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Touch Gift Foundation, NFP ® Announces Grand Opening of The Co LAB-oratory Training Institute

A Wealth-Building Hub for Education, Workforce, and Creative

Opportunity in Chatham, Chicago’s South Side


Chatham, Chicago, IL — January 23, 2026 —Touch Gift Foundation, NFP ® (TGF™)

proudly announces the Grand Opening of The Co-LAB-oratory Training Institute (CTI), a

transformative, community-centered hub designed to support wealth-building through

education, workforce development, digital equity, and creative enterprise in Chatham,

Chicago’s South Side. The grand opening celebration will take place on Friday, January

23, 2026, marking a major milestone in the Foundation’s mission to move individuals

and families from survival to stability—and from stability to economic growth.


The Co-Laboratory Training Institute is intentionally designed as a multi-purpose

learning and production space that brings together adult education, digital literacy,

workforce training, creative media production, and community resources under one roof.

CTI represents a strategic investment in community infrastructure, created to help

individuals build skills, increase their earning power, and access long-term economic

mobility.

Grand Opening Event Details

● VIP Reception 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM

● Doors Open to the Public 11:45 AM

● Official Ribbon Cutting 12:00 PM


The celebration will convene community partners, funders, educators, creatives,

workforce leaders, and residents. Guests will tour the space, meet the team, and experience how TGF™ CTI is designed to turn access into opportunity—and opportunity into wealth.


Inside TGF™ co-LAB-oratory Training Institute

TGF™ CTI is purpose-built to serve individuals across life stages and career pathways,

with programming intentionally designed to support income growth, career

advancement, and ownership of skills. Offerings include:


● Adult Education + Literacy Programs (Reading, Writing, Math, and High School Equivalency Preparation)

● Digital Learning Lab (Computer skills, AI training, and workforce technology)

● Career Exploration & Leadership Development

● co-LAB-oratory Co-Working Suite

● Workforce + Apprenticeship Pathways

● Media Suite + Creative Production Space (Podcasting, audio recording,

content creation)

● Lov’N the Streetz Community Resource Access + Outreach Programming


“This is a bridge to economic power,” said Keona Owens, Founder & Executive Director

of Touch Gift Foundation. “The co-LAB-oratory Training Institute exists to create access,

restore dignity, and open doors to wealth-building opportunities. We’re building

pathways where education, creativity, and workforce readiness intersect—so our

community can grow, own, and thrive.”


“Having worked alongside Keona and Touch Gift Foundation since 2019, I’ve seen what

intentional, community-centered leadership can build,” said Laisha McDaniel, CEO of

LLF-Consulting, LLC. “The co-LAB-oratory Training Institute is a launchpad for

economic mobility. Through career readiness and leadership development, this space

will help individuals build sustainable careers and lasting futures.”


“The co-LAB-oratory Training Institute is designed as a full ecosystem, not a

collection of programs,” said Bevon Joseph, Founder of Bevon’s Mentee Network.

“Working in partnership with Keona Owens and her bold, community-rooted vision,

our work through Bevon’s Mentee Network and the Digital Learning Lab is deeply connected to everything else happening in the building, education, workforce pathways, creative production, and community resources. That level of intentional integration is what turns access into agency and skills into sustainable income.”


A Community-Driven Wealth Vision

Since its founding in 2018, Touch Gift Foundation has served hundreds of thousands of

individuals across Chicagoland through education, outreach, and workforce initiatives.

The co-LAB-oratory Training Institute is the next evolution of that work—rooted in

collaboration, accountability, and love in action, with a clear focus on helping communities build sustainable wealth and long-term security.


TGF™ CTI Partners

● 4s Bay, LLC

● IL State Library Division (AdultEd Literacy)

● DePaul Irwin W. Steans Center

● MidWest Food Bank (Lov’n the Streetz Essential Xchange)

● Bevon’s Mentee Network (Digital Learning Lab / Financial Literacy)

● LLF-Consulting, LLC (Career Clinic / Leadership Development)

● S.I.M.P., Inc.(Career Clinic / Leadership Development)

● Purple Path by Dr. J (Restorative Justice Clinic)

● Burst into Books Community Arts Center


TGF™ CTI Powered by

● Chase Bank, INC

● Effortless Branding

● Office Furniture Resources

● Main Street Real Estate Group

● Smith Gambrell Russell

● Green Standard

● US Cellular

● Fringe Chicago

● Dustin Gearhart

● Jeremiah Owens

● Keona Owens


Media & Partnership Opportunities

Media representatives are invited to attend the grand opening, conduct interviews, and

capture visuals of the space and ribbon-cutting. Community partners, sponsors, and

collaborators interested in programming, sponsorship, or shared wealth-building initiatives are encouraged to connect.


For more information or to RSVP for media access, please contact Dr. Jarmese Sherrod

at 708-405-9282 or Drjarmesesherrod@gmail.com.


About Touch Gift Foundation

Touch Gift Foundation, NFP®, is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization committed to

eliminating the poverty mindset and empowering individuals through education,

workforce development, digital equity, and community outreach. Guided by its core

values—Leading through Love, Independence, Visibility, Empowerment, and Security &

Sustainability (L.I.V.E.S.)—TGF™ creates transformative programs that help individuals

and families build lasting stability, economic mobility, and generational success.


Our Impact

Through the dedication of our team and the generosity of supporters like you, Touch Gift

Foundation has delivered meaningful, measurable impact across Chicago communities:

● Lov’N the Streetz Outreach (3/2018 – 12/2024): Served 102,242 individuals,

providing essential resources, outreach support, and community care.

● Adult Education Services (7/1/2019 - 6/30/2025) Trained 1,534 learners and

delivered 467 educational workshops, advancing literacy, digital skills, and

workforce readiness.


Together, these efforts represent a proven foundation of service, trust, and

transformation—powering the launch of The Co-LAB-oratory Training Institute as the next chapter in long-term wealth building and economic mobility.


SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES


 
 
 

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