The first few months of 2024 have been productive and dynamic at The Commonwealth with Communiversity and Civic Arts programming in full swing. Sweet Water Communiversity has already led programming at The Commonwealth and Values-Based Partner sites across Chicago, Detroit, and Pittsburgh, and a nationwide audience online.
In January, we internally refreshed spaces, processes, and infrastructure across The Commonwealth and designed + built custom furniture/objects in preparation for the coming year. In February, we hosted our fourth annual Sankofa Living Memories Series and curated the Second Sankofa Collage Project with students from Beasley Academic Center and SWF community members. In March, we hosted spring break immersions and visited Detroit for a Communiversity Convergence and Build-It Workshop. In April, we traveled to Pittsburgh for a Communiversity Convergence and Build-It Workshop with Sankofa Village Projects. SWF also hosted Beasley second-grade students in April to view their Sankofa Collages in the gallery at Civic Arts Church.
Beyond Communiversity programming, we continued growing across The Commonwealth amidst extreme temperature swings -- from the longest cold front in 30 years in January to 50-degree temperature swings in March. We cultivated crops in our three hoop houses through the entire winter and have already planted thousands of seedlings across the entire Commonwealth site. The hoop houses, Community Farm, Community Garden, and Meeting House are planted and in full swing.
As we begin to ramp up for the rest of the year, we invite you to take a moment to read about Communiversity happenings at The Commonwealth and beyond!
There GROWS the neighborhood!
IN THIS ISSUE:
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SWEET WATER STORIES
Spring Happenings at The Commonwealth
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MARCH CONVERGENCE IN DETROIT
In early March, SWF traveled to Ann Arbor and Detroit, Michigan, for a Communiversity Convergence that began with a public lecture at the University of Michigan, followed by a Build-It Workshop and community gathering at Freedom Dreams in Detroit the next day. This was the second annual Communiversity Convergence in Detroit - a new March ritual to strengthen the VBP network. Read more.
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SWF COMMUNIVERSITY CONVERGENCE IN PITTSBURGH
On April 5 and 6, members of the SWF team traveled to Pittsburgh, PA, for a Communiversity Convergence with Values-Based Partner Sankofa Village Projects and emerging university partner Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). The two-day convergence included Build-It Workshops and a public lecture at CMU. Read more.
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SPRING BREAK IMMERSIONS AT THE COMMONWEALTH
Sweet Water Communiversity welcomed its first groups of the year to The Commonwealth for immersions, ranging from a few hours to a few days with the SWF team. Students from Howard University, Lake Forest College, and Chicago Public Schools spent part of their spring break alongside the SWF team and Community. Read more.
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2024 Seedling Market is Here!
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Beginning Friday, May 10, stop by the Meeting House at The Commonwealth on Fridays between 12 pm and 3 pm for SWF's annual seedling market. Seedlings will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, with a suggested donation of $1.00 per seedling.
SWF MEETING HOUSE | 5735 S. Lafayette Avenue
SEEDLINGS AVAILABLE: Calendula, Chard, Collards, Kale, Mint, Mustards, Sunflowers, Turnips, and more!
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