Coming Soon, The Basement.

Introducing..

The Cafe. Food Bar

Our vision for The Cafe. is that it will provide healthy and nutritious food options for kids that would prefer a healthier lifestyle. Foods with artificial sugars and ingredients are readily available for much cheaper prices than healthier foods, and we would like to give kids a chance to have foods that not only taste good but are good for them, at little to no cost. There are many health problems in the Black community, and nourishment is vital to survival, so it is necessary to cater to the youth early on in hopes that they will grow to be healthy enough to live through their successes.

The Truth. Black Literature Library

We believe a major issue that people of color face in this country is the lack of knowledge we have about our history. We know a lot of Black oppression, but not a lot of Black excellence. We learn small bits and pieces about slavery, Martin Luther King Jr. and Jim Crow, but it is rare that we are taught about all of the martyrs we have put in the ground and what they stood for. They make sure to tell us that the Black Panthers were one of the FBI’s most wanted “hate groups”, but fail to mention that they were relentless in their efforts to unite different races, cater to the youth in Chicago, all while practicing the same rights the constitution granted groups like the Ku Klux Klan . They tell us that Black people continue to live in poverty with minimal resources, but fail to mention that we are products of an environment not meant for survival, that our lack of resources come from a lack of equal opportunity. We are so ignorant to the truth that we see things like the Black Lives Matter movement as a political campaign instead of a human rights movement. We believe it is important to know the full history of your ancestors because if all you ever know is pain and oppression, you will never be able to escape it. This library will give kids the chance to learn about their roots, in hopes that they can take from the positives and not just the negatives, because while we have struggled for decades we have also been victorious in our efforts to do and be better than our circumstances.

The Soul. Music Room

Music is naturally healing. Music is diverse, creative, unique, and has been used for decades as a bonding mechanism. As a listener, it gives you a chance to escape; when you cannot find the words to express what you are going through, music is a reminder that some of us are fighting the same battles.  As a composer, it allows you to freely express the hardship you have faced, and the struggles you can overcome, and that is something that people of color continue to lean on throughout the years.

Music is especially important because of its diversity; it can be enjoyed by different people of different races and ethnic backgrounds all over the world without one distinct message. You are able to find what speaks to you, while finding likeminded people who can relate to the same message.

The main focus of The Soul is healing. Whether that be listening, composing, writing or playing, we want the youth to know that they are not alone. We want them to know that there are many who came before them that have also struggled but were able to escape through music.