Help Save My Family's Small Black Business
Donation protected
Imagine preparing for your first baby to be born, while also building your first small business. Your business has only been open for less than a year and a few days after your baby is born you get the devastating news that you need to close the doors to your business because of a worldwide pandemic. Your baby, family, and community are counting on you.
What would you do?
Masterpeace, Cree Sahidah Glanz and Marquez Scoggin enjoying an outdoor art
event together as a family
Introduction
My name is Cree Sahidah Glanz and this is the reality my husband, Marquez Scoggin, & I are facing today. Our small business is on the verge of closing down for good due to the Covid-19 pandemic and we need a miracle to happen in order to remain open. We are the co-founders and co-owners of a community art center called Project Human X in Carbondale, Illinois. We are also one of the very few black owned businesses in our community. Right now we need your help more than ever to save our small business.
Two creative couples holding their finished works of at our Valentine's Day paint night
Our Mission
At our community art center, Project Human X, our mission is to celebrate culture and creativity. We are also focused on making art more accessible to all Humans and empowering artists. Art centers are extremely important because they provide a safe space for Humans to learn about art and how to create art themselves. Many even say that creating art has therapeutic benefits. That is why at our art center we teach art lessons, offer community workshops, host creative events and so much more. But as the COVID-19 pandemic has continued, our community art center has suffered.
Marquez Scoggin, co-founder & co-owner of Project Human X curating art made by local artists at our outdoors art show
Click here to read more about Project Human X in “The Southern” newspaper
Click here to read more about Project Human X in “The Daily Egyptian” newspaper
How Covid-19 Impacted Our Community Art Center:
As Covid-19 began to make headlines throughout the world we had less guests walking through our community art center's doors. This also meant less sales and less revenue for our small business. We prayed for the best outcome, and with good faith continued to provide the best service we could to our community.
In March 2020 we made the heart wrenching decision to cancel all of our upcoming art experiences until further notice. We remained closed for close to 3 months to protect the well-being of our community. During those 3 months we began hosting virtual art events for the first time where we would do live painting and painting lessons. Sharing our creative skills virtually was an incredible experience, but it was not enough to make up for the lost revenue from closing our community art center.
Guests enjoying our outdoor evening "Paint Night" experience
Covid-19 has caused our community art center a tremendous amount of financial stress. We have been struggling to pay the bills and expenses necessary to keep our community art center open. We have submitted many grant forms for small businesses, but haven’t received any grants because of the lack of funding toward the Arts & Entertainment industry. We have been classified as a non-essential business and this has made us ineligible for many of the small business grants and relief packages designed to save businesses devastated by Covid-19.
With limited financial assistance options and our resources running extremely low we were thankful to hear of other local businesses beginning to open back up again. This gave us hope that we could work our way out of this unbelievably challenging situation. We opened our doors again to our community in June 2020 with an abundance of precautionary measures to protect the well-being of our guests and community.
Guests learning how to paint at our outdoor "Paint Night" experience
Precautionary Health Measures:
* We provide free masks for our guests!
* We normally have a capacity of 60 humans for our events. In order to physically distance our guests we have now cut our capacity down to only 18 guests being allowed in our community art center at a time.
* We also have invested into highly quality air purifiers that cleanse the air of bacteria and viruses inside the rooms where events are held.
* We cleanse and sanitize the art center before and after each event.
* We have hand sanitizer in multiple locations throughout the art center.
* We also began hosting our art experiences outdoors to make our community feel more safe & comfortable with attending our events!
Guests creating a "Glow Lion" painting at our "Glow Paint Night" experience
Since reopening we have received lots of positive feedback about our precautionary measures and our art experiences. We are thankful for each and every guest that has come to our art events. Although we have had some success since reopening, our community art center is still experiencing financial stress & loss due to physical distancing capacity limits and the lack of business traffic.
A picture of our Glow Paint Night room before an event
OUR GOAL IS TO RAISE $9,600 BY NOVEMBER 1ST TO SAVE OUR COMMUNITY ART CENTER FROM CLOSING PERMANENTLY
Covid-19 has caused us to lose large amounts of revenue that are necessary for us to keep our community art center open.
