Mission statement: Empowering Refugees Through Food, Resources, and Storytelling

Message from the Director

Dear friends and supporters,

As the seasons change and the fields rest, I find myself reflecting on the journey of Refugee Garden Initiatives and the path ahead. This year has been one of both challenge and transformation — a reminder that growth often begins in uncertain soil.

When I first started RGI as a senior capstone project at the University of Michigan, it was rooted in one simple idea: that food can heal, empower, and connect us. What began as a small garden has grown into a movement led by refugees, for refugees — a place where we cultivate not just crops, but dignity, belonging, and community.

This fall, I made the difficult decision to close our farm location. It was not an easy choice. Like many small farmers and refugee-led programs across the country, we’ve been deeply affected by funding freezes and the loss of vital safety nets like SNAP. As a member of the Lao refugee community, I have also felt the growing threat facing immigrants and refugees — the fear of being targeted simply for existing. Safety must come first, and for that reason, our farm will rest.

But our mission does not end here — it evolves. RGI will now focus our efforts on the Healing Garden, a space closer to campus and surrounded by a community that looks out for one another. Here, we are reimagining what it means to grow food in limited, urban spaces. With the help of University of Michigan graduate interns in Public Health, Business, Engineering, and Urban Planning, we are building a small-scale urban farm using vertical growing systems — a living model of resilience that other marginalized communities can replicate.

Our commitment to organic, regenerative practices remains unchanged. Like our ancestors before us, we care for the land without chemicals or shortcuts, trusting in nature’s ability to heal itself and us. Every seed planted at RGI carries more than food — it carries a story of hope, survival, and resistance.

Though this season brought change, it also brought clarity. RGI’s strength has never come from the size of our land, but from the people who believe in it — our volunteers, students, partners, and supporters who show up, rain or shine, to keep the mission alive. You are proof that compassion still grows in this world.

As we move forward, we invite you to stay with us — to keep planting, sharing, and telling our stories. We are more than a nonprofit; we are a community rooted in love, justice, and resilience. Refugees are survivors of war, loss, and rebuilding — and we will continue to rise, together.

In Solidarity,

Phimmasone Kym Owens
Founder & Executive Director
Refugee Garden Initiatives (RGI)

Refugees working on the prototype garden in 2022

Farmer Claire and Farmer Violet with Executive Director Phimmasone

Community outreach

A Holistic Approach to Thrive:

At RGI, we believe in a holistic approach to empower refugees, ensuring they thrive, not just survive:

Violet, our dedicated Farm Manager, in action. At RGI, we are committed to empowering refugees and uplifting our community—especially women farmers who are breaking barriers in a male-dominated field. With the right opportunities, resources, and support, we believe women like Violet and the rest of the farm team can achieve anything they set their minds to.

Healing and Sensory Garden 2025

Youth educators at the first annual 2025 Lao Arts and Culture Camp of Michigan founded by the Laotian American Communty of Michigan (LACM).

Food Security

At RGI, we cultivate culturally diverse gardens that provide fresh, nourishing produce while honoring ancestral farming traditions. For refugees, food is more than sustenance—it is identity and health. Our bodies are genetically adapted over generations to thrive on the foods of our cultures, much like how some people have allergies to certain foods. For example, many Southeast Asians cannot easily digest dairy because it has never been a staple in their diets. Refugees deserve access to the foods that support their health, not pressure to assimilate into processed foods often provided in the U.S. We aim to change the narrative that refugees should be grateful for any “free food,” instead advocating for culturally appropriate foods as a vital part of food security and dignity.

Trauma-Informed Care

We recognize the deep impact of displacement and war on refugee communities and advocate for trauma-informed care that is culturally responsive. Healing cannot be one-size-fits-all. Just as doctors must know a patient’s health history to prescribe the best treatment, therapists and care providers must consider a refugee’s cultural background to provide effective, respectful support. What is considered appropriate care in one culture may be harmful or ineffective in another. Our programs integrate this understanding into wellness practices—such as gardening therapy, yoga, and floral workshops—creating safe spaces where participants can heal and reconnect.

Education

At RGI, we know the poverty rate is disproportionately high for women and BIPOC communities due to systemic barriers. Refugees face these same barriers alongside the trauma of displacement, limited resources, and language obstacles. It is not enough to simply survive after fleeing a war-torn country—refugees need resources and education to thrive. That’s why we provide English as a Second Language (ESL), financial literacy, and life/work skills programs designed to uplift community members from poverty. For refugees, this education restores dignity that was lost in displacement, equipping them with tools for independence and long-term stability.

Amplifying Voices

Representation matters. RGI was founded by a refugee for refugees, creating a platform where lived experiences are not only shared but drive meaningful change. Too often, refugees are talked about rather than listened to. Through storytelling, advocacy, and leadership opportunities, we ensure that refugee voices are heard, respected, and positioned to influence systems, policies, and perceptions. Refugees are the best representatives of their own stories, and at RGI, we make sure those stories carry weight and lead to action.