity United runs as separate entity while still providing financial and organizational support to the Heartwood.
Rhizome Cafe's call to action had always been to rise home; to find and to honour ways our communities and ourselves can rise up while honouring the communities we are coming from and the land we are doing our work in. At Heartwood, we continue with Rhizome's legacy as we rise into our communities of intersecting histories, identities, struggles, and points of healing; as we rise together with the people before us who paved the roads that have led us to now; as we rise as towards a community of collaboration, creation, and celebration.
Learn about our mission and vision and how we guided by it here.
For more information about Rhizome Cafe, visit their website here.