history

First, there was Amistad. From 1982-2022, Amistad functioned as a living testimony to the strength of community and relationships. Over four decades, Amistad served as a relentless advocate for systems reform, was a leader in the development of the peer support model, and consistently pushed back against stigma and harmful labels. 

As the world and our community changed, Amistad confronted the necessity to evolve to meet the needs of the people walking in its doors. The voices of our communities’ most marginalized and excluded neighbors led our emergence from Amistad ommonspace.  

commonspace empowers and is empowered by our most vulnerable community members, who have been traditionally excluded from opportunities afforded to others in our society. together, we move forward with a determination to transcend labels, realign community priorities, and establish common goals, common bonds, and common spaces for all.