The Big Tent bringing the Central Hillside community together

At the Big Tent you could enjoy barbeque, live music and games, but also get free winter gear, pantry staples, fresh produce, and connect with health resources.

The 4th annual Big Tent event kicked off on Saturday October 12th in Central Hillside.

It’s a collaborative event held by the Hillside Coalition, which is a partnership between the Family Freedom Center, the Zeitgeist Center for the arts, Duluth Center for Women and Children and Duluth LISC.

The event is unique, partially because it started during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Big Tent actually started in response to COVID. We wanted to have a check-in with our families right before the snow hit back in 2020. And it was an amazing response that we got from the community,” said Jacob Bell the Executive Director of the Family Freedom Center.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic the event has grown and evolved to fit the needs of the Central Hillside Community.

“We’ve added new components each year. This year we did free hats and gloves and scarves and jackets for kids and adults, as well as produce and fresh produce, “said Bell. “It’s been a great opportunity just to check in with our families and to make sure that everybody has what they need. But also, for us to build the relationships with each other as neighbors, to sustain us through the cold months that are ahead.”

The Big Tent feels like a party, with community gathering together to celebrate local artists and musician’s while connecting each other with lifesaving resources.

“Most people don’t know this, but Hillside is the lowest life expectancy in any of the neighborhoods in the area, “said Bell. “A lot of that is not having access to fresh foods, not having access to proper health care, as well as access to technology and transportation. The Big Tent is a way for the coalition to come together and to really kind of address those needs, kind of as direct as we possibly can.”