Land Land Sovereignty phlassembled.net #phlassembled #sovereignty 1 Roots

Introduction 3 Roots Kirtrina Baxter

The Sacred Garden Resilience Collective Black self-recovery takes place when we begin NCCDC Veterans and Youth Business Garden 6 to renew our relationship to the Earth, when we remember the way of our ancestors. When the earth is sacred to us, Historic Fair hill Burial Grounds 10 our bodies can also be sacred.

—bell hooks Urban Creators-Life Do Grow Farm 14

Norris Square Neighborhood Project 18 When I was first in conversa- is where this publication begins, tions to be part of this project is both about how communities Revival that is Philadelphia Assembled, reimagine abandoned spaces in I made a point of noting that, in their neighborhood and how they Dusty Hinz 25 this country, I believe we lose all reclaim those spaces as their own.

sovereignty at birth. There can be It is about ROOTS, RESILIENCE, Amanda Spitfire 30 no true sovereignty here. This, of REVIVAL, and RESOURCES, which

course, is based on what I under- is how we have collectively con- Kamau Blakney 32 stand sovereignty to be. One of ceived of the chapters that follow. Resources the beautiful things about collec- tive thinking is that it leaves room As part of Philadelphia Directory 34 for multiple perspectives. During Assembled, we highlight four the course of this project, I have organizations that manage com- Further Reading 39 been introduced to many ideas munity gardening and farming around sovereignty: personal— spaces in North Philadelphia. as in, the ability to claim control These community spaces are in over our bodies; financial—as in, neighborhoods that are mostly when community-based busi- inhabited by Black and/or Latino nesses produce and distribute people. Land tenure, which is products to help support cultural sustained ownership of property, preservation and encourage en- in these communities has been trepreneurship among residents; tenuous over the last 30 years. cultural—as in practicing and In fact, Black land ownership has preserving ancestral ways through been on a steady decline since community, alongside others. the 1980s. For me, land sovereignty, which

2 3 And while Latino households When residents take steward- haven’t always experienced this ship over neglected, abandoned steady DECLINE, they have properties and create productive, Resilience experienced migratory shifts in safe spaces for their families and Profiled here are the four community gardens and farm spaces we are the city due to the influx of white neighbors—THIS is sacred! working with as part of Philadelphia Assembled. Each is accompanied populations, or, what we know as —Kirtrina Baxter by a seed or plant story that speaks to the organization and the ways in gentrification. Other reasons for which they stay resilient in the midst of the city’s change. this decline include drugs, crime, and redistricting.

These spaces were chosen for Philadelphia Assembled because of their geographical location in proximity to each other as well as their stories of resilience. Our aim is to share their stories of commu- nity resistance and pride through various art mediums, including movement, documentaries, recipes, workshops, sculptures, paintings and plants. You will experience these stories through the eyes of our young people, the wisdom of our elders, the warmth of our kitchens and the healing in our soil.

When communities unify to re- claim land in their neighborhoods and put it back into production for the benefit of the people who live in these areas, THIS is a sovereign act! When these spaces begin to produce food for the hungry, save herbs for the sick, and provide safe havens for chil- dren to play, THIS is sovereignty!

4 5 development. As time progresses, gentrification moving in from the NCPSCDC is becoming popular south and east, these gardens are for many community activities a unique haven. The lands are sa- such as holiday giveaways, where cred ground, where people across neighbors share gifts, games, and generations join together to sing, home-cooked meals. There is also celebrate, dance to Bomba, and a great buzz about the weekly plant seeds of community and food distribution for neighbors to nourishment - moving in harmony take home. toward the more just world we all believe in. The NCPSCDC gardens live as sites of resilience against the violent and oppressive forces active in this neighborhood of West Kensington. From a deadly drug culture pushing from the North Central Philadelphia Susquehanna north, to the displacement of Community Development Corporation 1601–3 North 16th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19121

Established in July 2014, guests to take part in various NCPSCDC is a grassroots effort information sessions, workshops, founded by Tinamarie Russell. In computer lab programs, after the beginning, the group focused school activities, men’s groups, on street cleaning initiatives, and much more. As helpers and veterans, youth mobilization, and examples for others, NCPSCDC mentorship. During these early aims to keep up the momentum stages, the NCPSCDC started to of what has been built in these transform vacant lots into public past years, to remain in good gardens and parks. Russell was standing, and to develop whole- also privileged to become the some relationships and service block captain of the 1600 block within North Philadelphia. of West Susquehanna. Presently NCPSCDC has grown NCPSCDC opened the doors of in membership and has elected its community/business center a board of directors, which plays in 2016 and since has allowed a pivotal role in the group’s

6 7 Seed Story Milkweed

Milkweed, because our theme is the monarch butterfly. Milkweed are planted in a pattern. Just like the enslaved Africans on the underground railroad, we had a path that we followed to get to freedom. This still holds true today; we need that road to sovereignty for our communities. I feel like both monarchs and working-class Blacks are endangered for some of the same reasons— concrete, asphalt, and water.

