Celebrating The Afro-Caribbean Diaspora At The Garden Of Resilience

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Queens Borough President Donovan Richards supported this event by providing DIVAS for Social Justice the Cultural Immigrant Initiative as a Former Council Member

The Garden Of Resilience harvested it’s first crop of the season and brought forward two new initiatives on Saturday, June 12, 2021. Local elected officials came out to support the garden. The event highlighted a new community sculpture by Yvonne Shortt and the development of the garden’s first Hydroponic Tower by Jason Harris. Shortt’s sculpture placed in the garden was part of her Afro-Pick Series. The community sculpture focused on memories of flowers, and featured the stories of youth from Southeast Queens. The stories were captured through audio and accessed through a QR code. This concept was facilitated by Tiffany Thomas of DIVAS for Social Justice. DIVAS for Social Justice serves as steward of Garden Of Resilience.

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers admire the Afro-Pick Series sculpture by Yvonne Shortt

Jason Harris worked with youth from the DIVAS for Social Justice program to assemble a Hydroponics Tower that focuses on vegetables reflective of the Afro-Caribbean Diaspora.The tower is powered by solar panels and a battery since the garden does not have access to electricity. All of vegetables harvested were given to community residents.

Jason Harris and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards, Photo Credit: Melva Miller

Garden of Resilience will be hosting a volunteer day with National Grid on June 22, 2021. If you are interested in becoming a member please sign up here.

District Leader Richard David, Clarisa James, Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, Assembly Woman Alicia Hyndman

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Clarisa James
Clarisa James is the Co-Founder/Executive Director of DIVAS (Digital Interactive Visual Arts Sciences) for Social Justice. For the past seven years DIVAS has provided free or sliding scale technology training to youth in underserved communities in Central Brooklyn and Southeast Queens. Ms. James has been dedicated to youth development work for the past 15years in the roles of Teaching Artist, After School Director, Curriculum Specialist and artist. Her life's work encompasses empowering youth in underserved communities to use technology for social change and think critically about the issues that are affecting them most. For the past seven years Ms. James has facilitated workshops that help youth develop multimedia projects around environmental justice, housing, leadership development and reproductive justice. Ms. James holds an MFA in Integrated Media Arts from Hunter College's Film & Media Department. In addition to DIVAS for Social Justice, Ms. James currently serves on the advisory board of the Children’s Cabinet, Office of the Deputy Mayor Strategic Policy Initiatives at City Hall. Clarisa James is full of gratitude to her parents for providing such a wonderful upbringing and having the foresight to move into the community of Laurelton in the early 1970's. Clarisa is proud to be a daughter of Laurelton.