Strike A Pose

Yoga In Our City is expanding with help from Sustainable CT

At CCM we love to share great stories about our friends, and with the Sustainable CT partnership with Yoga In Our City, we get to support two of our friends. This past August, the two organizations successfully crowdfunded over $15,000 to continue to bring Yoga to Connecticut towns and cities which take place in 22 parks across the state, and enable them to expand its reach to more communities across the state. This effort was made possible by the Sustainable CT’s Community Match Fund, a CT&C favorite. Sustainable CT provides opportunities for grant funding through its Community Match Fund program to help communities promote economic well-being and enhance equity, all while respecting the finite capacity of the natural environment. The program is designed to support all Connecticut municipalities, regardless of size, geography, or resources. Sustainable CT empowers municipalities to create a high collective impact for current and future residents.

Over the summer, Yoga In our City ran a dedicated crowdfunding page with a goal to raise $7,500 from donors, with a top match of $7,500 from Sustainable CT. In total, the two raised $15,106 including one major donation from the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity (another CCM partner in Representation Matters).

As we’ve learned from their episode of the Municipal Voice, Yoga In Our City is a mental and physical wellness program that currently holds over 700 classes aimed at folks of all ages, sizes, and abilities in six cities – Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, New London, Waterbury, and Willimantic. Their hope is to reach even more cities and folks across the state.

“Wellness should not be a luxury. Every person, every family, deserves opportunities to improve their mental and physical health in a way that is accessible, convenient, and sustainable,” said Thomas Clynch, Founder of Yoga In Our City said in a press release on the fundraiser. “Regardless of your age or skill level, Yoga In Our City is designed for everyone to have a positive and transformative experience. We are grateful to Sustainable CT for their partnership and the opportunity to expand our program to continue to create healthier communities in Connecticut.”

“We’re thrilled to support an organization like Yoga In Our City that puts residents at the forefront of creating positive, impactful change in our communities,” said Joseph Dickerson, community organizer, and partnership manager, Sustainable CT. “Like all Match Fund projects, this initiative is community-led and community funded, demonstrating the power of people working together to make change where they live.”

It’s exciting to see success in our communities. When a Sustainable CT Match Fund project is completely funded, it becomes just another proof that when we work together we can make great things happen. Seeing Yoga In Our City raise funds to expand their efforts to more folks across the state means that more people will benefit from their program moving forward.