Forbidden Fruit’s inaugural Creative Wellness Residency explores how creative practices support collective well-being.
Artists and wellness practitioners were invited to collaborate, host workshops, and engage community members with public events. This opportunity for professional development and community enrichment provides a sustainable lab space for interdisciplinary artists while offering high-quality art and wellness experiences to the public.
GROWTH PHASE
APRIL 13, 2026
JUNE 7, 2026
One uCity Square in University City
Philadelphia, PA
WHAT'S INSIDE
A Curated Cohort
Public
Programs
6 Weeks of Growth
Community Showcase
Redistributing Space for Creativity & Care
Cities invest millions in culture, but access to those resources doesn’t always reach the artists and healers shaping culture day to day.
The Green Room is our way of redistributing what we can, providing space, resources, and the freedom to grow together.
Resident Facilitators & Artists
Karina Nicole McKenna
Dancer
Karina is an Interdisciplinary Creative and Professional Dance Artist. She holds a certification in Holistic & Integrative Health, currently works as a Flexologist at StretchLab, and is training to become a Hot Pilates Instructor. She believes physical movement allows for holistic healing of the mind, body, and spirit. Karina graduated from Temple University with a B.B.A in Economics and currently dances with Kontrol Productions Dance Company and throughout the Philly community.
Kevin Harris II
Dancer
I am a philly based street dancer who is also classically trained. I am adept in 15 different styles of dance, and i absolutely love the idea of fusion concepts within the styles I train.
Dylan Morgan
From Shoot to Edit: The Complete Creator Workflow
I’m a photographer and videographer based in Philadelphia, specializing in capturing authentic moments and telling compelling visual stories. I manage projects from concept to final edit, working closely with clients to deliver high quality content under tight deadlines. Beyond shooting and editing, I handle scheduling, studio coordination, and creative direction to ensure every project runs smoothly from start to finish.
shanina dionna
Expressive Arts Healing (EAH)
shanina dionna is an interdisciplinary artist and facilitator whose therapeutic practice is grounded in Person-Centered Expressive Arts Therapy and shaped by an integrative, community-based approach. She illuminates visual art, movement, reflection, and culturally responsive space-making as supports for healing, connection, and collective wellness.
Sylvaneta Dent
Dancer
My name is Sylvie I’m a nurse in philly who has about 20 years of dance experience!
JoLeaha Larke
Photography Workshop
JoLeaha Larke is a Philadelphia-based visual artist and photographer known for her portrait and conceptual photography work.<br>
She focuses on capturing authentic, meaningful images rather than superficial content, often emphasizing her subjects' true self in her art. Through the use of digital illustration, and a variety of photographic mediums, she helps her clients and collaborators tell a story.
Rashaun Williams
The Science of Club Music, through a Modern & Indigenous Lens.
Reezey is a DJ, music producer, event curator and community organizer from Philadelphia. He is rooted in “CLUB · AFRO · SOUL” promoting power, wellness, and creative expression for Kinfolk to evolve modern movements through the ancient tradition of song and cypher.
Guest Facilitators
Carley Simone
Sound Expression
I am a social entrepreneur, providing creative solutions to challenges I see and experience. Education, social spaces, grief and living in a city with such a charged dichotomy. I make a living in service and production, paving my way in various industries. Primarily teaching SEL to youth, volunteering as a death doula for grieving families and curating wellness experiences.
Heather Bowlan
From Body to Page
Heather (she/her) is a writer, artist, and organizer who believes that the best art is created through intentional collaboration. Earlier this year, she launched Philly Poetry LFG!!!, a newsletter highlighting Philly’s many poetry communities. From 2023-2025, she was co-director of Philadelphia Small Works Gallery, a space for artists who build community through work that reveals our obsessions, resists oppression, and celebrates our complex connections.
Kairi Suswell
Tactical Education; Self Defense
Kairi Suswell is a security professional, educator, and founder of Essential Elements Security Services, known for developing disciplined, tactically sound protectors. His work integrates physical training with psychological and emotional acuity, equipping individuals and organizations to anticipate, manage, and neutralize real-world threats. Through his Martial Science framework, Suswell cultivates a standard of readiness defined by clarity, precision, and applied intelligence.
Qoura Jones
Functional Herbalism
Rooted in a lifelong connection to plant medicine passed down by my great-grandmother, I am an Integrative Health and Holistic Nutrition student with over a decade of experience in plant-based living and herbal study. My practice blends eight years of independent research with professional experience as a personal chef and health coach to make holistic wellness accessible and grounded. I am dedicated to bringing ancient practice and modern science together to help others take control over their health
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
ARTISTS
Movement artists will collaborate directly with Forbidden Fruit to develop an original movement piece for film and for the final showing.
FACILITATORS
Guest facilitators will lead workshops across disciplines. They’ll receive support from Forbidden Fruit for marketing and logistics.
COMMUNITY
Folks interested in creative wellness, from financial literacy to mindfulness, are invited to grow with public workshops
and events.
