Who We Are & What We Do
Sankofa is a word in the Twi language of Ghana that translates to “go back and get it." At Cafe Sankofa Cooperative, we're taking a step back to "go back and get" our community, creating deep and lasting roots in the Southside neighborhood.
Mission
​We are a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to wellness and community empowerment. Our mission is to support, educate, and provide the Southside community with healthy options, guided by principles of community engagement and collaboration.
Vision
We're working towards a future where all people in Syracuse's Southside community have equitable access to healthy food, wellness programming, and health-related education and resources, regardless of their ethnicity or socio-economic status.
Meet the Board of Directors
PRESIDENT
Sequoia Kemp
SECRETARY
VICE PRESIDENT
Jaznea Brumfield
Derek Galloway
TREASURER
BOARD MEMBER
BOARD MEMBER
​Chanell Pickard
Donquetta Burton
Khija Rockett
BOARD MEMBER
BOARD MEMBER
BOARD MEMBER
Chelsea Turner
​Linda Briggs
Courtney Williams
Our Building
Our space has a long history in the Southside community. Once a beloved neighborhood grocery store, it’s today a hub for wellness, community, and enrichment.
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Through the Sankofa Wellness and Resource Center, we offer reproductive health resources, yoga classes through The Syracuse Yoga Collective, a community garden brings neighbors together, discounted food boxes through the CNY Food Bank Food Sen$e program and more.
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As one of the only Black-owned and led nonprofits in the city, we are committed to fostering equity and empowerment. We also offer event space rentals for gatherings centered on wellness, education, or community enrichment.
What you'll find inside
The Cafe
Our cafe area, open on Saturdays, is a shared commerce space operated by local businesses.
Community space
Our space is available for rent for members for any programming in line with our mission, including workshops, lectures, exercises classes, & more.
The Sankofa Reproductive Health and Healing Center
The Sankofa Reproductive Health and Healing Center provides essential reproductive health resources and supports wellness through education, services, and community-focused programs.
The Syracuse Yoga Collective
The SYC, a BIPOC-led collective, hosts affordable yoga, meditation, and wellness classes.
Looking for a space to use?
If you're interested in renting our space, get in touch! We welcome fitness, wellness, and community enrichment events that align with our mission. Discounts are available for Patreon members hosting these types of events.