Important News about Pomegranate Place

Dear Pomegranate Place friends and supporters,

I want to update all of you about some recent discussions regarding the future of Pomegranate Place. I wish I could talk to each of you in person, but this letter will need to serve as the start of the conversation.

Pomegranate Place has always been about supporting and empowering women, but we have struggled from the beginning to determine the best ways to accomplish those goals. Following much inquiry and planning in 2011-2012, we launched new programming this spring hoping to attract more women on a consistent basis. Despite greater efforts at advertising and getting the word out, the programs have not been well attended. Although most women we talk with agree that there is a need for a place like Pomegranate Place, a very small percentage actually take advantage of the offerings. There is a disconnection somewhere that we have been unable to pinpoint and address.

I believe Pomegranate Place has been helpful to some women along this journey, and we have all met incredible women through Pomegranate Place. However, I'm not convinced the overall expenses of the house and the organization justify continuing Pomegranate Place in the same way we have for the past three years. We all want to be good stewards of our resources, and without evidence that the services we are offering are wanted or needed by women, it is difficult to raise money through individual donors or granting sources.

In light of these considerations we have decided to suspend most of Pomegranate Place's programming in June after the First Friday arts event on June 1st. We will also likely rent or sell the house later this year. The plan, right now, is to hold on to the non-profit organization status while we seriously consider whether or not to move forward with our work in a different direction.

Thousands of women have come through our doors for various reasons and I believe that many were encouraged and empowered in some way by other women. I hope that has been your experience. It has been an honor to be in this space with you and share your stories and dreams. I know that the world is a better place because of all the goodness and beauty that women like you bring to it. May you experience joy, satisfaction, and grace in all that you do.

While this is a difficult time of change, the words of Julian of Norwich encourage me, and I hope they will encourage you: "All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well."

Vaun Swanson