I met Rufina Brown, Principal at Parker Community Academy last November 2020
while attending a zoom call to arrange WOKE's virtual meditations for her faculty & staff.
I was immediately taken by her ability to prioritize & execute while also keeping the discussion engaging & fun for everyone.
During the first weeks working together, our team quickly noticed the main thing on Principal Brown's mind was exploring partnerships & unique ways to support her community after COVID-19's wreckage.
Sarah Ford - Woke Chicago Founder, Camila Simpson - WOKE Marketing Lead, Rufina Brown - Principal, Sarah McDonald - WOKE Community Lead, Angelic Hadnott - Community Leader, Courtney McDonald - Physical Education Teacher. This call was for creating space for community moment.
Leading up to the launch of WOKE Chicago's youth yoga program, return-to-school decisions were changing daily - leaving parents, staff, students... the entire Englewood community very anxious about when things might resume to normal.
Amidst the chaos, Principal Brown remained a determined & steady presence.
During a recent visit to share warm supplies, I noticed her juggle a phone & walkie-talkie in one hand and then use the other to open the school's front doors for families picking up warm coats - this balancing act seemed innate to her.
Last week, Principal Brown invited the WOKE Chicago team back out to imagine a creative movement space for students as they arrive back to school in the Fall.
During the school visit, we saw creativity & heart illustrated everywhere our eyes fell.
Teachers said they felt empowered to encourage self-expression, movement & gratitude in their students.
Left to Right: Teachers Ms. Brown, Ms. Williams, Ms. Banks, Ms. Sykes - committed to helping students navigate a new learning environment.
To Principal Brown, your community salutes your joyful, relentless pursuit for equity both inside & outside the classroom.
We thank you for bringing next-level enrichment to the Englewood neighborhood.
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Woke Chicago creates access to movement & mindfulness programs in under-resourced Chicago communities.
Special thanks to the Parker faculty & staff, Englewood community & WOKE yoga instructors Rachael Altman, Francelia Chavez, Anna del Castillo, Sarah Weatherford, Stephan Young.
Photo credit: Rhyarna McBride