The Vineyard Project Experience 2026: Our Stories, Our Shared Future

To amplify the work of The Vineyard Project in New Haven, more than 100 friends and partners of The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven ventured to historic Oak Bluffs in Martha’s Vineyard on August 6 for the annual Vineyard Project Experience. Black joy, the power of story, and intergenerational wisdom were central tenets of this year’s visit.

Featured storytellers included New Haven Poet Laureate Yexandra Diaz, mother and daughter Lee and Loren Van Allen of Shearer Cottage, Jocelyn Coleman Walton of The Cottagers, Inc., beloved New Haven and Vineyard residents Al and Thelma Johnson, educator and fund founder Dr. Jonathan Q. Berryman, and 13-year-old TJ Relaford, who co-founded the Luminary Scholars Fund at The Community Foundation in 2024.

“I wanted to help other children with dyslexia get access to the resources that can make a difference in their lives,” said TJ. “With the right support, they can do amazing things. This is also why The Vineyard Project means so much to me: it shows that giving is about caring for each other and sharing what we have, and making our community stronger.” 

Attendees included youth ambassadors from Horizons at Foote School, the Boys and Girls Club of Greater New Haven, and the New Haven Age Group Track Club.

“It was definitely cool to see someone TJ’s age go up and really speak the truth, speak how it is,” said Jalon with the Boys and Girls Club. In Martha’s Vineyard, “the vibes are different.”

The program also included a short film, produced by Polo Ralph Lauren in collaboration with cultural leaders and institutions in Oak Bluffs, including the Van Allens.

“The video is a reminder that stories do matter, and should be preserved for future generations,” said Keith Churchwell, a member of The Community Foundation’s board of directors. “It also demonstrates the power of institutions and communities that intentionally cultivate Black leadership, belonging and opportunity... The Vineyard Project exists for many of these same reasons.”

The Van Allens and Coleman Walton were present after the screening for a panel discussion. "It was important for us to not only demonstrate who we were, but that we're claiming this place,” said Loren Van Allen. “This is our place, we're here, and we're here to stay. And we're going to give back; we're going to contribute with our time, with our talent and with our treasure."

Oak Bluffs is home to a rich legacy of Black culture and Black excellence, and its rich history of legacy building and wealth creation. It is this spirit of recognizing and amplifying local Black history and culture that The Vineyard Project in New Haven was created.

“The feeling of acceptance, the feeling of belonging that you get when you come here, it is not because everything is paradise – but it is because we come here, we live, we act, we know we belong,” said Coleman Walton. “Children play together without worry about status, accomplishments, or what their parents do for a living. If they're fortunate enough to return year after year, they develop something truly special: a shared history, a deep sense of belonging, and an unwavering sense of self – and that's what makes you feel like you're here. This is yours. You belong.”