—Tinamarie Russell Illustration: Eric Battle

8 9 used from 1703 until the 1960s. It was one of the first racially inte- grated cemeteries in Philadelphia. Among those buried are many prominent women’s rights activists and abolitionists from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Historic Fair Hill Burial Ground 2901 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19133

Fair Hill Burial Ground and its The land that is now Historic surrounding neighborhood are Fair Hill was part of a large terri- located on Germantown Avenue, tory given by William Penn to his a street that was once a Lenni friend George Fox, the English -Lenape trade route. When founder of Quakerism. On his Europeans colonized this land, death in 1691, Fox left this plot to it became a major thoroughfare American Quakers for use as between Philadelphia and outly- “a stable, a Meetinghouse and ing rural areas. burying place.” At that time, the area consisted of farmland and woods outside the Philadelphia city limits.

In 1703, the original Meeting House was built. In the years that followed, the land saw great change as the city grew around it. The Quaker burial ground was

10 11 Seed Story Bindweed

I spent the last four years digging up bindweed at Historic Fair Hill Burial Ground in North Philadelphia.

Bindweed, Convolvulus arvensis, aka wild morning glory, aka Quaker heart breaker, is a creeping herbaceous perennial plant, with alternating inch-long, arrow-shaped leaves and quarter-sized white and pink trumpet flowers. Its vines stran- gle all it touches and its roots starve the soil of nutrients. Each plant can produce 500 seeds a season, and each seed can remain viable in the soil for up to 20 years. Worse still, bindweed has a deep, extensive root system that stores carbohydrates and proteins, which allows it to sprout repeatedly from rhizome fragments.

The trick is to get as much root as possible. Mindless, frantic pulling doesn’t work - the roots remain just under the sur- face and new vines grow easily. Bindweed must be dug up as if you intend to get every last inch of it, even though you never will. This is the great paradox of bindweed: dig at it like you can get it all, but know that you probably can’t. Any effort less than all your effort will result in bindweed spread- ing and spreading and spreading.

Eventually though, the bindweed does go away—but only if we are persistent and relentless, if we dig deep every time. There will come a time when the root systems are exhaust- ed and seeds expire. And should we be lucky enough to raise our children without Convolvulus arvensis, we must still teach them how to spot bindweed and how to dig it up, so if it ever appears in their gardens they will know how to deal with it: deeply, constantly, carefully, patiently, and with friends. Illustration: Eric Battle —Bri Barton

12 13 center, and their home. Through this process, they are equipping a wide range of stakeholders with the skills, tools, pedagogy, and networks to take the health of their communities into their own hands, while igniting a generation of civi- cally engaged growers, innovators, and urban creators.

Urban Creators, Life Do Grow Farm 2315 North 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19133

Urban Creators is a grassroots communities and to transform organization in North a two-acre garbage dump into Philadelphia, transforming a farm. They spent their first neglected landscapes into year organizing door-to-door dynamic safe spaces that foster to gauge the interest and ideas connectivity, self-sufficiency, and shared by community members innovation. They are communi- and stakeholders, and designing ty organizers who utilize urban a theory of change. They spent agriculture, interest-based learn- their second year clearing away ing, artistic expression, restorative debris and planting the first seeds justice, and celebration as tools of a movement to remediate the for neighborhood stabilization polluted soils of injustice in and youth development. North Philly.

Urban Creators was founded in The third year saw the transfor- 2010 by a diverse group of young mation of this land into LIFE DO people, unified by a vision to GROW, an urban farm, com- bridge the gap between isolated munity resource and innovation

