Who We Are
The Heart of the Village (The Village) is a community engagement and event organization that designs experiences to connect people while providing access to information and resources. Our model is fostering community through curated experiences. We are dedicated to building, strengthening, and maintaining community through engaging initiatives.
Our Story
The organization began when co-founders Mitchlyn Grant and Chelsea Diahn met while volunteering for a nonprofit. Their work focused on youth engagement, as part of an initiative to address neighborhood gun violence, in which they planned community events and developed youth programs. During their time, they developed community relationships and gained an understanding of the needs of the community they served, which challenged them to find ways to fill in those gaps.
Grant and Diahn found that experiences shaped how people understood, showed up, and participated in community. Led by their shared values and a desire to continue the work they started, The Heart of the Village was created.
Our Mission
Fostering community through curated experiences.
The Heart of the Village seeks to fulfill our mission by curating meaningful experiences that bring people together. Our vision is to provide engaging experiences that build connections, strengthen partnerships, and maintain community for a lasting impact. We want participants to leave our experiences feeling connected, valued, and seen while also developing relationships with those they meet. Our mission is driven by the West African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child”. We believe that community is essential to a quality life, and that being a community member means showing up. The work done at The Heart of the Village is our contribution to community and how we show up for those who continue to support us.
Our Values
Community, Connection, Collaboration.
Meet the Founders
Mitchlyn Grant
Co-Founder | Director of Community Engagement & PartnershipsMitchlyn’s work is driven by her passion for serving the community and creating opportunities that bring people together. Her involvement in community service has centered on children and families with the goal of giving back, inspiring positive change, and building more connected communities through service and leadership. Professionally, she works with children who have autism, which has strengthened her compassion and commitment to helping others.
Chelsea’s work is influenced by her humanitarian values, experience in community service, and love for art. She believes in the importance of artistic expression as a reflection of lived experiences and a celebration of identity that strengthens and shapes community. This perspective guides how she communicates The Village message and brings its mission to life through creative storytelling and intentional experiences that foster connection.
Co-Founder | Creative Director & Communications Manager