Our Work in Action

At Refugee Garden Initiatives (RGI), our work is rooted in community, culture, and lived experience. Through food grown in community garden spaces, education and resources (ESL, financial literacy, and wellness), and storytelling, we create spaces where individuals can connect, learn, and thrive. This page offers a glimpse into how our work comes to life across different settings and partnerships.

• Market Outreach and Community Engagement

RGI meets communities where they are—at farmers markets and cultural spaces—offering both fresh produce and meaningful conversations around food access. Through our presence, we engage with community members around healthy eating, culturally appropriate foods, and available resources, including SNAP-EBT. Our market work is not only about selling produce, but about education, visibility, and building trust within the communities we serve.

In addition, RGI provides refugee families with free garden space and the resources needed to grow their own food, including seeds, beds, compost, and ongoing support. This work strengthens food access, cultural connection, and self-sufficiency within the community.

• Education, Wellness, and Empowerment

RGI takes a holistic approach to thriving. In addition to food access, we provide supportive programming, including English as a Second Language (ESL), financial literacy, and wellness-centered offerings such as our Summer Healing Series. These programs help individuals build confidence, navigate systems, and access tools for long-term stability, wellbeing, and independence.

• Community Gatherings and Fundraising

RGI’s work is made possible through the support of our community. Our fundraising events are more than opportunities to raise funds—they are spaces where people come together to learn, connect, and support refugee-led work. These gatherings strengthen relationships, raise awareness, and build a shared commitment to more inclusive and culturally responsive food systems.

• Student Engagement and Partnerships

RGI collaborates with students, universities, and community partners to explore innovative approaches to food access and community-based solutions. These partnerships bridge academic learning with real-world impact, allowing students to contribute to meaningful work while supporting the development of more inclusive and sustainable food systems.