The solutions we seek do not exist. We have so many resources and need space to curate ways to share, build, and re-imagine the narratives around our wellness. We know that we no longer need to depend on other people to solve anything for our community.
Our group has been meeting in different capacities for over two years to slowly build our vision, align our talents, and formulate a plan of action to bring regular, accessible wellness programming to BIPOC. Our vision is tied to the collective healing that can bring our community together to find new patterns to heal old traumas.
Healing will occur in the community spaces we create, when we connect to our individual humanity, honor and celebrate the strength that we possess and cultivate authentic community offerings.
Sanctuary in the City aspires to be a self-sustaining, accessible and affordable organization to all. Sanctuary in the City also aspires to provide funding and accessibility to wellness and education programming that uplifts BIPOC. In addition to programs offered by the founders, Sanctuary in the City will provide a grant funding to BIPOC wellness educators and entreprenuers and service providers to offer products and services that further our cause of personal and community transformation. We will also be offering scholarships to support making trainings, retreats, workshops and other aligned programming accessible to our community.
We are extremely grateful to be an active member of the Ella Baker Cohort led by NCBLOC.
Much of the funding we have secured for our 2020 calendar year has been made possible through their support and leadership.
With the help and guidance of this black-led initiative we have expanded our vision by adopting Shared Values and Agreements that guarantee that our work is grounded in dismantling white supremacy and systems of oppression.
Who is involved
Tiya Caniel
Yoga guide + healer + peace-maker + lover + ease-facilitator + creator
Tiya Caniel is currently based in the Statesville, NC area where she leads weekly group and private yoga sessions centered around mindful and love-driven asana practice. Her yoga practice began in 2012 and developed quickly into her passion. She earned her 200-hour RYT certification from Asheville Yoga Center in 2016 and began teaching soon after. In addition to guiding weekly yoga offerings, Tiya also leads workshops and retreats in North Carolina and abroad.
Tiya’s intentions are to help others facilitate healing from within by giving them tools to cultivate more peace, love, and ease.
Kelley Palmer
Kelley Palmer is a queer writer, wellness advocate and community organizer committed to using the tools and philosophies of yoga to cultivate liberation, joy and peace for herself and others. Her connection to the living practice of yoga, a path of mindful wellness and self realization fuels her work, impacts her life and propels her to want to share it with others through her writing, events and guest teaching opportunities. She remains focused on making this healing practice accessible to all, connecting to communities that are normally excluded or ignored in mainstream wellness circles.
Being a mother of two liberated souls has created a point of focus that brings these tools to the way she is mothering them and also calling her to share this with all parents. Through in person and online offerings, she centers her work on making these connections with authentic and sustainable tool building. Her writing, offerings and more about her can be found at www.peacefilledmama.com.
Christy Lee
Christy Lee has spent the last 15 years on a journey of self-development from a mind, body, and spirit perspective. She believes in the benefits of yoga, meditation, and other wellness practices. In 2014, she became certified to teach yoga. Sharing the practice of yoga to non-profits and to individuals that don’t normally have access to the practice is her passion. She is also very passionate about all of us understanding our greatness; because she believes we have a crisis of Self/Spiritual Esteem within our community. Christy is married with one amazing son.
Christy has spent the last 15+ years in the financial services industry and is a proud graduate of the HBCU Savannah State University (“SSU”).
What Are We Going To Do with the Money?
Our goal is to create accessible programming that meets the needs of our community. We aim to eliminate barriers like unaffordable class pricing and space rental fees. Cooperative economics and authentic collaboration are principles that are a part of who we are.
Through intentional work and self determination we are focused on providing services, classes and community space through a sustainable sliding scale which includes free and donation based offerings. This includes providing fare pay and earning opportunities for the teachers,healers and educators within our community. The funds raised are also used to provide grants and scholarships.
Your participation and support through tax deductible donations will support our ability to provide:
- Financial workshops
- Pop-up meditation tents
- Health and wellness workshops
- Pop up yoga offerings
- Home improvement workshops
- Hand delivering encouraging notes and snacks to people in need
- Home buying educational workshops (red-lining, mortgage lending)
- Entrepreneurship Training and Education
- Community Building Events
- Political and Social Advocacy
- Story Circles