IN 2024, WE CREATED THE MAROON COLLECTIVE, A RENTED HOUSE THAT PROVIDES CO-LIVING AND CO-WORKING FOR BLACK ARTISTS; IN TURN, THESE BLACK ARTISTS PROVIDE WELLNESS PROGRAMMING TO SURROUNDING BLACK COMMUNITIES IN CINCINNATI.
AS FOUR BLACK SINGLE QUEER PARENTS AND CHOSEN FAMILY IN CINCINNATI, WE REALIZED THAT THERE WERE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, OPPORTUNITIES GAPS THAT WERE GROWING IMPOSSIBLE TO FILL ALONE. WE HAD RISING RENT COSTS, LOW HIGH EARNING JOB PROSPECTS AND WE WANTED SPHERES OF SUPPORT AND SAFETY AROUND OURSELVES AND OUR CHILDREN.
IN RESPONSE, WE CO-FOUNDED THE “MAROON COLLECTIVE ARTIST WELLNESS HOUSE”, A RENTED 4000 SQFT HOUSE THAT PROVIDES CO-LIVING AND CO-WORKING FOR BLACK ARTISTS. THESE BLACK ARTISTS PROVIDE WELLNESS PROGRAMMING TO SURROUNDING BLACK COMMUNITIES IN CINCINNATI. WE CO-LIVE AND CREATED A LEARNING SPACE THAT PROMOTES SELF AWARENESS, CREATIVITY AND WELLNESS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, NEIGHBORHOOD, AND CITY.
THE MAROON COLLECTIVE IS BUILDING A ROBUST SERIES OF WELLNESS WORKSHOP PROGRAMS CENTERED AROUND BLACKNESS, FOR THE PEOPLE IN CINCINNATI. EACH ARTIST WILL USE DIFFERENT PRACTICES TO PROMOTE A DIVERSITY OF MODALITIES TO ACCESS REST, WELLNESS AND SELF AWARENESS SUCH AS WRITING, PERFORMANCE, POETRY, FOOD, DANCING, YOGA, MUSIC, JEWELRY MAKING AND GARDENING. WE WILL LEAD HUMAN DESIGN WORKSHOPS, TEACH DIGITAL DETOXING AND SCREEN HYGIENE; ENGAGE IN WORKAHOLIC MEETINGS, GRANT WRITING WORKSHOPS AND DANCE PARTIES.
THE ISSUES WE ARE COMBATTING ARE ANTI-GENTRIFICATION, ANTI-DISPLACEMENT AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING THROUGH COLLECTIVISTS PRACTICES AND STABILIZED HOUSING FOR BLACK ARTISTS. WE ARE ESPECIALLY CONCERNED WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR BLACK CREATIVES WHO SPECIFICALLY WORK IN WELLNESS WITH UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.
BY FORMING A COLLECTIVE TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER'S ART, PERSONAL GROWTH, PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVORS, AND GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY, WE ARE ADDRESSING A MATRIX OF PROBLEMS FROM AFFORDABLE HOUSING, COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT, WELLNESS AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER OUR ARTISTRY AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY ORGANIZING IN CINCINNATI. WE WELCOME YOU TO OUR HOME AS A LIGHTHOUSE GUIDING US TO FREEDOM.
THERE IS MAGIC IN BLACK PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER, CREATING TOGETHER AND LIVING TOGETHER THAT IS ANTI-SUPREMACIST AND COLLECTIVIST IN NATURE. I DO BELIEVE HAVING A BLACK CO-LIVING AND CO-WORKING WELLNESS COLLECTIVE WILL BE THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN CINCINNATI. THERE WILL BE AN EMPHASIS ON EMBODIMENT, CONNECTION, COMMUNITY, AND HEALING.
