‘Hew Bora Urban Garden Project’
In 2023, the Akron Zoo teamed up with Shanti Community Farms to establish an Urban Garden on the vacant lots near the zoo along Edgwood Avenue. Since the inception of this collaboration, SCF has turned those barren lots into flourishing urban gardens. Known as the Hewa Bora Garden, it is tended to by Akron’s Asian and African immigrant families, with a forthcoming Latin American segment planned for summer 2024! These gardens will serve as venues for events and joint initiatives with Akron Public Schools.
Stay tuned for further developments and chances to volunteer!
THE BLACK BEANZ AFRICAN DANCE CREW
Since 2021, The Black Beanz have been making their mark on the entertainment scene both locally and nationally. From their award-winning appearance on World of Dance in 2023 to captivating performances at the OhioDance Festival and Playhouse Square in Cleveland, they have consistently showcased their talent at numerous private and public events. To learn more, click one of the links below! For booking or other inquiries, contact info@blackbeanzakron.com.
PHOTO BY Photographer, Tom Scott
PHOTO BY Official OhioDance Photographer.
PHOTO BY Official DanceCleveland Photographer, Mark Horning
PHOTO BY Photographer, 36 North Consulting
We depend on generous donations from people just like you to keep our programs going each year. Donate today!
We appreciate the continued support of the Ohio Arts Council.
YARD CORPS
Yard Corps is an outdoor work crew division with trained youth participating in growing food in our new high tunnel and Shanti Community Garden. We also conduct numerous outdoor maintenance chores on city vacant lots, private residences, churches, and local businesses. About a dozen students and elders participated in our first time effort to work outside. Some of the services we provide are: mowing, weeding, leaf blowing, tree and bush trimming and planting. We also participated in farm chores, like barn and barnyard cleaning.
Even with our older students we spend a little time keeping our students up on their school ‘smarts’ by integrating summer classroom work– primarily in math, reading and writing–into our daily routines. Credentialed tutors work with the students to get a jump on and to stay ahead in their studies.
For more information on our Yard Corps services please contact: info@shantifarmsoh.com
Summit Lake Farmers Market
We had the pleasure of being a part of the 2022 Summit Lake Farmers Market. Sponsored and managed by Lets Grow Akron . Members of our Yard Corps & Black Beanz groups both participated in this weekly event! The crew took time on Tuesday to bake traditional African bread (kind of like American donuts..but a little less sweet), vegetables grown by Shanti Farms & Black Beanz merchandise.
We help the kids to understand that the skills they are learning and using for the Farmers Marketing (creating products, inventory lists, setting up their table) are all skills they can use throughout life to be successful and maybe even create & run their own businesses.
The donuts were a HIT at the farmers market and we sold out each week!!
The donuts were a HIT at the farmers market and we sold out each week!!
We look forward to being a part of this weekly event again next year!
*All proceeds go to building and expanding our Shanti Farms programs!
Board Members
Tom Crain (Founder)
Bhakta Rizal (Co-Founder)
David Brooks (President)
Kyengye Elale
Brian Murphy