AYA: An East of the River Health and Wellness Market
On October 16th from 10am – 5pm a group of nonprofit organizations and small businesses will host AYA: An East of the River Health and Wellness Market. The event will take place at the Center for Green Urbanism, located just blocks from both the Minnesota Avenue and Benning Road Metro stations at 3938 Benning Road NE. AYA will feature:
- live musical performances
- fresh produce and baked goods
- handmade arts and crafts
- massage therapy, acupuncture and more
Groundwork Anacostia River DC and Dreaming Out Loud, Inc. (DOL) – two Ward 7 focused nonprofits – will partner with The Collective, a group of small business owners dedicated to promoting “Market Days” that provide quality products and services to enhance the mental, physical and financial development in our communities.
Through AYA the partners will accomplish the following goals: (1) to expose the community to goods and services to assist in building mental, physical and economic health and (2) provide a platform for vendors and (3) support these local nonprofit organizations.
The Collective is a group of small business owners providing quality products and services to enhance the mental, physical and financial development in our communities. This group of businesses intends to organize ”Market Days” periodically, which will facilitate and nurture the exchange of goods and services for the benefit of both the public and The Collective.
AYA is one of the symbols used in our Adinkra Symbol Ethics Mirror, DOL’s unique approach to character and leadership development. Aya, which comes from Ghana, literally means “the fern,” a symbol of endurance and resourcefulness. Groundwork Anacostia River DC is the visionary group which helped to found the Center for Green Urbanism – the first green-inspired business and art center east of the Anacostia River. The Center is an art-infused business incubator providing office space to small and mid-size companies, an environmentally-themed art gallery and demonstration model for homes and businesses in the heart of downtown Ward 7.
The Center for Green Urbanism borders the National Fort Mahan Park. Its environmental ties has attracted the attention of the national organization Groundwork USA. The Center for Green Urbanism is the brainchild of environmentalist Zandra Chestnut and Dennis Chestnut, Washington community leader and Director of Groundwork Anacostia River, DC, the center’s first tenant. The Center’s grand opening will take place on Friday October 15th starting at 2pm with a press conference and ribbon cutting. Join us for this monumental occasion and the market to kick off an incredible District institution!
Contact Tarik Lott to become a vendor — email: tlott@tea4Youdc.com or 240-289-3716
Text “DCGREEN” to 69302 to recieve updates and more information.