14 15 The Urban Creators GROW, an urban farm, com- Seed Story 2315 North 11th Street, Philadel- munity resource and innovation center, and their home. Through phia this process, they are equipping Sunflower a wide range of stakeholders with The Urban Creators is a grassroots organization rooted in North Phil- the skills, tools, pedagogy, and An hour across Lake Pontchartrain in the middle adelphia, transforming neglected networks to take the health of of the Louisiana boot sits a farm with trees dressed landscapes into dynamic safe their communities into their own as Orishas (African goddesses/gods). Before the spaces that foster connectivity, hands, while igniting a genera- Urban Creators got its namesake, its creators were self-sufficiency, and innovation. tion of civically engaged growers, on a bus headed to meet Sunflower, an amazing They are community organizers innovators, and urban creators. spiritual farmer, healer, and chef. Upon our arriv- who utilize urban agriculture, al to her farm she read our numerology chart and interest-based learning, artistic told us we were there as a movement to centralize expression, restorative justice, our communities around food and freedom. and celebration as tools for neigh- Sunflower passed last year. We didn’t get to say borhood stabilization and youth goodbye. But she lives through us at LIFE DO development. GROW farm. The plant that best symbolizes Urban Creators is a sunflower. Its soil remediation The Urban Creators was found- capabilities symbolize the work we do around ed in North Central Philadelphia community revitalization and youth violence 2010 by a diverse group of young prevention. Our space has attracted migratory people, unified by a vision to birds, bees, and butterflies to feast on the huge bridge the gap between isolated sunflowers that surround our farm. Our smallest communities and transforming a young person at two years old planted a 19-foot two-acre garbage dump into a sunflower. Her legacy lives on in everyone that farm. They spent their first year blooms around. When you turn the corner from organizing door-to-door to gauge Dauphin to 11th Street and you see the tall, bright the interest and ideas shared by yellow, orange, and black flowers, you know community members and stake- you’re at LIFE DO GROW. holders, and designing our theory —Jeaninne Kayembe of change. They spent their sec- ond year clearing away debris and planting the first seeds of a move- ment to remediate the polluted soils of injustice in North Philly. The third year saw the transfor- mation of this land into LIFE DO Illustration: Eric Battle

16 17 current programs. NSNP envi- sions a community where youth and adults can positively engage one another, promote cultural awareness and preservation, and advocate for a healthier future for their neighborhoods. We aspire to connect generations and use our space to enable youth and community members to be the change-makers in their lives and the lives of their families.

Norris Square Neighborhood Project 2141 North Howard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19122

Norris Square Neighborhood and later the Pennsylvania Project (NSNP) was founded in Horticultural Society, began fight- 1973 by an elementary school ing to reclaim vacant land and rec- teacher, a professor, and a group reate it into garden spaces where of Puerto Rican women activists community residents could grow named Grupo Motivos in the West their own food in their communi- Kensington neighborhood of Phil- ty. Over 26 years they created six adelphia. This group of women, gardens that reflected their home- all from different backgrounds, land of Puerto Rico that they once together sought to create a safe left behind. At the same time, space for youth in the community these women activists initiated a and to reclaim community spaces practice of intercultural learning, at a time when their neighborhood working with Natalie Kempner struggled with violence linked to and Helen Loeb, as they educated a deadly drug culture. Beginning community youth about garden- in 1980, Iris Brown and Tomasita ing, the environment, and Puerto Romero, in partnership with the Rican culture. It is this grassroots other women of Grupo Motivos, activist work that grounds NSNP’s

18 19 Seed StorY Seed Story Gandules, Gandules, or or Pigeon Peas

Pigeon Gandules are a staple crop in Puerto Rican cooking and an essential ingredient in the traditional dish Arroz con Gandules. Peas Puerto Rican gardeners across North Philly have been coaxing this seed to grow for decades. They often begin in February, pressing seeds into damp soil in their basements to get a jump Gandules are a staple crop in on the growing season. As a tropical perennial of the Caribbean, Puerto Rican cooking and an gandules have to adjust to Philly’s short growing season. Both essential ingredient in the their brilliant yellow flowers and delicious seeds are an inspiration traditional dish Arroz con Gan- of resilience, a symbol that immigrant communities and their dules. Puerto Rican gardeners cultures can survive and thrive on new land. across North Philly have been —Marian Dalke coaxing this seed to grow for decades. They often begin in February, pressing seeds into damp soil in their basements to get a jump on the growing season. As a tropical perennial of the Caribbean, gandules have to adjust to Philly’s short grow- ing season. Both their brilliant yellow flowers and delicious seeds are an inspiration of resilience, a symbol that immi- grant communities and their cultures can survive and thrive on new land.

—Marian Dalke Illustration: Eric Battle

20 21

Arroz con Gandules Directions

3 tbsp oil (veg. corn, or olive oil) One ¼ lb country ham, cubed (if desired) Heat oil in a medium, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Add ham to pan; cook until 2 tbsp sofrito* brown, about 5 minutes. Stir the sofrito sauce; 2 packets sazón cook, stirring occasionally, scraping up brown bits from bottom, 10 minutes. Add sazón, garlic, 1 tbsp garlic, minced cilantro or recao. Cook until fragrant, about 2 tsp finely chopped fresh cilantro or recao 30 seconds.

