It may still be cold outside, but Sweet Water Foundation's work of regenerative development continues on. At the onset of winter's cold weather, the team turned its attention to planning, design, carpentry, and conducting education and community workshops. Since last November, SWF has hosted 2 retail pop-up shops showcasing products of our carpentry program, conducted 6 workshops reaching nearly 500 people, and developed plans for programming and projects for the spring and summer.
With longer days and warm weather on the horizon, we are literally planting the seeds for our best summer and harvest season ever. This year, we will host the First Annual Juneteenth Celebration at the Commons, a new event through which we hope to inspire the radical [re]construction of Chicago's south side. We look forward to welcoming you back to the Perry Ave Commons this spring and summer! Read on to learn more about our work.
In 2010, Orrin Williams met Sweet Water Foundation's Co-Founder, Emmanuel Pratt, at a meeting in West Englewood. An instant bond was formed as they quickly recognized the synergies in their work and a shared vision of transformation on Chicago’s South side. The two have been working together ever since and Sweet Water Foundation has benefited greatly from Orrin’s leadership, vision, and contributions over the years.Click here to learn more about Orrin.
EVENTS
What's Happening at the Commons?
FAMILY DAY: BUILDING BLOCKS & SUNFLOWER STALKS @ THE SMART MUSEUM
This Saturday, focus on building, construction, and architecture! Learn how to use wooden peg carpentry techniques (inspired by the work of Emmanuel Pratt and Sweetwater Foundation), build a large structure out of sunflower stalks, and play and build with blocks of all sizes. FREE, all materials provided. Activities best for kids ages 4–12, accompanied by an adult. For more information, click here.
SAVE-THE-DATE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION @ THE COMMONS Save-the-date for the first annual Juneteenth Celebration at the Perry Ave Commons. Join us as we celebrate this important, historical event with live music, arts & crafts, health & wellness activities, and much more. More details coming soon.
RADICAL [RE]CONSTRUCTIONS: EXHIBIT @ THE SMART MUSEUM The Radical [Re]Constructions exhibit will connect the Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago to Sweet Water Foundation's Perry Avenue Commons. The installation features a large, three-dimensional representation of a house, set against the Museum’s central lobby wall and constructed from salvaged materials including wood that SWF apprentices finished with the traditional Japanese shou sugi ban charring technique. The Smart Museum is free and open to the public. For museum hours and directions, click here.
RECIPES
Collard Greens & Chorizo Soup
with Black Eyed Peas
Did you freeze kale or collards last summer? If you did (or even if you didn't), now is the perfect time to make this delicious salad from Angela at the Kitchenista Diaries. It's the perfect meal for cold winter (or early spring) day.
Got Rain Barrels?
Help us reduce our water usage buy donating an unused rain barrel and/or purchasing a new rain barrel. Click the image above to purchase the best priced rain barrels, as recommended by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.
