RISE Garden in North Syracuse and community members preparing for garden training.

Enhancing Greenspaces in Syracuse Neighborhoods: RISE Garden

Refugee and Immigrant Self-Empowerment (RISE) transformed an abandoned lot into a beautiful garden used to supply the community with fresh produce and gardening training.

Greenspaces are important for the welfare of the environment, but they can mean even more to the strength of a neighborhood. Communities that construct communal gardens can enhance the interaction and relationship between residents. Refugee and Immigrant Self-Empowerment (RISE) transformed an abandoned lot into something beautiful.

Families living in the Lodi Street area struggle with accessing fresh produce since they do not have any grocery stores nearby. To help, RISE created a garden for communal use by local refugees. The new garden has not only assisted with gaining access to fresh produce and creating a sense of community, but it has also become a therapeutic tool for them.

“The garden has improved the mental health of a lot of our farmers,” explained Brandy Colebrook, agricultural program director at RISE. “It is clear to see that being outside and working in the fields is not only allowing them to grow their own plants but is also helping them through their post-traumatic stress.”

The community is utilizing the garden in a variety of ways. RISE hosts classes every Tuesday evening at the Lodi Street Garden for farmers with hearing impairments. Attendees learn fundamental gardening and farming skills to help them build and sustain their own farms.

“We focus our classes on beginner gardening and farming techniques including teaching participants how to accommodate weather changes,” said Colebrook. “Most of our farmers are from very different climates than here in Syracuse.”

The three-year program is structured to provide continued opportunities for participants as they move between different skill levels each year. In the first stage, farmers go through instructional training. During the second stage, they are allocated one-eighth of an acre where they can choose what they plant. Finally, in the third stage, the farmers are given a quarter of an acre and they are given marketing consultants. At the end of the program, farmers are encouraged to have obtained land to lease to continue farming.

RISE has taken advantage of numerous local grants, including the Neighborhood Greening Grants awarded by the Syracuse Parks Conservancy. Every year, we provide funding support toward these grants.

“The Greening Grants committee evaluates each application based on how well they can fill a community need,” said David Harding, chairman of the Neighborhood Greening Grants program at the Syracuse Parks Conservancy. “The criteria are stipulated by the Community Foundation.”

The Park Conservancy has been averaging about 8 to 10 applications each year. It recently increased its maximum grant from $1,000 to $2,000. The organization continues to provide resources and advocates for the improvement of Syracuse’s environment through its community gardens.

Related Stories

Man reading with young boy
Blogs December 4, 2023

Providing an Extra Boost to Help Students Thrive

Mike Nash, president at KS&R and Book Buddies Volunteer, shares how he saw the positive ...

collage of pictures of young girls doing art
News Releases October 30, 2023

More than $235,000 in Grants Awarded to Black-Led Organizations

Seventeen Black Equity & Excellence Fun grants, totaling $238,200, distributed to Black-led organizations.

Man standing in front of library
Blogs October 17, 2023

Fostering Grassroots Change through The Leadership Classroom

Jacob Gedetsis, founder and director of Write Out and lecturer and coordinator of the Writing ...

Blogs October 8, 2023

Reflections: A Data-Driven Approach for Equity

Frank Ridzi tells us about a new racial equity section on CNY Vitals, our 'state ...

hand holding growing money
Publications September 18, 2023

Helping your Clients Get Organized: Structure Is a Critical Step in Multi-Generational Philanthropy

Learn how Jeff Knauss and his wife use their donor-advised to engage their children in ...

Blogs September 15, 2023

Reflections: Continued Learning for Equity/Reflexiones: Aprendizaje Continuo para la Equidad

Yeisha Núñez-Denson, tells us about her experience joining our efforts toward an equitable internal work ...

Woman sitting with girl holding books
Blogs August 21, 2023

Unlocking Potential through Reading as A Book Buddy Volunteer

Juliet Nabinger, employee benefits senior specialist at OneGroup and Book Buddies Volunteer, shares how her ...

Family sits on porch of new home on Shuart Ave
Stories August 19, 2023

Impact Investing Profile: Home HeadQuarters

A $500,000 Program Related Investment (PRI) to Home HeadQuarters (HHQ) acted as a loan loss ...

Stories August 17, 2023

Impact Investing Profile: Cooperative Federal

A $250,000 secondary capital loan is helping Cooperative Federal expand lending in the Syracuse community.

Man reading with young boy
Blogs December 4, 2023

Providing an Extra Boost to Help Students Thrive

Mike Nash, president at KS&R and Book Buddies Volunteer, shares how he saw the positive ...

collage of pictures of young girls doing art
News Releases October 30, 2023

More than $235,000 in Grants Awarded to Black-Led Organizations

Seventeen Black Equity & Excellence Fun grants, totaling $238,200, distributed to Black-led organizations.

Man standing in front of library
Blogs October 17, 2023

Fostering Grassroots Change through The Leadership Classroom

Jacob Gedetsis, founder and director of Write Out and lecturer and coordinator of the Writing ...

Blogs October 8, 2023

Reflections: A Data-Driven Approach for Equity

Frank Ridzi tells us about a new racial equity section on CNY Vitals, our 'state ...

hand holding growing money
Publications September 18, 2023

Helping your Clients Get Organized: Structure Is a Critical Step in Multi-Generational Philanthropy

Learn how Jeff Knauss and his wife use their donor-advised to engage their children in ...

Blogs September 15, 2023

Reflections: Continued Learning for Equity/Reflexiones: Aprendizaje Continuo para la Equidad

Yeisha Núñez-Denson, tells us about her experience joining our efforts toward an equitable internal work ...

Woman sitting with girl holding books
Blogs August 21, 2023

Unlocking Potential through Reading as A Book Buddy Volunteer

Juliet Nabinger, employee benefits senior specialist at OneGroup and Book Buddies Volunteer, shares how her ...

Family sits on porch of new home on Shuart Ave
Stories August 19, 2023

Impact Investing Profile: Home HeadQuarters

A $500,000 Program Related Investment (PRI) to Home HeadQuarters (HHQ) acted as a loan loss ...

Stories August 17, 2023

Impact Investing Profile: Cooperative Federal

A $250,000 secondary capital loan is helping Cooperative Federal expand lending in the Syracuse community.

View More