City Blossoms is an organization dedicated to working with schools, neighborhood groups, community centers and other organizations to create spaces for children to use their creativity and combined strength and skills to learn how to grow and maintain fantastic yet functioning gardens.
City Blossoms is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
|
| mia ballard
Workshop Leader
Mia first came to City Blossoms as a volunteer in the Spring of 2008 and is now our first workshop leader. In the past, her interests in food production have lead her to work on farms in Washington State, Massachusetts and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Mia also brings with her a passion for community empowerment and child education.
|
|
|
lola bloom
Co-Founder & Director of Curriculum Development
Lola Bloom has been interested in gardening for more reasons than her last name. Growing up in the Washington, D.C. area, she was able to watch and learn from her parents working in the back yard. Lola became involved with City Blossoms through CentroNia in 1999 while she worked with the youth summer program. After studying at Antioch College and Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of the Arts, she returned to the D.C. area in 2001 and joined dirt-loving forces with Rebecca. In addition to working as a full time art teacher (Congressional Schools of Virginia 2001-2005, International School of Curacao 2005-2007, Community Academy Public Charter school presently), Lola enjoys traveling around the world and baking cupcakes for well-behaved kids.
|
|
|
rebecca lemos Co-Founder and Executive Director
Over a decade ago Rebecca was asked if she would like to do a small gardening project with a group of kids in a local community center. From that point on she grew to see urban gardening as a way to combine her interests in art, community participation and everything green. Since then Rebecca has worked with children and youth of all ages. Rebecca has a BA from Fordham University, an MFA from Maryland Institute College of Art and was recently received an Honorable Mention for Education Award from Garden Crusaders, a national community gardening award.
|
IN THE NEWS Check out what others have written about City Blossoms!
LOCAL NEWS:
FOX MORNING NEWS: A quick interview of Lola & Rebecca at the 2008 Green Festival
NORTHWEST CURRENT: An article focusing on how City Blossoms came to be and the role we are starting to play in the neighborhoods where we work.
WASHINGTON TIMES: An article written about Girard Garden, when we were just getting started
BLOGS:
DC FOOD FOR ALL: An article about Girard Children's Community Garden
DC FOOD FOR ALL (VIDEO): This is a two minute video shot in Girard Children's Community Garden with an interview of Lola
BIKEABLE FEAST: Ibti, author of the BIKEABLE FEAST (a blog diary
charting her progress as she bikes across the U.S., learning about
all-things food along the way), recently stopped at the GROWING GIRLS
& GARDENS garden at Garrison Middle School (a City Blossoms site).
E.R.R.A.N.T.: A Philadelphia based blogger interested in all things green, food, and gardening attended a workshop co-lead by Rebecca Lemos at the American Community Gardening Association's annual conference. Check out her thoughts about City Blossoms.
PRINCE OF PETWORTH: A popular Columbia Heights blogger visited Girard Children's Community Garden's first birthday potluck party and lived to write about it!
TIME FOR LUNCH: City Blossoms partnered with Slow Food USA's Time For Lunch National Day of Action for Girard Garden's First birthday potluck celebration as a way to promote healthy eating for all.
|
|