We need to reach our fundraising goal by November 1st, to pay past due bills and expenses that will allow us to continue serving our community.
What will your donations be used for?
* Past due & future rent expenses
* Past due & future electricity expenses
* Other expenses: WiFi, insurance, cleaning etc..
* Art supplies: Paint, brushes, canvases, paper, ink, palettes, aprons, etc...
* Other Necessary Supplies: Paper towels, toilet paper, hand sanitizer & soap, cleaning solutions, masks, water, air filters, etc...
* Compensation for employees, volunteers & artists
Two guests holding works of art created at our "Glow Paint Night" experience
Other ways you can support our Community Art Center:
* Like and share our social media posts on Facebook and Instagram
* Get tickets to attend our weekly art experiences
* Tell your friends and family about our fundraiser to spread awareness
* Buy art made by local artists at our art center
* Buy Merch and Home Decor from our website at ProjectHumanX.com
* Donate art supplies such as: Brushes, paint, canvases, oil pastels, etc.
* Attend our Halloween Experience Fundraiser Weekend from Friday, October 30th to Sunday, November 1st
*Host a private event with Project Human X (on-site or off-site)
*Eat at MOD Pizza in Carbondale, Illinois on Thursday October 29th. 20% of your order will be donated to Project Human X! You can RSVP to eat here
* Donate to help us reach our fundraising goal of $9,600 by November 1st
A father with his two children enjoying our free outdoor community art experience
Other ways to donate to Project Human X:
Cashapp: $ProjectHumanX
PayPal: [email redacted]
If you would like to send a check please write to: Project Human X
If you would like to sponsor this fundraiser, please call (314)-252-0631 or email: [email redacted]
Thank you to each and every human that donates and supports our community art center in any way! We are extremely appreciative of all donations and support. We are passionate about the art experiences and services we provide and we need your help to continue serving our community!
Tokens of Gratitude:
We would like to thank each one of our donors with a token of gratitude. We are thankful for every dollar donated to helping us save our community art center from closing! We love to show appreciation so we have created tokens of gratitude for donors who support our mission! Each donation no matter how small or big helps tremendously.
* Donate $25 and receive a Limited Edition Project Human X Button
* Donate $50 and receive a Limited Edition Project Human X T-Shirt
* Donate $100 and receive a Limited Edition Project Human X Hoodie or Sweatshirt
* Donate $250 and receive a Limited Edition Project Human X Hat Signed By Our Co-founders
* Donate $500 and receive a Limited Edition Project Human X Poster Signed By Our Co-founders
* Donate $1000 and receive a Commissioned work of art of your choice from Co-Founders of Project Human X, Cree Sahidah Glanz & Marquez Scoggin
To receive your token of gratitude, please text (314)-252-0631 or email [email redacted]
*If you would like to be recognized as a donor on our website please text (314)-252-0631 or email [email redacted]
Project Human X displaying community-made art outdoors
Our Story
Our small business began with Marquez, myself and our beloved friend Joshua Bowens hosting art parties in a small apartment on the Carbondale strip. We felt the need to create a judgment free space where human beings could express themselves freely and connect with others. We supplied our guests with paint, brushes, & canvases, and we allowed our home to be a safe haven for freedom of expression. After realizing how much the community valued the Project Human X experience it led us to believe that we should expand and find a facility to host larger events. In August of 2019 we found the perfect location for the first Project Human X Art Center. The space needed a massive amount of renovation before we could open, so we invested all of our hard earned money into making the space ready for the community. I was pregnant at the time when we'd work day & night scrubbing floors on our hands and knees & whipping away old cobwebs with a broom. After months of hard work and lessons learned we were finally ready to open. On November 15th, 2019 we opened Project Human X up to the Carbondale and Southern Illinois community.
