PRESENT
GROWHOUSE AT THE FLATBUSH AFRICAN BURIAL GROUND
emergence.
interdependence. healing.
For 6 months starting on Juneteenth 2021, GrowHouse spearheaded a movement using a cultural strategy that included art making/fence weaving, history walking tours and teach-ins that brought the various organizing groups and hundreds of community members together to learn, heal, strategize, and build.
Art + Technology Partnerships
Kinfolk Tech - augmented reality archive of important yet unknown Brooklynites whose legacy we inhabit.
Brooklyn Hi-Art Machine - fence weaving technique as part of Global Fence Weaving Project
Laundromat Project - redesign of walking tour collateral and postcards
Parsons Transdisciplinary Program - branding guidelines for Flatbush African Burial Ground Coalition
The fence weaving is part of the Global Fence Weaving Project - a partnership between the Brooklyn Hi-Art Machine, A Blade of Grass, and Yvonne Mpwo.
Community Engagement
Using our ethos of working across disciplines and at the intersection of art + technology, history + healing, GrowHouse has engaged over 1000 allies and supporters through:
Flatbush African Burial Ground Coalition formation + Descendant Leadership Recruitment
Sankofa Walking Tour (in person + audio/virtual)
Event documentation + archival work
Teach-ins + College partnerships
Community Days of Action + Remembrance
Press Kit development
Domain name purchase, initial site construction
Local Partner Recruitment and Engagement
Elected Official Engagement
As part of the inaugural cohort of Urban Design Forum’s Local Center, we’ll be working until the end f 2024 to continue the work we’ve been doing with the help of a dedicated design team and other technical assistance providers.
Sankofa Audio Walking Tour
CREDITS
Sankofa: An Audio Walking Tour in Flatbush, Brooklyn is based on the walking tour created by Shanna Sabio of Growhouse NYC.
Prisca Edwards & Kiara Holley of Hunter College have adapted portions of the tour for the Flatbush African Burial Ground Coalition (FABGC).
The audio tour features voices of Flatbush African Burial Coalition leaders and community members: Shanna Sabio, Shantell Jones, Corazon L. Valiente, Samantha Bernardine, Reverend Norma E Williams, Juvanie Piquant, Tricia Olayinka Ben-Davies
Music: Sacral Chakra Healing Wind Chimes Meditation by Calm Whale, Relaxing Drum Music by Relaxing & Meditation Music, Drums by Betty Blue Jazz & Rhythm in Blue
Sign up here to learn about upcoming in-person tours
Co-founder and Co-Director Shanna Sabio served as lead organizer for the Flatbush African Burial Ground Coalition and spearheaded its transition to intentional Black leadership.
In addition to creating and producing the interactive walking tours, the work has included producing teach-ins, recruiting leadership from the Descendant Community, engaging with local officials, facilitating weekly meetings, and connecting national African burial grounds and educational institutions to the cause.
