When Sidney Francois-Friis BS ’19 graduated in December 2019, his future was all planned out. He stepped into 2020 as a media strategist for a global company, one of 10 graduates hired after a national recruitment effort.

Then, March 2020 arrived.

“That was a reality check,” said Francois-Friis, who was laid off that month and forced to give up his plans. “Everything changed and went into silent mode. But I didn’t look back.”

Reimagining his future, he turned the world’s misfortune into community service.

“That May, I started leading free outdoor workouts. We started with five people,” said Francois-Friis. Eventually—thanks to social media—his sessions on the Jones College Prep/NTA track and field grew to 90 attendees, sparking a business idea.

Francois-Friis founded fitness company Yogaletics in 2021, inspired by his first-ever yoga class at Helwig Recreation Center. The class was a revelation, inspiring him to share the practice with men and people of color.

My whole organization is rooted in faith, from trusting and believing in God.

“As an athlete, I experienced many injuries. Yoga taught me the importance of flexibility and strength,” said Francois-Friis, who was a defensive back for the Viking football team.

Yoga also allows the body to release trauma, he said. In addition to workouts, Yogaletics offers lifestyle coaching, meditation and breath work classes, and courses that branch into restorative justice.

Francois-Friis has been sponsored by Nike and Under Armour, established partnerships with Dominican University and the Chicago Urban League, and brought 15 Chicago kids to Colombia to explore what it means to be African American in the diaspora.

His motivation, he said, comes from his Christian faith.

“I know this work is bigger than me. My whole organization is rooted in faith, from trusting and believing in God,” said Francois-Friis. “That journey started at North Park. God is allowing me to live my purpose.”