Please click here to learn more about how Project Human X began
A snapshot of two guests from our "Glow Paint Night" experience
Project Human X accomplishments within less than 1 year of being open:
* Community Art Show at Long Branch Cafe
* Community Art Show at Thai Taste Restaurant
* Community Murals on Local Businesses' Windows to Celebrate Local Graduates During Covid-19
*News Article in the Daily Egyptian
* News Article in the Southern Illinoisan
* Art Shows & Art Experiences Hosted in Chicago, Illinois
* Radio show at WDBX on community art
* Free Art Summer Camp with Attucks Community Park Services For Local Youth Called “The Human And Nature Camp”
* Speech on Community Art at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
* Assisted Local Artists in Selling Their Art Work
* Free Art Giveaways To The Southern Illinois Community
* Free Events Such as Art Shows, Movie Nights, and Paint Nights For the Southern Illinois Community
Project Human X painting murals on local business store fronts for the Carbondale High School and SIUC 2020 Graduates
Future Projects for Project Human X
*Making our facility accessible to the elderly & disabled
*Multimedia & advanced art classes
*Art Show at “The Varsity” Theater in Carbondale, Illinois
*After School art programs for children
*Positive & inspiring murals in downtown Carbondale
*Cultural appreciation & diversity workshops
*Memberships for local artists
*Open mic and poetry workshops
*Art Collaboration with Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Our long term vision for Project Human X is to build art centers all over the world in order to make art accessible to all human beings. We want to give everyone a safe space to create & express themselves freely through art. We truly believe in the healing power of art and that is what makes us passionate about our mission.
Finished works of art at our fundraiser for a sensory equipment room at the Dentmon Center for children with Autism and special needs
Thank You
Thank you for taking the time to read our story. We are on the mission to save our Community Art Center from closing and we need your help to do it! We are incredibly grateful for every human being who has helped us on this beautiful journey. Thank you in advance for your kindness & generosity. The support of our amazing community and donors helps us continue to carry out our mission. With your donations and support you are helping us provide a safe space for humans to create, express themselves in a healthy way and appreciate art together in peace and harmony.
Cree Sahidah Glanz & Marquez Scoggin enjoying a beautiful moment with their daughter Masterpeace
We are wishing you and yours love, abundance, and health in the coming days.
We look forward to serving you soon.
In love and service,
Cree Sahidah Glanz & Marquez Scoggin
Co-Founders & Co-Owners of Project Human X
What would you do?
Masterpeace, Cree Sahidah Glanz and Marquez Scoggin enjoying an outdoor artevent together as a family
Introduction
My name is Cree Sahidah Glanz and this is the reality my husband, Marquez Scoggin, & I are facing today. Our small business is on the verge of closing down for good due to the Covid-19 pandemic and we need a miracle to happen in order to remain open. We are the co-founders and co-owners of a community art center called Project Human X in Carbondale, Illinois. We are also one of the very few black owned businesses in our community. Right now we need your help more than ever to save our small business.
Two creative couples holding their finished works of at our Valentine's Day paint night Our Mission
At our community art center, Project Human X, our mission is to celebrate culture and creativity. We are also focused on making art more accessible to all Humans and empowering artists. Art centers are extremely important because they provide a safe space for Humans to learn about art and how to create art themselves. Many even say that creating art has therapeutic benefits. That is why at our art center we teach art lessons, offer community workshops, host creative events and so much more. But as the COVID-19 pandemic has continued, our community art center has suffered.
Marquez Scoggin, co-founder & co-owner of Project Human X curating art made by local artists at our outdoors art show Click here to read more about Project Human X in “The Southern” newspaper
Click here to read more about Project Human X in “The Daily Egyptian” newspaper
How Covid-19 Impacted Our Community Art Center:
As Covid-19 began to make headlines throughout the world we had less guests walking through our community art center's doors. This also meant less sales and less revenue for our small business. We prayed for the best outcome, and with good faith continued to provide the best service we could to our community.
In March 2020 we made the heart wrenching decision to cancel all of our upcoming art experiences until further notice. We remained closed for close to 3 months to protect the well-being of our community. During those 3 months we began hosting virtual art events for the first time where we would do live painting and painting lessons. Sharing our creative skills virtually was an incredible experience, but it was not enough to make up for the lost revenue from closing our community art center.
