How We Got Here

The Emerald Avenue Foundation was born from a blend of memory, movement, and magic.

Our founder, Sabrina, grew up on the South Side of Chicago — where concrete blocks became canvases, church basements transformed into stages, and front porches held more wisdom than classrooms. Raised by women who bore the weight of the world with grace and grit, Sabrina learned early that creativity wasn’t just expression — it was survival.

Emerald Avenue isn’t just a name. It’s a symbol. A love letter. A map.
It draws inspiration from The Wiz — that vibrant, soulful reimagining of Oz where the yellow brick road was laced with rhythm and resilience, and the journey home was one of self-discovery, courage, and community.

Like Dorothy, we believe the power was in us all along.
We created The Emerald Avenue Foundation as a place where people could come home to themselves — especially Black youth and creatives who've been told they don’t belong.
Here, the curtains part and the stage opens wide for healing, joy, and radical imagination.

What started as a series of open mics and grassroots workshops evolved into a nonprofit rooted in rhythm and resistance. Today, The Emerald Avenue Foundation is a home for the arts, a platform for emerging voices, and a launchpad for community transformation.

We’re still growing, still dreaming, still dancing down the avenue.
And just like in The Wiz, we know:
There’s no place like this.