Shortly after announcing our 2024 Arts In Society grantees, 2024 grantee Rest as Resistance was featured in The Colorado Sun!

*Ashley Cornelius, the 6th Poet Laureate of the Pikes Peak Region. Photo credit: Olivia Sun, The Colorado Sun via Report for America*

The article highlights Ashley Cornelius, founder of the Rest as Resistance project, and the project’s unique upcoming event—a large-scale community nap session—at Colorado Springs' Hillside Community Center on July 13, 2024.

Supported by the Arts in Society grant, the event aims to challenge societal norms that commodify or stigmatize rest, viewing it instead as a form of resistance against a productivity-focused culture.

Inspired by Tricia Hersey's Nap Ministry, Cornelius emphasizes the healing power of rest, particularly for marginalized communities disproportionately affected by societal pressures.

“Tons of folks don’t have access to rest. It’s either commodified or stigmatized...taking a nap is resistance, it’s revolution. It’s a different way to access mental health, which I think people don’t realize or admit.”

— Ashley Cornelius

Participants will engage in activities led by Cornelius, including discussions on the importance of rest, a reflective writing exercise culminating in poetry, and ultimately, a communal nap. Participants will be provided with yoga mats, blankets, and custom tea blends to facilitate relaxation.

Scheduled from 9:30-11:30am on July 13th, the event has already sold out, reflecting widespread interest.

Cornelius plans to expand this initiative to other Colorado communities, aiming to democratize the accessibility of restful practices beyond traditional and often costly forms.