A new community garden planned for the Lee Cultural Center will give South Philadelphia’s Karen refugee community a place to grow food, preserve cultural traditions and build connections with neighbors.
State Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler joined members of the Karen Community Association of Philadelphia and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation’s Farm Philly project Nov. 5 to present a $32,000 check supporting the effort. The funding will help establish the garden at the Lee Cultural Center on Haverford Avenue in West Philadelphia and will provide transportation for South Philadelphia residents traveling to and from the site.
“I am so inspired by what the Karen community have accomplished, overcoming the traumas of refugee camps and resettlement to begin building thriving lives here in South Philly,” Fiedler said. “I am so glad to support this ongoing work from KCAP and really thrilled that they’ve built this partnership with Farm Philly, to help connect Karen community members to the resources and connection that come with a community garden.”
The Karen are an ethnic group from Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. Many have resettled in the United States and Canada as refugees since 2000.
KCAP, which officially formed in 2024, is Philadelphia’s first and only Karen-led social services and cultural heritage organization. The group has roots in grassroots efforts dating to 2008 and works throughout South Philadelphia, with a base in the Bok Building. Its programs have included language and citizenship classes, youth mentorship and cultural heritage initiatives.
A KCAP representative said the funding arrived at a critical time as the organization works to get the project underway and secure additional long-term support.
“KCAP is grateful to Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler’s office for their continued support of Philadelphia’s Karen refugee community,” the representative said. “These funds came at a crucial time and have helped us to begin building the project and securing more long-term funding. Our community of farmers is so excited to have the opportunity to partner with Farm Philly to create a permanent space for refugees and neighbors to cultivate food and belonging in Philadelphia.”
Ash Richards, urban agriculture director of Farm Philly, said the project will turn underused parkland into a permanent agricultural space managed by the community.
“Farm Philly is proud to partner with the Karen Community Association of Philadelphia to help transform underutilized parkland into a permanent, community-stewarded agricultural space,” Richards said. “This project is about more than access to land; it is about honoring Karen and other immigrant and refugee agricultural traditions, strengthening food sovereignty, and creating a place where culture, community and generations of farming knowledge can take root and thrive. We are excited to support KCAP in building a lasting resource that nourishes both people and community for years to come.” ••