1½ c medium grain white rice Two Add rice to pan. Cook, stirring frequently, 1can (15 oz) gandules/green pigeon peas until coated in oil and toasted, about 1 minute. 4 oz tomato sauce Stir in pigeon peas, tomato sauce, olives and 1½ cups water; using a wooden spoon, stir ¼ c manzanilla olives, sliced once and bring rice mixture to a boil. Cook, *Sofrito is a seasoning blend that is common in Caribbean uncovered until water is evaporated, about dishes. To make your own sofrito, blend together: 10 minutes. Gently stir rice from bottom up.

1 white onion, peeled and chopped Three Lower heat to medium-low and cook, covered, 10 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped until rice is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove 1 green bell pepper, stemmed saucepan from heat. Gently fluff rice with fork. and deseeded Cover pan and let stand, 5 minutes. ½ lb ají dulce peppers, stemmed and deseeded (you can use Cubanelle Arroz con Gandules recipe by Evelyn Matos, adapted from http://www.goya.com/english/ peppers if you don’t have ajíces) recipes/arroz-con-gandules

1 bunch recao/culantro (you can use Sofrito recipe adapted from http://delishdlites.com/latin-recipes/puerto-rican-sofrito-recipe/ cilantro if you don’t have recao) 2 tsp oregano (if fresh, double the amount) 1 tsp salt 1 sp oil

22 23 decide what their relationship to increasing agricultural production, neighboring communities and the and led to the 20th-century explo- Revival larger region will be. sion in human population. “Now, Personal Testimonies of roughly a third of all the protein II. Annual Staple Crop (animal and vegetable) consumed Sovereignty and Survival Agriculture and Synthetic by humankind is derived from Nitrogen Fertilizer synthetic nitrogen fertilizer.” Dusty Hinz Annual staple crop agriculture Perennial Tree Crop Agriculture and Sovereign Rural (in the United States this is To feed the global demand for Hinterlands: an Exploration of the Possible primarily corn, soybeans, and synthetic nitrogen fertilizer, three A Brief Polemic wheat) degrades soil health and to five percent of the world’s fertility. Annual means that the natural gas production is burned crop is planted and harvested all in the manufacturing process. I. The Urban/Rural Dichotomy this basic premise, and in the spirit in one growing season. Annual In terms of what might be called of a healthy discussion about what tillage (using a tractor to break Let that sink in. Food for thought: our “material reality,” human sovereignty embodies, I would ask up the soil and prepare it) How sovereign can the human civilization comprises the rise and the reader to grapple with these damages soil structure and also species really be when such a growth of both cities and rural questions question: Is true sover- leads to massive amounts of top- huge portion of our caloric intake agriculture, in mutual conjunction. eignty achievable inside the con- soil run-off, whereby our precious is directly dependent upon the You can’t have more people in the fines of a city? Is true sovereignty soil flows into waterways. use of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer? city without more food being pro- achievable when one is depen- The production of which requires duced in rural areas to feed them. dent upon the vast intricacies of The element nitrogen is critical for vast amounts of natural gas, a (I fully support urban agriculture, the global economic system? robust plant growth. To supple- non-renewable, finite resource. especially when it is inspiring ment this loss of fertility in our young people and building com- Total community sovereignty soils due to annual staple crops, Not to mention, the massive munity, but the amount of staple can only exist if there is direct, nitrogen fertilizer is added to ag- amount of synthetic nitrogen fer- human calories produced inside of profound control and ownership ricultural fields. In a natural farm tilizer doused on agricultural fields the city is miniscule). over the land and the local food system, this can come in the form spill into waterways, which creates system that provide all necessary of decomposed cow poop. a toxic imbalance, and causes Constantly, every single day, all human calories. “dead zones” in our rivers. cities require the perpetual impor- However, in 1909, the scientists tation of resources from outside of Inside of this definition, is there Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch So we are up a creek, but is there the city. This means food, building room for a larger “bioregional” developed a way to produce a paddle? materials, energy, and other sup- food system and trading? Yes, but “synthetic” nitrogen fertilizer, plies—all for consumption in the food sovereignty begins with the a process that requires high city. In a globalized economy, this autonomous community that pre- pressure and high temperature. means receiving products from sides over a land base and their This discovery changed the all over the world. Beginning with local food systems, and then they course of history by dramatically

