Real Communities: People With and Without Disabilities Work Together in Community Gardens
Media Advisory - June 29, 2013
Real Communities: People With and Without Disabilities Work Together in Community Gardens
Global Growers Network Ribbon Cutting Features Tours, Local Dignitaries, Kids in Veggie Costumes
WHAT: The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities (GCDD) (www.gcdd.org) works to support communities throughout Georgia that are welcoming to all, especially to promote partnerships between people with and without disabilities through its signature program, the, "Real Communities Initiative."
The Global Growers Network Community Gardens in Clarkston – an international community located in DeKalb County – is a GCDD-supported Real Communities Initiative (RCI) project and will host a ribbon cutting and garden tours with local dignitaries to celebrate its first full year of gardening together and successful community building. Children of all ages and many nationalities will be dressed in costumes made from fresh locally grown vegetables.
Community gardeners, with and without disabilities, of various world cultures, will gather after participating in grounds preparation, planting and weeding, some using farming methods from their homelands.
WHY: Refugee Family Services/Global Growers Network and its community garden welcomes people of every nationality, and people of all abilities. It's located in Clarkston, a one-square mile area known as the most diverse city in the nation with immigrants and refugees from more than 60 different countries who speak various languages and dialects. Community gardening provides a great opportunity for all people to come together and compare ideas. Community gardening also connects people through their love of the land and the sharing of food. More importantly, enthusiasm for gardening and working towards a common goal can transcend any language or social barrier, notably disability. The goal is to create a community where everyone can belong.
Link to see the GCDD RCI video on the Global Growers Network: http://gcdd.org/news-a-media/videos/viewvideo/27/international-harvesting-in-clarkston-captioned.html
WHEN: Saturday, June 29, 2013
TIME: 1:00PM – 4:00PM
WHERE: Clarkston – Forty Oaks Nature Preserve – 3790 Market St. – Clarkston, GA 30021
WHO: Refugee Family Services / Global Growers Network / Community Gardens / GCDD RCI
- Welcome and Introduction - Basmaat Ahmed, GCDD RCI Community Builder
- Invited Dignitaries and Local Officials
- Tactile Growers Group – Raj Mehta
- GED Women's Group – Amin Ali
- GCDD – Eric E. Jacobson, executive director
- Young Women Leadership – Fadoma Mohamed
- Global Growers Network – Susan Povlin
- Dancers
- Face-Painters
- Children in Vegetable Costume Contest