Guests enjoying our outdoor evening "Paint Night" experience Covid-19 has caused our community art center a tremendous amount of financial stress. We have been struggling to pay the bills and expenses necessary to keep our community art center open. We have submitted many grant forms for small businesses, but haven’t received any grants because of the lack of funding toward the Arts & Entertainment industry. We have been classified as a non-essential business and this has made us ineligible for many of the small business grants and relief packages designed to save businesses devastated by Covid-19.
With limited financial assistance options and our resources running extremely low we were thankful to hear of other local businesses beginning to open back up again. This gave us hope that we could work our way out of this unbelievably challenging situation. We opened our doors again to our community in June 2020 with an abundance of precautionary measures to protect the well-being of our guests and community.
Guests learning how to paint at our outdoor "Paint Night" experience Precautionary Health Measures:
* We provide free masks for our guests!
* We normally have a capacity of 60 humans for our events. In order to physically distance our guests we have now cut our capacity down to only 18 guests being allowed in our community art center at a time.
* We also have invested into highly quality air purifiers that cleanse the air of bacteria and viruses inside the rooms where events are held.
* We cleanse and sanitize the art center before and after each event.
* We have hand sanitizer in multiple locations throughout the art center.
* We also began hosting our art experiences outdoors to make our community feel more safe & comfortable with attending our events!
Guests creating a "Glow Lion" painting at our "Glow Paint Night" experience Since reopening we have received lots of positive feedback about our precautionary measures and our art experiences. We are thankful for each and every guest that has come to our art events. Although we have had some success since reopening, our community art center is still experiencing financial stress & loss due to physical distancing capacity limits and the lack of business traffic.
A picture of our Glow Paint Night room before an event OUR GOAL IS TO RAISE $9,600 BY NOVEMBER 1ST TO SAVE OUR COMMUNITY ART CENTER FROM CLOSING PERMANENTLY
Covid-19 has caused us to lose large amounts of revenue that are necessary for us to keep our community art center open.
We need to reach our fundraising goal by November 1st, to pay past due bills and expenses that will allow us to continue serving our community.
What will your donations be used for?
* Past due & future rent expenses
* Past due & future electricity expenses
* Other expenses: WiFi, insurance, cleaning etc..
* Art supplies: Paint, brushes, canvases, paper, ink, palettes, aprons, etc...
* Other Necessary Supplies: Paper towels, toilet paper, hand sanitizer & soap, cleaning solutions, masks, water, air filters, etc...
* Compensation for employees, volunteers & artists
Two guests holding works of art created at our "Glow Paint Night" experienceOther ways you can support our Community Art Center:
* Like and share our social media posts on Facebook and Instagram
* Get tickets to attend our weekly art experiences
* Tell your friends and family about our fundraiser to spread awareness
* Buy art made by local artists at our art center
* Buy Merch and Home Decor from our website at ProjectHumanX.com
* Donate art supplies such as: Brushes, paint, canvases, oil pastels, etc.
* Attend our Halloween Experience Fundraiser Weekend from Friday, October 30th to Sunday, November 1st
*Host a private event with Project Human X (on-site or off-site)
*Eat at MOD Pizza in Carbondale, Illinois on Thursday October 29th. 20% of your order will be donated to Project Human X! You can RSVP to eat here
* Donate to help us reach our fundraising goal of $9,600 by November 1st
A father with his two children enjoying our free outdoor community art experienceOther ways to donate to Project Human X:
Cashapp: $ProjectHumanX
PayPal: [email redacted]
If you would like to send a check please write to: Project Human X
If you would like to sponsor this fundraiser, please call (314)-252-0631 or email: [email redacted]
Thank you to each and every human that donates and supports our community art center in any way! We are extremely appreciative of all donations and support. We are passionate about the art experiences and services we provide and we need your help to continue serving our community!
Tokens of Gratitude:
We would like to thank each one of our donors with a token of gratitude. We are thankful for every dollar donated to helping us save our community art center from closing! We love to show appreciation so we have created tokens of gratitude for donors who support our mission! Each donation no matter how small or big helps tremendously.