24 25 III. Perennial Staple Tree He foresaw the unsustainable The tree cropping system that There have been years where Rut- Crop Agriculture nature of annual corn and he has developed does not use ter’s neighbors’ corn crop has died Humanity needs staple food crops soybean agriculture long ago, pesticides (which kill insects) or because of lack of rain, but his ha- to survive. Vegetables are not and he decided to try to do some- herbicides (which kill weeds). In zelnuts still put off a good harvest. what we define as “staple crops,” thing about it. addition to the issues with annual These tree crops are tough, robust, though they do provide important staple crops previously discussed, and stand a good chance in our nutrients to the human diet. Staple Rutter’s vision has always been to the corn and soybean growing volatile times. crops (corn, rice, wheat, potatoes, make these perennial nut trees methods in the United States use cassava, soybeans, sweet pota- into serious staple crop con- immense amounts of chemicals Below is an important quote from toes, sorghum, dry beans) provide tenders. His breeding process is to kill insects and weeds, and are an assessment report by the Inter- a significant portion of essential rigorous and scientific, and he has essentially “anti-nature.” Rutter’s governmental Panel on Climate human calories. gone through multiple rounds of agro-ecological method of growing Change: selection over the past 35 years. hazelnuts and chestnuts works with Unfortunately, all of the above A large fraction of anthropogenic He has selected for disease and nature, and develops hardy plants are annuals, and have the afore- climate change resulting from CO2 insect resistance, productivity, in a quasi-wild ecosystem. Farm mentioned problems. [carbon] emissions is irreversible on particular growth habits, drought animals can graze on the grass that a multi-century to millennial time resistance, and more. grows between the rows of trees However, in the plant world, “pe- scale, except in the case of a large and bushes, and the manure they rennial” plants also exist, which net removal of CO2 [carbon] from Chestnuts are erect trees that grow drop feeds natural nitrogen to the can live for many years, decades, the atmosphere over a sustained to 30 to 40 feet tall. They can be trees. and sometimes centuries. Bushes made into a flour, which is com- period. and trees fall into this category. parable to corn meal, but much The potential impact of these Basically, this means that the healthier for humans. Hazelnuts perennial staple tree crops is huge, To avoid the pitfalls of annual greenhouse gases that humanity are a perennial bushing plant, with but Rutter claims that it will take staple crop agriculture, there is an has burned over the last couple many wooden shoots that branch the dedication of small farmers emerging agricultural philosophy hundred years, which are causing out from the crown (the crown sits learning, organizing, and rally- that proposes the development global warming, must be removed atop the roots right below the soil ing around each other to make it of perennial, staple crops to feed from the atmosphere to halt ca- surface). Hazelnuts are 60 to 70 happen. humanity critical calories. tastrophe. Where can these gases percent oil; soybeans, an annual go? Well, perennial tree crop agri- Philip Rutter is 67 years old. He staple that is to comparable hazel- IV. Perennial Agriculture and Cli- culture actually sequesters carbon completed his coursework for a nuts, also have high oil content. mate Change (same thing as greenhouse gases) PhD in evolutionary biology from Though again, the hazels are much Climate change is also very in the soil as well as the wood and the University of Minnesota healthier for humans. relevant here. Philip Rutter’s book roots of the plants. in the 1970s. Instead of writing on growing Hazelnuts has the sub- his thesis, he elected to buy a With the proper economy of title: “The New Resilient Crop for So in addition to these plants be- 160-acre farm in southern Minne- scale, harvesting machinery, and a Changing Climate.” Simply put, ing more resilient, we can actually sota and began his life’s work of processing equipment, Rutter annual staple crops are much more be fighting climate change with breeding and growing hazelnuts believes hazelnuts could replace vulnerable to drought and other greenhouse gas-sucking tree crop and chestnuts. soybeans today. freakish weather events. farm systems! Bam! 26 27 It is also important to note that because, as he told me personal- tilling soil actually releases carbon ly, “they can survive war.” Hazel- into the atmosphere. nuts and chestnuts coppice very well, which means they can be cut V. Connecting the Dots or burned to the ground and they Amanda Spitfire Philip Rutter’s grand vision has will grow back—they are difficult been about replacing corn and to kill. In an unstable world, these Supporting people in reclaiming energetic, and spiritual health. soybeans with chestnuts and are stable, durable plants. their voices, power, control and Control and power over health, hazelnuts: he has sought to authority over their lives, narratives, wellness, home, land, and food. accomplish this by proving to ex- Our society is largely predicated thoughts, bodies and actions is a Strategizing for freedoms to walk isting farmers that they can make on corporate efficiency and the central aspect of all the work through the world as we are with- money by switching over to these bottom line, and from this many I do. From trauma informed out being targeted, stigmatized, perennials. and far-ranging hierarchical and narrative therapy to trauma in- or infringed upon for who we are. exploitative relationships persist. formed anti oppression work and Even in the absence of a com- With the development of new, everything in between—this is the Take Back the Night plete farm paradigm shift, these perennial staple crops, there is an main focus of the work I share with Merging space, body, movement tree crops can undergird sover- opportunity to build social models others and try to realize daily for and voice sovereignty through eign, alternative communities. based on cooperation and com- myself. The people I surround reclaiming voice, safety, space, munalism that flow directly from community and language. Creating In the rural hinterlands there myself with—those I call loved them. This is exciting! space for the testimony of violence exists the opportunity for auton- ones, comrades, family and community— are just as important and resiliency. Knowing survivors omous communities to build sov- To achieve radical community as the work. Our shared struggle, have a right to be seen, heard, ereign, hyper-local food systems, sovereignty, let’s build communal resiliency and strength in our and heal. on a land base that they control homesteads with hazelnuts and lived work, makes life motivating, and own. A truly sovereign food chestnuts. We can fight climate eclectic and shared. Up Against the Law system cannot rely upon outside change, build healthy farm eco- Merging land, political, body and inputs, like synthetic nitrogen systems, and feed humanity. Aspects of Sovereignty which are community sovereignty through fertilizer, for soil fertility. mindfully and presently attempted the education and unlearning of With the myriad reasons present- I’ll see you in the shade. in my work and life often or con- oppressive laws, empowering ed in this piece, hazelnuts and sistently include: Self-governance. politicized and stigmatized chestnuts have the potential to Community. Solidarity. Autonomy. bodies and fighting for legal be perennial, staple crops that are Support. Being seen. Being heard. justice. Fighting for freedom of resilient and sustainable for the Taking back things that have been movement and life, and against long haul. taken from you. Protection. Re- the restrictions slammed down Environmentally, socially, and claiming, reasserting, or strength- on expressions of life. politically, the times we live in ening the capacity and necessity are turbulent. Philip Rutter chose of physical, mental, emotional, these two tree crops in part

