Rebuild Foundation

Throughout her summers in residency, April Falcon has led yoga sessions during Chicago’s warmer months at Kenwood Gardens, formerly 13 vacant lots, and now Rebuild’s 1.3-acre oasis cultivated as part of our continued efforts to reclaim and revitalize disused and dispossessed spaces across the South Side.

Beloved by the community, April’s outdoor flows set in the Garden rooms offered an opportunity to connect directly with the land and seasons as an integral part of the practice.

As we reflect on past seasons of Yoga with April Falcon and the ecosystem it has cultivated, we hope you’ll join us for the final weeks of her residency. Reserve your spot for Fridays at 7 AM and Sundays at 12:30 PM, and flow with us through the end of May.

Photos 1-3: Charles Bouril ()
Photos 4-6: Natasha Moustache ()

In 2023, researcher Nazanin Ghaffari, Ph.D, embedded into Rebuild’s ecosystem to document the evolution and culture-keeping and culture-sharping practices of our organization, an effort commissioned by the Wallace Foundation’s () Advancing Well-Being in the Arts initiative.

Now, the Social Science Research Council () has published new analyses that look across grantees in the Thriving Communities cohort of the initiative, uplifting the strategies we’ve developed in the face of challenges we share as community-based arts organizations.

We’re excited for these findings to be shared with other funders, arts researchers, and organizations in the field, helping to build a deeper understanding of our organizations and the many ways in which we contribute to cultural stewardship and community connection.

You can learn more about the report at the link in our bio.