* Donate $25 and receive a Limited Edition Project Human X Button
* Donate $50 and receive a Limited Edition Project Human X T-Shirt
* Donate $100 and receive a Limited Edition Project Human X Hoodie or Sweatshirt
* Donate $250 and receive a Limited Edition Project Human X Hat Signed By Our Co-founders
* Donate $500 and receive a Limited Edition Project Human X Poster Signed By Our Co-founders
* Donate $1000 and receive a Commissioned work of art of your choice from Co-Founders of Project Human X, Cree Sahidah Glanz & Marquez Scoggin
To receive your token of gratitude, please text (314)-252-0631 or email [email redacted]
*If you would like to be recognized as a donor on our website please text (314)-252-0631 or email [email redacted]
Project Human X displaying community-made art outdoors Our Story
Our small business began with Marquez, myself and our beloved friend Joshua Bowens hosting art parties in a small apartment on the Carbondale strip. We felt the need to create a judgment free space where human beings could express themselves freely and connect with others. We supplied our guests with paint, brushes, & canvases, and we allowed our home to be a safe haven for freedom of expression. After realizing how much the community valued the Project Human X experience it led us to believe that we should expand and find a facility to host larger events. In August of 2019 we found the perfect location for the first Project Human X Art Center. The space needed a massive amount of renovation before we could open, so we invested all of our hard earned money into making the space ready for the community. I was pregnant at the time when we'd work day & night scrubbing floors on our hands and knees & whipping away old cobwebs with a broom. After months of hard work and lessons learned we were finally ready to open. On November 15th, 2019 we opened Project Human X up to the Carbondale and Southern Illinois community.
Please click here to learn more about how Project Human X began
A snapshot of two guests from our "Glow Paint Night" experienceProject Human X accomplishments within less than 1 year of being open:
* Community Art Show at Long Branch Cafe
* Community Art Show at Thai Taste Restaurant
* Community Murals on Local Businesses' Windows to Celebrate Local Graduates During Covid-19
*News Article in the Daily Egyptian
* News Article in the Southern Illinoisan
* Art Shows & Art Experiences Hosted in Chicago, Illinois
* Radio show at WDBX on community art
* Free Art Summer Camp with Attucks Community Park Services For Local Youth Called “The Human And Nature Camp”
* Speech on Community Art at Southern Illinois University Carbondale
* Assisted Local Artists in Selling Their Art Work
* Free Art Giveaways To The Southern Illinois Community
* Free Events Such as Art Shows, Movie Nights, and Paint Nights For the Southern Illinois Community
Project Human X painting murals on local business store fronts for the Carbondale High School and SIUC 2020 GraduatesFuture Projects for Project Human X
*Making our facility accessible to the elderly & disabled
*Multimedia & advanced art classes
*Art Show at “The Varsity” Theater in Carbondale, Illinois
*After School art programs for children
*Positive & inspiring murals in downtown Carbondale
*Cultural appreciation & diversity workshops
*Memberships for local artists
*Open mic and poetry workshops
*Art Collaboration with Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Our long term vision for Project Human X is to build art centers all over the world in order to make art accessible to all human beings. We want to give everyone a safe space to create & express themselves freely through art. We truly believe in the healing power of art and that is what makes us passionate about our mission.
Finished works of art at our fundraiser for a sensory equipment room at the Dentmon Center for children with Autism and special needsThank You
Thank you for taking the time to read our story. We are on the mission to save our Community Art Center from closing and we need your help to do it! We are incredibly grateful for every human being who has helped us on this beautiful journey. Thank you in advance for your kindness & generosity. The support of our amazing community and donors helps us continue to carry out our mission. With your donations and support you are helping us provide a safe space for humans to create, express themselves in a healthy way and appreciate art together in peace and harmony.
Cree Sahidah Glanz & Marquez Scoggin enjoying a beautiful moment with their daughter MasterpeaceWe are wishing you and yours love, abundance, and health in the coming days.
We look forward to serving you soon.
In love and service,
Cree Sahidah Glanz & Marquez Scoggin
Co-Founders & Co-Owners of Project Human X
Organizer
Cree Glanz
Organizer
Carbondale, IL
