The Hampton Hub celebrates two years of building, and feeding, community

When brothers Thabo and Tiro Mthembu opened The Hampton Hub in February 2022, they were inspired to create the sort of space the two of them had yearned for as children. Growing up Black in rural Saskatchewan, in a progressive family and as sons of a revolutionary, the Mthembu brothers often felt ostracized.

“We had our hesitations,” Tiro says about opening the space, “but the community response has been really fulfilling. I think we notice [we have] a lot in common, particularly with youth, members of the LGTBQ community, from when we were young kids that had radical feelings and we felt like outsiders. So it’s really been a joy, especially with the youth or the older generation that remembers doing some of the work that we look up to.” 

The restaurant is named after Fred Hampton, the deputy chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panthers, who was assassinated in December 1969, a few weeks after he had visited the University of Regina. That link is a nod not only to a prominent Black activist, but to the history of progressive work that exists in Saskatchewan, whether we are mindful of it or not. 

“We’ve always had radical, revolutionary roots,” says Tiro of Saskatchewan. “Often when people come in, it’s a real sense of joy for us [when] we’ve had artwork up and [have] people talking about the organizing that they did back in the day – or our first week of opening, we had someone that organized the event that the chairman [Fred Hampton] spoke at and told us stories about meeting him. We have connections that mean a lot to us and make us feel like we’re not crazy.”

Giving grassroots organizations space to grow

Originally the brothers started out with their vegan food truck, which often sat in front of The Malty National Brewing Corp., a block away from their current location. Even without a permanent space, the brothers got involved with grassroots organizations in Saskatchewan. One of their first actions was with Black in Sask, a youth-led community organization that aims to educate about and address the systemic issues faced by the Black community in the province.

Seeing the growth of grassroots organizations such as Black in Sask gives Tiro hope. “Again, when we were kids, I could not imagine having such young, amazingly gifted Black leaders,” he says. “It gives me hope for my daughter, being like, ‘When Sister Viv’s in office, we’re going to be okay,’ or ‘And Brother Christian’s running for the school board.’ It’s been a real joy to hold community like that.”

The Hampton Hub now offers grassroots groups of all kinds the opportunity to “let radical minds grow together and share space,” says Tiro. Recently it has been a spot to meet for Palestinian resistance groups in Regina, the leadership of which Tiro has been proud to watch grow and strengthen. Another nod he and his brother have taken from Fred Hampton is the Rainbow Coalition, an anti-racist, working-class multicultural movement Hampton founded in 1969 with the leaders of the Young Patriots Organization and the Young Lords. Tiro sees The Hampton Hub as a space to create opportunities for people who otherwise might not meet and work together do so. 

“When people from different backgrounds come into this space, maybe one person’s really passionate about climate action and someone else is passionate about animal rights. Seeing them sit there scheming together and work[ing] together for common causes is what really inspires us to hold this space and we’re proud of what we’re doing,” says Tiro. He says the work that they’ve seen done in The Hampton Hub  continually changes, reflecting the challenges the community faces. Right now, that means more Palestinian solidarity and working with organizers dedicated to ending homelessness and food insecurity. 

“I think one of the biggest fights that we’ll continue to advocate for is the end homelessness motion in our city and housing advocacy,” says Tiro. “I can’t tell you how many times when we have discussions in our community, when we host teach-ins, one of the consistent strains that we find ourselves talking about is housing [and] housing rights. I think in the next few years you’re going to see us continue to build upon some of the stuff we’ve done and [have] a real focus on housing advocacy and food insecurity.”

Connecting with community through food

Looking toward the future, one of the goals the brothers have is continuing to grow their teach-in platform and engage with the community, facilitating education opportunities and discussions, along with offering ideas for actionable first steps. One of the things they’ve often heard after a teach-in is that someone will feel empowered to do something. They want to keep the momentum going by showing what opportunities for mobilizing exist within the community. 

As for his favourite part of this endeavour, Tiro says it’s feeding the community. From community barbecues outside of City Hall to a Juneteenth celebration the restaurant recently hosted to upcoming plans for a regular meal in the park, Tiro finds much joy in cooking for and feeding those around him. 

