How two designers are bringing wellness pods to HBCU campuses
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Posted By: S. Moore on May 01, 2023 A new kind of wellness space for women is coming to HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) across the country this year, thanks to an initiative by The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation, helmed by actress Taraji P. Henson, and Kate Spade New York. The program, called She Care, tapped Washington, D.C.–based designer Kiyonda Powell and Maryland-based designer Saudah Saleem, who combined forces to design refuges to support students amid the stressors of college life. The inaugural installment of the multiyear initiative debuted at Alabama State University earlier this month, with the two on-campus structures—dubbed She Care Wellness Pods—that offer a range of services geared toward female students. Programming includes free mental health and therapy sessions; self-care activities like yoga and meditation, as well as art, sound and dance therapy; workshops and seminars on student-requested topics; and recreational spaces for relaxation. “We were brought on to outfit the space and transform it into something that felt uplifting, joyous and feminine,” says Powell. “Just really creating a mood and a vibe that supported the wellness activities they wanted to do.” Each pod is housed within a repurposed shipping container, which was developed by Chicago-based modular construction company S.I. Container Builds and re-imagined by Powell and Saleem from the inside out. The size constraints of each pod (the smaller of the two is 20 feet by 7 feet, while the larger is 40 feet by 7 feet) meant the pair had to be intentional about the use of each space. They decided to craft the larger pod with physical activities like yoga, designing accordion-style doors to expand the pod’s square footage into the outside area, while the smaller space is geared toward rest and relaxation. Both are imbued with a similar design scheme, meant to evoke joy by incorporating the vibrant use of color that Powell and Saleem have perfected individually in their past work. “I leaned heavily on my personal life, my experience as a freshman in college,” says Saleem. “Also, being parents, [Kiyonda and I] still have one foot in childhood and this connection with youth. So we wanted to ensure that the colors inspire and are interesting—that it doesn’t feel too clinical, too cold and commercial.” SOURCE Business of Home If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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