Sankofa Sanctuary
'Wherever there is air and light and open space, things grow.'
-Helen Oyeyemi
Planting Seeds of Healing, Growth, and Legacy in West Louisville
Sankofa Sanctuary is a transformative outdoor learning and healing space located in Chickasaw Park, one of Louisville’s historic Olmsted parks. With deep roots in West Louisville’s legacy of resilience, this initiative reclaims space for joy, education, and community wellness—restoring what was once denied.
We are inviting visionary donors, partners, and supporters to join us in building a sanctuary where families can thrive—naturally.
Why it matters
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Nature-Based Play & Mental Health
•Reduced Risk of Psychiatric Disorders: A Danish study found that children with greater exposure to green spaces had a 55% lower risk of developing psychiatric disorders later in life.
•Enhanced Cognitive Function: Exposure to natural environments improves working memory, attention, and cognitive flexibility.
•Lower Stress Levels: Spending time in nature is associated with reduced stress, anxiety, and depression.
Self-Worth, Belonging & Abuse Prevention
•Positive Racial Identity and Mental Health: Research indicates that a strong racial identity among African Americans is linked to higher self-esteem and lower depression rates.
•Community Gardening and Social Cohesion: Participation in community gardens fosters a sense of belonging and social connectedness, which can mitigate feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Nature Play & Kindergarten Readiness
•Improved Executive Function: Unstructured outdoor play enhances children’s self-directed executive functioning, crucial for school readiness.
•Enhanced Academic Performance: Nature-based preschool programs lead to greater gains in math, reading, and social-emotional development compared to traditional classrooms.
Community, Safety & Violence Reduction
•Reduced Crime Rates: Access to green spaces is linked to lower rates of violent crime in urban neighborhoods.
•Improved Community Cohesion: Community gardens offer social opportunities and promote mutual trust, enhancing neighborhood safety.
At the heart of Sankofa Sanctuary is a deep belief that when we center children in West Louisville—not as problems to solve, but as leaders to nurture—we change everything. In a vibrant play space filled with gardens, trees, and play features showcasing Kentuckians who changed the world, our children are surrounded by possibility. Here, play isn’t just play—it’s cognitive work, it’s healing, it’s the first step in imagining a life beyond limits. Nature-based learning builds the social-emotional strength and academic readiness that every child deserves, while the surrounding affirming narratives whisper to them: “You belong here. You can become anything.” This is how we shift generational outcomes—from survival to stability to prosperity. When families heal in green spaces, when caregivers can breathe, when young minds are lit up by curiosity and community, we plant seeds that grow far beyond the garden. This is powerful work. This is what transformation looks like.
