Sankofa Community Farm at Bartram’s Garden
Title: The Summer We Went Back and Got it
Student Interns:
Timothy Malakwen
University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing
Joselyn Montano-Murillo
University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing
Academic Preceptor:
Dalmacio Dennis Flores, PhD, ACRN, FAAN
University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing
Community Preceptor:
Ty Holmberg
Sankofa Community Farm at Bartram’s Garden
Community Site:
Located in Southwest Philadelphia, Sankofa Community Farm is a spiritually rooted, community-based crop farm whose mission is to reconnect the Philadelphia community to the land and to grow a variety of cultural foods across the African diaspora. Sankofa serves the Southwest community by harvesting and selling fresh produce every weekend at market and also welcomes anyone who wants to learn more about Sankofa and the importance of food sovereignty.
Team’s Experience:
At Sankofa, the Bridging the Gaps student interns learned how to harvest a variety of crops and fruits, process the produce, and provide weekly summer wellness lessons for high school interns. One BTG intern supported the culinary program, assisting with meal preparation, lesson planning, and brainstorming cultural dishes. The other BTG intern supported the farm crew, which focused on caring for the land and the crops, such as weeding or assisting the market crew with Thursday harvest for market days. Both BTG interns led wellness workshops on Thursday afternoons on topics such as mental health, sleep hygiene, and social media use.
Reflections
At Sankofa I saw, felt, and understood the power of community. We worked together through the sweltering summer heat and the torrential downpours. We learned through listening, seeing and doing, and teaching. There was a collective heart in our projects that inspired me to do my best for our shared benefit. I felt seen, and I saw myself in many faces and moments. I was challenged, I learned, and I lived. I will forever cherish my Sankofa Summer.
Timothy Malakwan
Spending the summer with BTG CHIP taught me what it takes to be a leader, how to connect with those around me, and finding a need and filling it. Every Wednesday lesson played a part in how I would interact with the youth during the program and in being mindful of the space I am in. My time at Sankofa was filled with fun and opened my mind to a community that I didn’t know much about as a Philly native. This site has left a special place in my heart, and every new piece of knowledge I gained here I hope to share with those around me.
Joselyn Montano-Murillo
Partners
