Help at the Urban Art Retreat

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We need weekly volunteers to help out at small non-profit organization two blocks west of the Kedzie stop on the pink line. Our most urgent need is for housekeeping help. Our other urgent need is for people who are good at organizing "stuff". In addition, we have office work, and need gardening help. Plus, help with our animals.

Our small organization helps all kinds of people with all kinds of issues. We have a women's residence on the 2nd floor. There is a small art gallery for under-represented artists on the first floor in the front. We have a small office on the first floor. There is a messy, unorganized art studio on the lower level. In addition, we have a large outside garden of trees, plants, flowers, and places to relax. Plus, across the street, we developed a Peace Park from a vacant lot. It features art about black heroes. We have an animal welfare program that includes actually rescuing and caring for dogs.

The three dogs who live here require volunteers who can help train them, play with them, and walk them. Plus, of course- wash them and clean up after them.

The outside gardens and park require lots of weeding, pruning trees & bushes, painting benches, and much more. Of course we need help cutting the grass, and emptying the trash cans.

The small first floor needs weekly cleaning- sweeping & mopping the floors, cleaning the bathroom, dusting the gallery.

The women's residence needs beds made between resident visits, and sometimes general cleaning. We also need the linen closet organized & made easy to find things in there. Sometimes the refrigerator needs a cleaning.

The small office has some places that need a major cleaning and organizing of "stuff". We are pretty unorganized here, and this is not a traditional office setting. We could use some basic office work help too.

The art studio is packed with artistic stuff, but lots of stuff doesn't have a place to be. We really need help getting things organized in this space!

If you have some time to help once a week for 2 hours for more, would like to help in one of these areas, and can make a commitment, please contact our director, Dianna C. Long, to set up an initial appt. It would be great if you could RSVP for an orientation, which takes one hour. We prefer orientation to take place here at noon on a Saturday. If that is not possible, we will be flexible and make it another day. Our preferred days for people to volunteer in general are Monday/Wednesday/Saturday afternoons. However, we can make arrangements on other days too.