Urban Sanctuary Wellness Center Launches Nonprofit to Support People of Color and LGBTQIA Community
Urban Sanctuary Denver Nonprofit seeks to provide an inclusive space for marginalized communities
DENVER—Urban Sanctuary, a wellness center located in the heart of Five Points in Denver, is thrilled to announce the official launch of their charitable arm, Urban Sanctuary Denver Nonprofit. The 501(c)(3), which was formed in June of this year, was created to establish a safe space for people of color and the LGBTQIA community. The nonprofit will provide access to tools, resources and a positive culture through yoga, meditation, and movement courses—all in a nurturing environment free of judgement and shame.
The nonprofit will build upon Urban Sanctuary’s mission of promoting diversity and inclusivity, which was born out of a desire for a community that did not exist when Urban Sanctuary owner Ali Duncan was growing up.
“How I was raised gave no room for safe self expression. How one was supposed to think, speak, and even feel was loosely interpreted by the church and its take of the bible,” says Duncan. "I took those same values and attempted to raise my own children in the same way, and I have to say with much relief, I was not successful.”
This strict ideological approach was challenged by Duncan’s daughter, Audriana, as she grappled with her sexuality growing up. Through her experience with her daughter and her exposure to energy work and Reiki, Duncan began realigning her worldview. With the help of Audriana, the Urban Sanctuary Wellness Center was created in 2016, deviating from the vibe of typical fitness studios; instead, it sought to provide a safe space for healing, preventative wellness and expressive freedom for so many others just like Audriana—a black and queer woman. This year, in the midst of a pandemic, and a shift to both in-person and online classes, the community center’s addition of a nonprofit is another impressive mile marker that will help Urban Sanctuary get deeper involved with local communities and beyond.
The nonprofit supports organizations such as Women of Welton, a Denver-based support group that provides resources for single moms and combats youth violence and PREP Academy, an intensive pathway school and the only Denver Public School (DPS) school that is required to accept and serve the district’s expelled students. In addition to educating these local organizations on the power of healing, Urban Sanctuary offers free yoga classes for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), which are available in-person and online.
“I believe that true lasting healing starts in the home and will eventually spread out into the communities,” says Duncan. “But in order to accomplish that, the community must support the home. I see the future of this radical healing supported by the opening of several Urban Sanctuaries.”
For more information about the Urban Sanctuary Denver Nonprofit, or to find out how you can donate, visit https://usdenver.com/pages/non-profit.
About Urban Sanctuary Wellness Center
Founded in 2016, the Urban Sanctuary Wellness Center is an ever-evolving community located in the heart of Five Points in Denver that is rooted in purpose, education and love. Offering yoga classes, life coaching, Reiki and workshops, Urban Sanctuary also provides rental spaces for practitioners to offer preventative health care services. The wellness center launched Urban Sanctuary Denver Nonprofit in June of 2020, to continue its focus and support of providing a safe space for black, Indigious, people of color and the LGBTQIA community. Through its charitable arm, Urban Sanctuary seeks to continue its offerings to marginalized communities with education on preventative wellness, self empowerment and expressive freedom through yoga, meditation and movement courses in a judgement and shame-free environment that promotes inclusivity and diversity. For more information about Urban Sanctuary, visit USDenver.com.