Toci’s mission is driven to provide a safe, accessible (walking distance) and fun environment that allows creative expression, art education, new experiences, and unique art programs. This in turn will build a united community that will form lasting relationships that offer love and support of each other.

Our long term goals are to purchase equipment that will allow us to Provide pottery, sewing, woodworking, and digital art to our community on a daily basis. Our goals is to reach a minimum of 700 underserved youth and elders of the community - (disabled youth,  LGBTQIA, low income, and elders.) 

The East Side Community of Chicago is an extremely underserved community. Providing free quality art will give our community a place to congregate while learning how to create beautiful pieces of art. Toci’s Art Co-Op hopes to provide & maintain a space for all to grow in the arts. The arts encourage self expression and creativity. It also promotes confidence as well as individual identity. Art helps stimulate imagination, as well as cognitive and problem solving skills. Art is also known to help with anxiety, depression and other social emotional issues. Having a base for self expression and a safe haven is essential in our community.

We hope to partner with local artists from the community to share their expertise. By building relationships with artists, mentors, businesses, activists and community leaders. Together we will have the ability to educate our community to value the arts that in turn will instill pride in our community.

Ines Ornelas
Chair of the Board of Directors/Mentor/Artist