“Black Queer Folks Deserve These Things”: Lighthouse Foundation’s Latest Self-Care Recharge Event

In our ongoing commitment to holistic wellness and community empowerment, Lighthouse Foundation recently hosted our sixth Self-Care Recharge event on Saturday, April 20. The event took place at Gallery Guichard in Bronzeville, Chicago, and showcased a diverse range of healing modalities and wellness practices, all aimed at nurturing participants' minds, bodies, and spirits.

At the heart of our Self-Care Recharge series is the belief that expansive spirituality fosters awareness of our interconnectedness. We see spirituality as a crucial intersection where individual healing, collective well-being, and social justice converge. Through programs like Self-Care Recharge, we strive to introduce and make various health and spirituality practices accessible, including yoga, acupuncture, sound baths, and mental health counseling.

This iteration of Self-Care Recharge featured a rich array of offerings, including cupping, acupuncture, yoga sessions, immersive sound baths, movement workshops, therapeutic massages, assisted stretching, and educational sessions on healthy eating. Importantly, all services were free of charge, ensuring accessibility for individuals who may otherwise be unable to access such holistic services due to financial constraints.

Reflecting on the event, attendees shared profound experiences and transformative moments. One participant expressed, “I loved the sound bath session. I normally listen to soundbath for relaxation and to help me sleep, and when I am going through big emotional moments. This sound bath was not like anything I have experienced. I slept, I snored, and I was shaking. I silently said affirmations to myself and felt like a huge cloud of depression, anger, and disappointment lifted off of me. I'll never forget this experience!”

Another attendee emphasized the importance of such events for the Black Queer community, stating, “Thank you for curating this for our community. Black Queer folks need this, and events like these are an affirmation that we deserve these things.”

We thank the Chicago Department of Public Health for powering this event and supporting our mission of promoting holistic well-being within our community. As we look ahead, we are excited about hosting more Self-Care Recharge events later this year, continuing our journey of nourishing souls and fostering resilience through community care.