Help Us Open a New Safe Haven for Kids & Community Wellness

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With the impending closure of the OTR Community Center, hundreds of children are losing access to mentorship, structured activities, and essential wellness support. Many of the 116 children we currently serve in OTR, West End, and Price Hill depended on this space for after-school programs, emotional regulation through activities, and a safe environment to grow. Now, they are left with nowhere to go, increasing their risk of exposure to unsafe environments, academic struggles, and emotional distress.

As a result, the reopening of CHAITATION has become a community emergency.

MEET VANESSA—THE HEART BEHIND CHAITATION

My name is Vanessa, a proud Jamaican living in the U.S. and the founder of CHAITATION, a nonprofit brain sensory wellness bar dedicated to helping kids reclaim their consciousness, emotional intelligence, and creative power.

Originally, I came to the U.S. for dental school, but I quickly realized that my true calling wasn’t fixing teeth, it was healing minds. After witnessing the deep-rooted trauma affecting children here, especially in Cincinnati, where child alcohol abuse is at an all-time high. I knew something had to change.

That’s why I created CHAITATION, a space where kids can unlearn survival mode and step into self-awareness, emotional resilience, and creativity. We blend mindfulness, emotional education, art, and ancestral healing into hands-on experiences that nurture the mind and soul. Through our work, we donate mental wellness services and products to kids in Over-the-Rhine (OTR) because healing should never be a luxury.

At CHAITATION, I lead youth development programs focused on critical thinking, entrepreneurship, and self-discovery. Our team includes a food scientist who designs plant-based, brain-boosting medicine specifically for kids, and an onsite artist who helps them tap into their creative power as a tool for healing and self-expression.

Our mission is clear: Heal the next generation by giving them the tools we never had.

Our original timeline has faced some challenges, but never the lack of passion or effort. Despite this, we pressed forward, manifesting the vision through personal funds and donor support with hopes of reopening by the end of summer. However, with the OTR Community Center set to close May 25, this is now an emergency, and without immediate action, our kids will have no place to interact, learn, grow, and heal this summer.

A Parent’s Perspective

" Their organization provides crucial support, opportunities for personal growth & a positive space for our youth to express themselves, with activities/programs that cater to the diverse interests & challenges faced by our young residents." - Jackie, Parent

A Kid’s Perspective

“If I could run away, I’d runaway here” -Santana, Konscious Kid

At CHAITATION, our mission is to create a holistic, transformative approach to healing and empowering our community. We focus on addressing critical areas of wellness, education, and economic growth that traditional systems often overlook. By providing mental wellness, creative expression, and comprehensive support, we ensure that children, families, and individuals have the tools, spaces, and opportunities they need to thrive, effectively bridging the gaps that prevent true community transformation.

What We Need to Make It Happen

Goal: $20,000 to secure the new CHAITATION space and sustain programs.

Where Your Donation Goes:

Securing the space: Leasing & operational costs.

Expanding after-school & weekend programs: Including a feeding program, homework club, and mind maze summer camp.

Supplies & staffing: Covering essential materials, sensory tools, and hiring trained facilitators.

How You Can Help Beyond Donating

Share Our GoFundMe

Volunteer

In-Kind Donations

Corporate Sponsorships

Stay Connected & See Your Impact

Follow Us for Updates:

www.chaitation.org

Instagram:

• CHAITATION – @chaitation

• Chocolate Potion – @chocolatepotion

• Konscious Kids – @keepthekidkonscious

This is not just about opening a space, it’s about rebuilding our community and ensuring our kids have a future. Every donation, share, and act of support makes a difference.

Join us in making this a reality, Donate today!