28 29 Red Umbrella Alliance narratives we have been raised Merging education about laws, under. The need to unpack, policies, and DIY activities for unlearn, re-learn, and understand increasing autonomy and safety our pasts, present lives and future in marginalized and targeted goals and desires, requires con- Kamau Blakney communities of sex workers. trol, safety and power over and Increasing confidence, safety, within our own selves and those Capoeira de Angola can only be taught without forcing the community building, and power we share our worlds with. person’s natural expression. The important thing is to take building. advantage of the free and individual movements of each person. No one fights like me, but in my students’ games Eclectic Trauma informed is all the knowledge that I learned. Narrative Therapy practices —Mestre Pastinha Merging reclaiming narrative, health, safety, communication capacity, capacity for self-care Capoeira Angola is an African- Luther King Community Center and getting needs met. Creating Brazilian martial art carrying ori- in the heart of North Philly, FICA space for voice, healing, growth, gins from various regions of Cen- Philadelphia holds weekly classes insight, reflection and power tral Africa, including the Kongo for active spirits of all ages. Our building to change the way and Angola. Capoeira further organization frequently gives people are seen, heard and developed in Brazil with the demonstrations, workshops, and experience the world. arrival of several generations of holds annual conferences in an Africans (few free and millions effort to make Capoeira Angola The varied and constant obstacles enslaved) who traveled west visible and accessible to local of oppression that stand in con- to what is now known as “the communities. trast to sustainable, holistic living Americas”. The roots of Capoeira are endless. From capitalism to survived more than 400 years of FICA Philadelphia has held class- white supremacy to rape culture Euro-Asian enslavement to be- es all over the city. We began to ableism to homophobia and come one of the most authentic training behind the Nile Cafe transphobia – the constant strug- cultural expressions of the African on Germantown Avenue. in the gle that people live under – just diaspora in South America. mid-1990s, journeyed to 4th and by living – makes supporting and South Streets to the KumQuat increasing capacity for sovereign- Here in Philadelphia, the Dance Studio (now a post office), ty and self-governance the central International Capoeira Angola moved temporarily to Temple goal of my work and life. I believe Foundation – also known as FICA University, and finally settled into that in order to understand the Philadelphia – has worked to the King Center almost fifteen systems and relationships around share Capoeira Angola with local years ago. us – and our role in them and communities for roughly twen- ty years. Located at the Martin

