Supporting the holistic health of all community members. MOLO identified community health as a priority based on resident feedback and observation. We also recognize the effect of  inequity and the social determinants of health that strongly impact  Russell residents and decrease their life spans. MOLO addresses those issues and has attracted physical and behavioral health resources through its reputation as a forward-moving, holistic community provider.

A significant health issue in Russell is a lack of nutrition. Russell is a food desert and lacks grocery stores and other resources to purchase healthy foods. MOLO Village has had a long-standing partnership with St. Peter’s United Church of Christ and Dare to Care to increase access to healthy food in Russell. Last year, local food bank Dare to Care provided 13,871,260 meals and 4,356,000 pounds of free food across Jefferson County. Through a partnership with St. Peter’s and MOLO, returning citizens participate in the MOLO Restored Village and volunteer the Dare to Care Food Pantry in Russell has donated over 200,000 pounds of food annually to approximately 14,000 individuals.

Activities and referrals to support the holistic health of all community members. 

Supporting Self-Improvement. The Empowered Village is a program that encourages residents to develop and implement individualized self-improvement plans, and supports their journeys through programs, activities, and referrals. This village also includes a community hub, The Village @ West Jefferson, that provides resources such as job training, business entrepreneurship, a child learning center, a health clinic, a community bank, and a sit-down coffee shop.

Empowering residents to develop and implement their own individualized self-improvement plans and supporting their journey through programming, activities, and referrals. 

Supporting children and youth to grow and thrive.  The future village conducts events and activities that build equitable  opportunities for Russell’s young residents. Our signature program is the Be Your Own Leader (BYOL) After-School Tutoring & Summer Enrichment Program that offers personalized academic support and Black cultural studies for K-5 students in the Russell community. This program provides certified staff and relational teaching that our students need to reach the academic milestones required for success in school. Students in this program consistently show demonstrable gains during the school year and in the summer. The high school students who are tutors and role models for the young students are a true strength of our program.

Events and activities to meet the needs of Russell’s children and youth.