Irreducible Grace Foundation (IGF) invites you to “BLACK LOVE” … a celebration at our new Black Youth Healing Arts Center (BYHAC), Sunday, February 12, from 3:30 PM- 6:30 PM at 643 Virginia Street, in Saint Paul, MN 55103. This is a FREE family-friendly event.

We know our young people have a continual need for safe spaces, we stand in solidarity with our Rondo and Frogtown neighborhood to celebrate our new building as we wrap love around our families and children.

The newly opened Black Youth Healing Arts Center (BYHAC) in the Rondo community of Saint Paul,
provides cultural, ancestral, and innovative practices for healing Black youth foremost while creating safe spaces and healing opportunities for youth of color and abolitionist-oriented community members. All BYHAC offerings have a holistic integrative health/healing-focused approach and are co-designed with youth for youth.

“Black Love” will be an opportunity for the Metro community to meet the staff, tour the BYHAC building, and be involved in programming and services offered at the site. Create your own rice therapy bags, make greeting cards and affirmation jars, write your own poetry, or visit the selfie booth for pictures. Learn about and tour the BYHAC.

T. Mycheal Rambo will emcee the event and introduce local talent such as vocalist, Thomasina Petris,
award-winning poet and St. Paul Central Alum, Danez Smith and rising music talent, Detrell Melodies. Shop the “Ebony Emporium”, featuring local black artists and goods from black businesses including clothing, jewelry, plants, wellness bags, and slices of red velvet cake.= The BYHAC Artist in Residence, Teneka Graves, will have beautiful handmade wood-burned earrings and you can purchase your favorite lipstick from Temeka Jones, owner of Lip Esteem.

This event is co-sponsored by Guns Down Love Up, Midway Rise Up, Planting People Growing Justice, and Love First who will be giving away Joy Bags!

“We are blessed to have the opportunity to bring the IGF young people’s dreams to fruition. They wanted to have a space for youth of color, where they are seen for their positive assets,”
– Dr. Darlene Fry, Executive Director, and Founder, Irreducible Grace Foundation.

“Hey, my name is Joseph and as a 21-year-old looking to build community I would’ve never thought I’d
find a group of strangers that could make breathing so fun and therapeutic, come receive our love and take a breath at The Black Youth Healing Arts Center on February 12, for our Black Love event”
– Joseph, Gold team at BYHAC

Being young and black in America, there is a need to be heard, felt, affirmed, guided, and safe. I know it is important to build solid relationships and a community that is connected. The Black Youth Healing Arts Center has intentionally created a safe space for us and by us. Here, we are doing the work to share experiences and to heal together. My first time here I felt comfortable and inspired, now I am fully immersed in the mission and the work. Stop by and see for yourself…join us at the Black Love Festival!
– Aniya, Gold Team at BYHAC 19 years old

Irreducible Grace Foundation (IGF) is a Saint Paul based non-profit focused on creating safe spaces with youth of Color to heal from trauma. IGF provides mentoring, life skills, employment, leadership training, self-care practices, and safe space for teens and young adults. Through the use of Mind-Body Medicine and visual and performing arts, we help young people heal from the traumas they have experienced in their lives and foster youth voice.

To sponsor the event or make a donation please visit www.irgrace.org/byhac You can also follow
Irreducible Grace Foundation on Instagram at @igf.mn and on Facebook at @irgracefoundation.