“I just love being with community and having a good time,” he says. “I really do believe that we have to combine [those things] to make sure that we’re the best revolutionaries that we [can be].” The restaurant hosts a men’s mental health group on Sunday nights and the brothers are hoping to take that group to Pepsi Park and host a large community meal. “Invite our friends, bring our family, have activities. If I could do that every day and feed community and be with community, and talk politics and talk about fighting fascists, [I’d be] in heaven.”

Getting to work with his brother, as well, is a dream come true for Tiro. “We’ve been talking about doing this. We have a tight-knit family so getting to come to work and work with my best friend and brother and serve the community that we love, I think that’s what brings me the most joy,” he says. 

Looking forward, Tiro is excited to see who else walks through The Hampton Hub’s doors and what visions they have for the future of both Regina and Saskatchewan, ones that aren’t so foreign to these places. “I think the biggest thing is to dream big and to share space with other dreamers who see this and say, ‘We can do better. We deserve better and we’re willing to fight for it.’”

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We asked two of the organizers who have gathered and worked at The Hampton Hub in the last two years about what the space has meant for them. Emily Eaton is head of the department of geography and environmental studies at the University of Regina. She does research on climate and inequality crises at local and national levels. Krystal Lewis is currently the membership and operations manager at the Canadian Association for Global Health. Before that she spent several years as the executive director at the Regina Public Interest Research Group, where she worked with students interested in learning about community action. 
 

What’s been your experience with The Hampton Hub (THH)?

Emily Eaton (EE): My experience has been so rich and varied. In the last year I’ve launched a book there, attended a memorial celebration of life, met with groups planning actions to support Palestine and counter climate change, attended fundraisers and teach-ins and met friends for a nice meal, tasty drinks and good music. They’ve also stocked and sold 15 copies of my co-authored book "The End of This World".

Krystal Lewis (KL): Great spot for lunch and doing occasional remote work, attending teach-ins and social events, community organizing meetings, or having a snack and enjoying the sunny patio. 
 

What does THH offer to both individuals and groups that other places in Regina don’t? What community role does it have?

EE: The Hampton Hub serves as crucial community infrastructure in a city with very little space to convene meetings or important events. Hampton Hub provides meeting and event space to groups free of charge and they are enthusiastic supporters of the many good causes associated with the people who meet there. They donate food to community events and support houseless and poor people in the community through mutual aid and volunteer time. They also enable others to support the community and good causes through things like the bulletin board, where you can buy a meal for someone who needs one.

KL: Low-barrier entry to learn and get connected to a variety of community initiatives and groups, and the staff work in their own neighbourhood, so [they] are connected to what’s going on in the community. THH is a literal neighbourhood hub.
 

Why is such a space important? Why do we, again as individuals and groups, need places like it?

KL: We need spaces that help foster community engagement! It can be overwhelming to know where to begin if you are new to activism or just wanting to learn more about what’s happening in your own community, so stopping by for a teach-in or attending a fundraiser brunch is a great way to learn and start to meet and connect with others.
 

Do you think there’s a specific way in which food and coming together as a community (through art, activism, etc.) connect to each other? Do they (pardon the pun) feed into each other?

KL: Absolutely! We all gotta eat and sharing food is a great way to break the ice and have some immediate common ground with other people. Building trust and rapport with others is crucial to building strong movements together.
 

What are some of your best memories of THH?

EE: I was really touched that Hampton Hub insisted on hosting a memorial celebration of life for a friend who passed away suddenly last winter. Her partner was initially reticent to have such an event, but Tiro recognized that he and the community wanted to come together in memory of Yuko Kawamata. The event was really meaningful and allowed us to be together in celebration and awe of a very special person. It was exactly the kind of thing Yuko would have approved of.

KL: Delicious fundraiser brunches, meeting some great new people through an event there, and dance parties.
 

What are you looking forward to as THH continues on? What do you wish for the space and the people in it?

KL: I hope more people get to learn about what a unique space THH is in this city and feel inspired to be more engaged residents. I hope that THH continues to be a space for bringing people together.