Sankofa Cultural Arts & Business Center

The Sankofa Cultural Arts and Business Center is the premier place for cultural entertainment education, and empowerment of African-Americans on Chicago’s west side.

Sankofa provides a variety of classes, seminars, forums, workshops, and family-friendly entertainment in a warm, culturally- stimulating atmosphere.

We strive to educate people about African and African-American culture and history while providing a fun and safe place for visitors.

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Thanks to all who attended our Natural Hair Care Panel: Lovin' My Hair! Saturday, November 12, 2011.

We had a packed house and everyone had a great time. Check out some of the natural beauties who attended.

(Below)

Spoken Word Artist Caprice Banks delighted and enlightened the audience with a spirited reading from her new book "Skinny Thoughts.

Photos courtesy of J'Marie Photography

(Right) Hair experts Octavia Hooks, Emon Fowler, and Chris-Tia Donaldson offer advice on natural hair care.

Guests purchased hair care products, jewelry, books, t-shirts, bath & body products, and accessories from the numerous vendors who attended.

Kelley Mosely of K-Fleye Designs showcased her latest jewelry creations.

Check out our Events/Classes page to see more photos from "Lovin' My Hair."

CulturalArts

Art workshops, African dance,

bellydancing, quilting, jewelry making, hand drumming, and chess lessons.

It is our goal to help African-Americans live healthy lifestyles and make wise choices. With that in mind, we host seminars on health issues including AIDS/HIV prevention, teen pregnancy and parenting, managing diabetes, cancer prevention, healthy eating and more.

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The Sankofa Cultural Arts and Business Center was the proud recipient of a 2011 Golden Trumpet Award on May 6, 2011.

The Publicity Club of Chicago recognizes our outstanding mural project and dedication of:

With Austin Comes a Cure

"Austin Is Doing Something"

The Planning Stage...

Pictured above: Renowned artist Carla Carr (in red) describes mural sketches she created based upon a previously held community forum.

Above: Community members and Sankofa board members examined sketches of the mural which now adorns the wall of the Sankofa Dance Studio at the northeast corner of Mayfield and Chicago Ave.

The Completed Mural!!

Help us create a community garden at the site of the mural. We will be planting on Saturday, May 12, 2012, 8am.

Bring your rakes, shovels, and gloves.

The Sankofa Cultural Arts Center

is a 501(c)3 not-for-profitarts and cultural organization dedicated to learning, preserving and teaching the richness and beauty of African culture through dance, music, storytelling and the visual arts.

Business

The Sankofa Center provides

resources to help African-American owned businesses overcome common

pitfalls and grow. Business classes include workshops on writing business plans and detailed forums to address

the specific needs of small business

owners in the Chicago area. Other classes focus on money management, investments, and home ownership.

Check out the premier business networking organization in Austin: www.aaabna.org

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"To Build for the Future!"

With Me Comes a Cure

Mural Project

"Austin Is Doing Something"

Mural Dedication Ceremony

Winner of a 2011 Golden Trumpet Award

Take A Look!!!

(Click on each picture for a larger view!)

Sankofa Center Founder and Executive Director Stacia Crawford, speaks about what

"Austin Is Doing Something"

means to the Sankofa Center.

Follow the video link below to hear clips of what she said: www.austintalks.org/2010/05/

aids-mural-in-austin-debuts/

Jonathan Briggs of the AIDS Foundation shares about the year long mural creation process.

Senator Don Harmon addresses the crowd at the Mural Dedication ceremony. Also pictured Alderman Graham and Sister Yaw.

Sankofa Center Co-Founder, Malcolm Crawford, enjoys a job well done at the Mural Dedication ceremony.

The Kuumba Kids perform their Afro-Caribbean dance called, "Togetherness".

Have you always wanted to write a book, but don't know where to start? The Sankofa Center periodically hosts Authors' Panels featuring authors who have self-published their books or worked with major publishing companies.

Pictured (left to right): Arlene P. Jones (Billion Dollar Winner) CLTV Anchor Tonya Francisco (moderator) Shoya Bowman (Goodbye Don't Always Mean ) John W. Fountain (True Vine) Katara Washington -Patton (Tynedale Publishing House)

Pictured right : Renowned author Dr. Stan West addresses the panel amidst the crowd of aspiring authors.

Above: Panel author Zondra Hughes signs copies of her book " The Ebony Life: Emails from the Plantation."."

Authors Arlene Jones (Billion Dollar Winner) and Nicole Jones (Dare to Walk in My Shoes) offer advice to aspiring writers.