OUr History & VisionThe ReFresh Institute (TRI) launched in 2016 as a creative arts academy with a specific goal in mind. TRI endeavored, from day one, to inspire wellness and empower through the arts. We were committed to serving several neighborhoods in the Chicagoland area. We believed in the power of the arts as a healing tool for individuals of all ages by inspiration and empowerment. Targeting the Chicagoland neighborhoods, TRI partnered with the Timothy Community Center, in the Chicagoland Bronzeville Neighborhood to get started. In our first year of creative arts classes in partnership with TCC, TRI served 10 youth and 3 adults within our first year. We have hosted up to 7 seasons of creative arts class for youth and adults. Our creative arts classes consist of Vocal, Dance (Various Expressions - Ballet, Jazz/Contemporary, HipHop), Painting, Drums/Percussion, and Piano. We have hosted 3 summer dance camps in collaboration with Forever Evolving Dance Company. We have hosted after school classes in partnership with 21st Century Afterschool Program & Oliver Wendell Holmes Elementary School in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago,IL.
In the latter part of 2018, TRI expanded to include worship arts training in their programming. Due to the expansion of our programming, our service field expanded to serving faith-based local assemblies and several regions within the United States of America and abroad, in nations such as the United Kingdom, Suriname, Anguilla, St. Maarten, Holland, & Bahamas. For the following 2 years, the hosted trainings helped to develop the curriculum for what is now known as the Worship Arts Academy component of TRI. In July of 2019, we launched the first of our annual global summit - The ReFresh Summit. The annual summit is a faith based, empowerment summit for worship arts. In the upcoming years, we are planning to incorporate our creative arts component to the summit empowerment. In 2020, TRI shifted it’s structure to fully focus on an institutional structure,offering certifications for programming and training. Presently, TRI is consistently working on improving it’s institutional structure and programming to offer the best empowerment community for our scholars. We are expanding our programming to offer more social, emotional, & spiritual support to accompany our empowerment program through our scholastic support services sector. We are undergoing curriculum and programming team development for our institute to ensure it’s consistent growth with our expansion. We are focused on continuing to provide a quality, vocational empowerment education program and community that will be life changing for our scholars. |
In The Beginning with our president |
ReFresh was birthed in May of 2014 through a burden of compassion for individuals who had a heart and love for the healing power through music; yet were experiencing burnout and droughts in their personal lives. Larraine McCaa, Founder/CEO of The ReFresh Institute,Inc., picked up the torch and carried the burden God placed on her heart to empower those who live and serve in the area of music in the Earth. Knowing the experience of personal burnout, Larraine began hosting empowerment sessions to educate, inspire, and empower all individuals looking for an oasis in life.
The ReFresh sessions began as a ministry event being full of teachings, insight, iron sharpening, intercession, and prophetic movements in worship, prayer, and teaching. In 2018, The ReFresh Institute, Inc, (known as ReFresh Global), is moving onward and expanding to provide solutions through various empowerment, awareness, service & wellness efforts to give people hope for living. We are passionate about refreshing mankind by Rejuvenating the value of one's identity & life, Reviving love through selfless service, and Empowering through education & encounters. Now, moving forward with an evolving vision, The ReFresh Institute, Inc. is moving full speed away as a vocational institute to continue to support and sharpen individuals in their respective vocations. |
This corporation is organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, and religious purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)3 Internal Revenue Code and any future codes