30 31 Our organization is and has remained a nonprofit through all of these transitions, offering low- Resources cost monthly, classes or scholar- A select directory of ships to consistent students of all ages. This past June, FICA Sovereignty in Philadelphia Philadelphia celebrated its 20th anniversary of performing au- African American United Fund Earthskeepers thentic Capoeira Angola (inviting est. 1982 5100 Kingsessing Avenue practitioners and masters from 2227 North Broad Street This organization is dedicated Brazil and around the world) on The mission of the African to promoting food security for the streets of the Odunde African American United Fund is to all people, starting in West Street Festival. improve the quality of life for the Philadelphia. They believe that For class and information schedule disadvantaged, to contribute to eliminating poverty involves the visit www.ficaphiladelphia.org the social and economic stability production and supply of an of the African American communi- adequate quality and quantity of ty, and to encourage cooperation healthy food. For Earthskeepers, with other organizations within improving access to this healthy the area that have similar goals. food begins from the ground up and joining the food sovereignty Community Farm and movement being waged by Food Resource Center at Bartram’s Garden peoples all over the world. est. 2011 54th and Lindbergh Streets East Park Revitalization Alliance est. 2003 This organization seeks to de- 1737 North 31st Street velop local and national models that provide tools for organizing East Park Revitalization Alliance for food sovereignty; mentor and seeks to build a healthy empower young people from our community in the Strawberry community; support and connect Mansion neighborhood, focusing with elders; nurture culturally on environmental improvement engaged community gardening; and health promotion. They and, of course, increase access to turn vacant land into community fresh, organic, nutritious food in gardens, operate programming to the historically underserved parts connect neighborhood residents of the neighborhood. to the adjacent park, have planted

32 33 over 700 trees in the community, trainings and skill-based Jewish community, with a mission to Community organizations own, and run the successful Healthy agricultural education. inspire people to creatively heal maintain, and harvest the or- Choices Youth Program – an after and express themselves through chards, expanding commu- school and summer program for Mill Creek Farm various forms of art. This orga- nity-based food production, neighborhood youth ages 6 to 18 est. 2005 nization offers teachings in the environmental benefits, and 4901 Brown Street at a local recreation center that musical, visual, holistic, culinary, opportunities for nature gives young people the skills to Mill Creek Farm is an educational martial, cultural, literary and education. Orchards are planted make healthy choices that will urban farm located in West performing arts, as well as the in formerly vacant lots, community help them become healthy adults Philadelphia dedicated to improv- art of gardening and sustainable gardens, schoolyards, and other ing local access to fresh produce, design. They provide authentic, spaces, almost exclusively Garden Justice Legal Initiative, building a healthy community and real-life experiences that teach in low-wealth neighborhoods Public Interest Law Center environment, and promoting a the 21st-century skills of commu- where people lack access to of Philadelphia nication, literacy, leadership, fresh fruit. est. 2011 just and sustainable food system.

United Way Building and problem solving through Philadelphia Urban Creators 1709 Benjamin Franklin Parkway Norris Square Neighborhood technology and the arts. *see page 14 Project est. 2010 This project provides pro bono *see page 18 Pennsylvania Horticultural 2315 North 11th Street legal support, policy research, est.1973 Society

2141 North Howard Street est. 1829 advocacy, and community educa- Philadelphia Urban Roots tion and organizing to community 100 North 20th Street, 5th floor Collective gardeners and market farmers Nyambi Naturals facebook.com/Nyambi-Naturals The Pennsylvania Horticultural est. 2015 in the Philadelphia region. GJLI 229 West Thompson Street Society connects people with provides direct representation Nyambi Natural offers eco- horticulture, so that they can, to clients. This Philadelphia Urban Roots friendly, high quality beauty skin together, create beautiful, healthy Collective is a community care products. Our handmade and sustainable communities. Historic Fairhill Burial organization composed of Ground Garden products are created with organic Philadelphia Orchard Project farmer-educators dedicated to *see page 10 locally sourced plant based ingre- Est. 2007 creating a stronger network in est. 1703 dients. As a continued commit- The Woodlands the food system and culture of 2901 Germantown Avenue ment to you and the environment 4000 Woodland Avenue Philadelphia. They envision a all products are packaged with stronger vitality in the holism and Jewish Farm School POP works with community- recyclable materials. local food system in neighbor- est. 2006 based groups and volunteers to hoods with limited food access. 5020 Cedar Avenue One Art Community Center plan and plant orchards filled with They envision their efforts creat- est. 2001 useful and edible plants. POP pro- The Jewish Farm School is dedi- 1431–39 North 52nd Street ing a self-sustaining community of vides orchard design assistance, cated to teaching about contem- interdisciplinary resources for porary food and environmental One Art Community Center plant materials, and training Philadelphia residents. issues through innovative invests in the heart of the in orchard care.

