Scalable Research-Led Resilient Hubs
Led by PI (Primary Investigator), Dr. Shakir Stephen, PhD, this rigorous research initiative develops a scalable, disaster-resilient food system model. Our work is strengthened by the Preservation Trust of Vermont and a specialized architectural team.
The community kitchen will serve as a shared resource for food entrepreneurs, community organizations, volunteers, and local partners. It will provide space for food preparation, training, collaboration, and community service.
The kitchen is also being developed as a living laboratory for studying how connected systems—such as electricity, water, refrigeration, sanitation, communications, and food production—can work together more reliably during extreme disruptions. The knowledge gained will help inform a model that other communities may be able to adapt.
Our Services
The Alari Foundation is a dedicated department within our organization, with a compelling public-interest mission that amplifies and complements our core goals.
The Alari Foundation is a program of Dora Community Center created to strengthen community resilience (pertaining to the needs of its priority group/s) and support a robust volunteering “workforce” during disruptions.
When emergencies affect food access, transportation, communications, or other essential services, volunteers may need practical support to continue serving safely. Subject to available funding and approved policies, the Alari Foundation may help provide volunteer meals, transportation assistance, safety supplies, communications resources, training, and other response-related support.
The Alari Foundation is not a separate legal entity. It operates under Dora Community Center’s 501(c)(3) status, governance, financial controls, and charitable mission. Donations designated for the Alari Foundation are tracked separately within Dora Community Center’s accounting system and used for authorized Foundation activities.
Inquiry Services
01.Barn to Reduce Cascading Infrastructure Failures
Adapting barns into living laboratories and community commercial kitchens (community food systems) to support safer and more equitable community food operations during power outages, extreme weather, and other disruptions.
02.Evidence-based Strategies
Strategies barn for detecting, preventing, managing, and recovering from cascading infrastructure failure while maintaining safe and equitable service.
03.Community Kitchen Development
Community Kitchen Development Consulting Practical planning and technical assistance for organizations building shared-use kitchens and resilient food hubs.
Durable Existing Structure
We are restoring a historic 19th-century barn in Vermont, breathing new life into its structural integrity. Our goal is to transform this heritage space into a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen, creating a sustainable infrastructure that serves our community with technical precision and artisanal excellence.
Our Model
1
Infrastructure
We integrate 19th-century structural integrity with modern sustainable systems, creating a resilient foundation for community food production.
2
Impact
We serve as a catalyst for local food security, transforming raw agricultural potential into a sustainable, community-powered infrastructure.