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

Message from the Director

Dear friends and supporters,

December is finally here. Where I am, snow has already covered the ground, gently blanketing our beds and giving them an extra layer of protection. Now that the gardens are resting for the season, this is my cue to rest too.

Even as the holiday rush begins, I’m choosing a different pace this year—slowing down, breathing, and allowing myself to be present. I’ve been enjoying the simple routines I often rush through during the growing season: keeping a tidy home, cooking more meals, and experimenting in the kitchen. I even attempted homemade bread from an online recipe. The result? Dense, tough, and definitely not bakery material. Thankfully, a friend redeemed Thanksgiving dinner with perfectly cooked duck breast instead of turkey. His creativity made up for my bread mishap. Stay tuned for my second attempt at baking.

As much as I am taking time to rest, I’m also wrapping up on paperwork for the year and turning my focus toward fundraising. The holidays are the most important season for nonprofits; nearly 40% of annual giving happens between November and December.

With that in mind, I invite you to support Refugee Garden Initiatives and help us continue our mission of empowering refugees through food, resources, and storytelling.

Your contribution sustains:

• The dignity that comes from having access to culturally meaningful foods

• The resources families need to thrive

• And the storytelling platforms where refugee voices can be heard and honored

Your support gives us the momentum to keep advocating, growing, and planting seeds of hope for refugee communities.

Wishing you and your loved ones a warm, joyful holiday season.
With gratitude,

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.