34 35 Sanctuary Wholistic Arts The Urban Tree Connection (UTC) 737 Cambridge Street works with residents in Philadel- phia’s historically marginalized This organization offers creative urban communities to revitalize safe space for personal contem- their neighborhoods by trans- Further Reading plation and community engage- forming abandoned open spaces ment. into safe and functional places Carney, Judith. Black Rice; The how-black-communities-across-the- that inspire and promote positive The Masters Garden African Origins of Rice Cultivation country-are-retaking-land-and- 2502–6 West Master Street human interaction. UTC works in the America (Cambridge: Harvard demanding-re. with residents of West Philadel- University Press, 2001). This organization is dedicated to phia’s Haddington neighborhood Nembhard, Jessica Gordon. growing community on the 2500 to develop community-driven Davies, Ken. “Unlocking the Power Collective Courage: A History of block of Master Street. greening and gardening projects of Women Farmers”. The Guardian. African American Cooperative on vacant land. Their aim is to http://www.theguardian.com/ Economic Thought and Practice (University Park, PA: Penn State The Table Spread cultivate community leadership, global-development-profession- University Press, 2014). est. 2011 improve community health, and als-network/2014/jun/12/women- farmers-world-food-programme PO Box 4921 develop a local sustainable food Reid, Debra A. and Evan P. Bennett. system. The Table Spread Community Glave, Dianne D. Rooted in the Earth: Beyond Forty Acres and a Mule: Reclaiming the African American African American Landowning Garden was started in 2011 by VietLEAD (Vietnamese Environmental Heritage (Chicago: Families since Reconstruction. a few individuals with a love for Leadership & Advocacy) Lawrence Hill Books, 2010). (University Press of Florida, 2015). nature, gardening, and a desire to est. 2015 help the community. The garden 1211 East Lycoming Street Godfrey, Phoebe, and Denise Torres. Shiva, Vandana. Seed Sovereignty, is located in the Mill Creek area Emergent Possibilities for Global Food Security: Women in the VietLEAD is a grassroots organiza- of Philadelphia, where they grow Sustainability: Intersections of Race, Vanguard of the Fight against GMOs natural and organic foods They tion based in Philly and South Class and Gender. Abingdon, and Corporate Agriculture (Berkeley: are a nonprofit organization, Jersey that cultivates, inspires, Oxon: Routledge, 2016. North Atlantic Books, 2016). incorporated in the state of leads, and creates communi- Pennsylvania, whose purpose is ty. Their vision is to build an Hooks, Bell. Sisters of the Yam: Urban Agriculture and Community to serve all the communities of organization that focuses on sus- Black Women and Self-Recovery Food Security Research and Practice. Philadelphia with the need for tainability, and self-determination (New York: Routledge, 2015). https://sites.google.com/site/urban- fresh quality foods and house- for the Vietnamese and Southeast agriculturephiladelphia/harvest- Jaffe, Sarah. “How Black reports. hold goods. Asian communities in the region. Communities Across the Country Are Retaking Land and Demanding Walker, Alice. In Search of Urban Tree Connection Reparations: A conversation with Our Mothers’ Gardens est. 1997 Chinyere Tutashinda of the BlackOUT (London: Women’s Press, 2000). c/o First African Presbyterian Church Collective.” In These Times. http:// 4159 West Girard Avenue inthesetimes.com/article/20257/

36 37 Williams-Forson, Psyche A. Building Sovereignty Collaborators Houses Out of Chicken Legs: Black Women, Food, and Power (Chapel Kamara Abdur-Rahim Dusty Heinz Hill: University of North Carolina Khdir Abdur-Rahim Amber Henry Press, 2007). Sharif Abdur-Rahim Russell Anthony Hicks Chad Africa Michaela Holmes Williams, Justine M. and Eric Holt- Ramona Africa Miguel Huerta Aldolphe Alexander Jeannine Kayembe Giménéz. Land Justice: Re-imagining Brianna Barton Annette Medford-Griffin (Food Land, Food, and the Commons Kamau Blakney Stanley Morgan First Books/Institute for Food and Tony Brooks Pedro Ospina Development Policy, 2017). Eddie Brown German Parodi Rodney Camarce Dozi Pate Tempest Carter Fred Riley Sunshine Coffee Christian Rodriguez Marian Dalke Pat Ruger Jenni Drozdek Tinamarie Russell Christopher Eads Rashie Abdul Samad Alex Epstein Amanda Spitfire Sonia Galiber Theresa Stigale Cassandra Green Gabriela Sanchez Charlyn Griffith Diana Larisgoitia Jasmine Hamilton

Philadelphia Assembled © 2017

Philadelphia Assembled is a project initiated by artist Jeanne van Heeswijk in collaboration with stakeholders from across the city and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The views expressed by individual participants or in materials developed as part of Philadelphia Assembled are representative of the project’s collective conception and production and are not, necessarily, the views of the Museum or any other individual involved.

Philadelphia Assembled is made possible by the William Penn Foundation, The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, The Daniel W. Dietrich II Fund for Contemporary Art, Wyncote Foundation, The Arlin and Neysa Adams Endowment Fund, Nancy M. Berman and Alan Bloch, Lynne and Harold Honickman, Mr. and Mrs. Milton S. Schneider, Constanceand Sankey Williams, the Mondriaan Fund, Lyn M. Ross, and The Netherland-America Foundation. 38 39 40