Explore our journey right from the start – from the formation of our team and the creation of The Aux, to the development of our site and fundraising efforts. Join us in lifting The AUX or finding inspiration from our story!
A group of committed individuals, including Lori, Tosha, Jacqui, Tiffini, Gabori, Juli and Jessie, come together to co-develop the project, which is named "The Aux."
Original anchor tenants identified being The Laundry Cafe, The Growing Season, Well Beings Chicago, Chef Q’s Kitchen and Studio Aux.
A vacant factory in Evanston, IL is identified as a potential site for a redevelopment project focused on community wellness for Black-owned businesses.
- The AUX project begins to raise funds for the redevelopment, with a target of $6 million.
- Visit our Raise & Reveal page here.
In 2022 The City of Evanston and Northwestern committed to partnering with The Aux and Sunshine Enterprises to develop and operate an Evanston based business incubator for entrepreneurs of color.
We launched our Community Equity Investment opportunity facilitated by Smallchange.co
Join us on a tour of our innovative community revitalization project! We're transforming a old vacant building into a hub for wellness and black-owned businesses. During the tour, you'll see how we're preserving the building's original charm while incorporating modern features and amenities. We'll showcase the community spaces where locals can come together to exercise, meditate, and connect with each other. You'll also get a sneak peek at the exciting array of black-owned businesses that will be housed in the building, including a laundry cafe, a wellness center, and a hair studio. Our tour is a celebration of the vibrant and resilient spirit of our community, and we can't wait to share it with you!
Sokana Collective, Embrace Your Crown, Smoothie RX, Cielo Agave, The Aux Wellness Collective and TBF Diagnostic. We are super excited to have these businesses join the family!