Yogis to Raise Funds Against Gun Violence

Two Chicago area locations will host instructors from The Africa Yoga Project in early November as part of an awareness and fundraising effort to overcome gun and gang violence in Chicago, Africa and the rest of the world through yoga and meditation practices. The teachers were trained and certified in Kenya by U.S. instructors that traveled there this spring under the leadership of Evanston-based instructor Siobhan Carey. The project’s mission is to use meditation and yoga within the local community to move away from gun violence and gangs.

        The team of Kenyan yogis will arrive in Chicago on November 2 and go first to the nonprofit I Grow Chicago Peace House center, in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, to teach yoga and meditation. Through sustainable farming and educational programs in nutrition, movement yoga and the arts, I Grow Chicago aims to foster creativity, wellness and empowerment for individuals in the community as a whole.

        On November 3, Lisa Faremouth Weber, owner of Heaven Meets Earth, will host a fundraising dinner and silent auction with the team from The Africa Yoga Project as the evening’s special guests. There will also be a benefit yoga class at 9:30 a.m., November 4, at her Evanston yoga studio. She aims to raise $5,000 to benefit the project.

Cost is $75. Locations: Heaven Meets Earth, 2746 Central St., Evanston; I Grow Chicago, 6402 S. Honore, Chicago. For more information, call 847-475-1500 or visit HeavenMeetsEarthYoga.com, AfricaYogaProject.org and IGrowChicago.org.