Every community has a beginning. Ours started with a vision for something Worcester didn't yet have.
In 1987, a group of Worcester community leaders set out to learn more about the emerging Clubhouse Model of psychosocial rehabilitation, first developed at Fountain House in New York City. Inspired by the model and after visiting a successful club in Providence, Rhode Island - they returned to Worcester convinced that Central Massachusetts needed a Clubhouse of its own. That vision became Genesis Club.
Our History
A simple question sparked a movement: “Why isn’t there a Clubhouse in Worcester?”
Inspired by the internationally recognized Clubhouse Model of recovery, a group of community leaders set out to bring that vision to Central Massachusetts. The founding Board of Directors included representatives from the Central Massachusetts Alliance on Mental Illness, local businesses, law firms, the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and individuals with lived experience of mental illness. Together, they believed that people living with mental illness deserved a place where connection, purpose, opportunity, and recovery could flourish.
Supported by a new state mental health initiative under Governor Michael Dukakis, the Board recruited Kevin L. Bradley from Westwoods Clubhouse in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, to serve as Genesis Club's first full-time Executive Director.
On September 15, 1988, Genesis Club officially opened its doors on Lincoln Street, welcoming its first members and beginning a journey that would transform mental health recovery in Central Massachusetts.
Over three decades, Genesis Club has grown from those humble beginnings into an Accredited Clubhouse and a recognized leader in the international Clubhouse movement. Recognized by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as an evidence-based model of psychosocial rehabilitation, Genesis Club now provides employment, education, housing, wellness, and social support to more than 500 members each year.
As membership continued to grow, so did the need for additional space. In 2003, Genesis Club completed an 8,000-square-foot expansion that added a full-service industrial kitchen, dining room, café, conference room, elevator, and additional work areas. This milestone was made possible through the generosity of community supporters (including many of the organization's original founders) whose vision continues to shape Genesis Club today.
While much has changed since 1988, the heart of Genesis Club remains the same: a community built on mutual respect, meaningful relationships, and the belief that recovery is possible.
Hover over each card to learn more about the beliefs that guide Genesis Club.
Mission
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Vision
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Values
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Dignity & Respect
Partnership
Integrity & Accountability
Quality & Innovation
Leadership
Hope & Resilience
Our Mission & Values
Honoring Kevin L. Bradley
From the very beginning, Genesis Club was shaped by the vision and dedication of its founding Executive Director, Kevin L. Bradley. After helping launch Genesis Club in 1988, Kevin devoted nearly three decades to building a community where people living with mental illness could discover their strengths, pursue meaningful goals, and experience true belonging.
Kevin believed deeply in the power of the Clubhouse model and the importance of creating opportunities for employment, education, housing, wellness, and connection. Under his leadership, Genesis Club grew from a small community serving 15 members into a nationally recognized Clubhouse and training resource for others seeking to strengthen their own programs.
Although Kevin passed away in 2017, his commitment to members, colleagues, and the Clubhouse movement continues to inspire the Genesis Club community today. The Kevin L. Bradley Memorial Fund was established to honor his legacy and support the continued mission of Genesis Club.
Help continue Kevin’s legacy by supporting Genesis Club.
Donate to the Kevin L. Bradley Memorial Fund →
A lasting legacy of leadership, compassion, and belief in recovery.
Training & Leadership in the Clubhouse Movement
As Genesis Club's impact grew, so did its reputation within the international Clubhouse community. In 1991, Genesis Club became an International Training Center for Clubhouse International, welcoming colleagues from across the United States and around the world to learn the Clubhouse Model firsthand.
Today, Genesis Club is proud to be a charter member of Clubhouse International and one of just 12 International Training Centers worldwide. Since becoming a training center, Genesis Club has helped train more than 250 Clubhouses across 30 states and 15 countries, extending the reach of the Clubhouse Model far beyond Worcester.
While our influence now spans the globe, our purpose remains rooted in the same mission that inspired our founders in 1988: helping people living with mental illness build lives filled with hope, purpose, dignity, and community.