At the Saint Luke’s Foundation, we’ve long recognized that true progress comes from addressing the deep-rooted systemic challenges that create disparities in our communities, such as economic inequality and a lack of social connection. With a commitment to ushering transformative change to Cleveland, we constantly seek to expand our learnings from those leading the way around the world. That’s why we are proud to embark on an ongoing strategic learning experience with the St. Croix Foundation, a fellow place-based foundation dedicated to preserving and revitalizing the historic Sunday Market Square. Through this collaboration, we hope to gain valuable insights that will help us build a more equitable and connected Cleveland.
A Rich History of Resilience and Community
Sunday Market Square, one of the oldest planned public squares in the United States, is a powerful symbol of St. Croix’s complex and resilient history. Originally serving as a space for enslaved individuals to gather, socialize, and trade goods dating back to 1733, it was often the only time and place they could do so, and it represents a deep history of economic disenfranchisement and resilience. The square was named for the Sunday gatherings as it was a rare opportunity for the enslaved people of the island to connect, sell produce, and strengthen community bonds.
Over time, Sunday Market Square became a hub for cultural and social exchange, while also serving as a focal point for the island’s development under Denmark’s colonial rule. It is also home to the Alexander Theater, a key community landmark with a rich history of providing entertainment and connection to the people of St. Croix and its heritage. For decades, however, the square was neglected and fell into disrepair, especially after Hurricane Hugo devastated the island in 1989.
The St. Croix Foundation’s Work: Restoration and Renewal
Today, thanks to the tireless efforts of fellow philanthropic partner, St. Croix Foundation, Sunday Market Square is experiencing a renaissance. The square’s historic buildings, including the Alexander Theater, are being carefully restored, preserving their cultural significance while adapting them to serve the modern needs of the community. The renovation of the Alexander Theater, which will also serve as a community disaster shelter, is one of the St. Croix Foundation’s most transformative projects to date, bringing new life to the square and strengthening the island’s ability to recover from future challenges.
This restoration is not just about physical space; it is about restoring a sense of pride, purpose, and social connection to the community. The work being done at Sunday Market Square offers valuable lessons in resilience, community-led development, and creating spaces where all individuals—regardless of their background—can come together, grow, and thrive and ultimately live healthier lives.
Drawing Parallels: St. Croix and Cleveland
While St. Croix’s history is unique, there are clear parallels between the area’s journey of economic and social rebuilding and the challenges we face in Cleveland. Both places have experienced significant economic disenfranchisement and inequity, and both communities are working tirelessly to revitalize key areas and uplift its communities. The St. Croix Foundation’s work in restoring Sunday Market Square and empowering the community offers invaluable insights for us as we seek to address similar challenges in Cleveland.
As part of our strategic learning exchange, we will be meeting and learning with the St. Croix Foundation and their community partners to explore how they’ve addressed these challenges and what we can learn from their successes, tenisons, and strategies. Throughout this process, this strategic partnership is to better understand their model for operationalizing equity and implementing responsive, participatory grantmaking.
Bringing Lessons to Cleveland
Our learning experience with the St. Croix Foundation goes beyond simply visiting a historic site—it’s about forging a partnership that enables us to apply the lessons learned and strategies developed in St. Croix to our work in Cleveland. We will begin this spring in St. Croix and later hosting our partners in Cleveland. By learning from the St. Croix Foundation’s approach to community resilience, we intend to bring back new strategies and innovative practices as we conduct our organization’s strategic refresh, furthering our mission to empower the neighborhoods surrounding Saint Luke’s.
The restoration of Sunday Market Square is just one example of how dedicated organizations are working to repair the social and economic fabric of their communities. We look forward to applying the insights gained from this collaboration to strengthen the foundation’s work in Cleveland, ensuring that our impact is as lasting and transformative as the efforts of our colleagues in St. Croix.
We invite you to stay tuned for exciting updates as our learning journey continues to unfolds.