Neighbor-Space

In honor of Angela Taylor, we just chipped in. Friends, please consider making a contribution to this wonderful community organization.

"I wanted to acknowledge the incredible work Angela Taylor has been doing over the years with the Youth Garden Corps. I believe it is an excellent grassroots program that creates a sense of belonging for young adults in Garfield Park and the community as a whole." - Raj S.

The above quote comes from a donor to the Youth Garden Corps Appeal this year, and it really gets to the spirit of why this program is so important to support the system of wellness that we have been building in Garfield Park for 13 years. But did you know that Angela Taylor has been building community through gardens for over 20 years? When Angela moved to West Garfield Park nearly 30 years ago, she began to clean up the empty lot that was next to her home and turn it into a community garden, partially as a way to continue the legacy of her father, who was a prolific gardener.

Angela’s gardening became a natural way for her to meet community members who are also interested in feeding their families and communities through gardening. One day, she was working with the Garfield Park Conservatory to improve her garden and was waiting in the Conservatory’s foyer, shelling peas and talking with people coming and going. Slowly, a small crowd of people gathered around her, helped her to shell peas, and talked about food and gardens. This unexpected gathering of community members became a driving motivation to create more community gardens in her community.

Angela has countless stories of the people who she has met through her work in her gardens, including Gina Jamison. Angela worked with Ms. Gina to design and install the Kuumba Tre-Ahm Community Garden, which is now a pillar of our Garden Network and hosts the Youth Garden Corps each summer. The Youth Garden Corps builds on this legacy, by ensuring that neighborhood youth have the opportunity to build cross-generational community with people who are making Garfield Park a healthier place to live.

Like Raj, you have the opportunity to support this program that has been building a grassroot network of youth who feel like they can support their community through gardening and urban agriculture. If you know any youth who may be interested in joining this legacy, they can apply here.

We have raised $2,800 in donations and pledges for the Youth Garden Corps, which have been matched by an anonymous donor in honor of Angela Taylor, bringing us to $5,600. We need another $800 to maximize our matching donation and another $2,800 to help us reach our goal of $10,000. The appeal ends next week, so there’s not a better time to donate than now!

If you are interested in donating via check or donor advised fund, please contact Development and Communications Manager Patrick Gallagher Landes at [email protected].