On the anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech, celebrations all over the country sought to reconnect with King’s message of peace and equality. But at one end of Long Beach, California, one unassuming ceremony outshined them all.
The Saturday ceremony celebrated the opening of the Peace Garden in the Long Beach park named for Dr. King. In attendance were the various groups that have not only backed the Peace Garden project, but also who comprise the heart and soul of efforts to improve Long Beach from within: local councilman Dee Andrews, the Long Beach Department of Health, and the police department.
The Garden itself was built by teens participating in the Weed and Seed Program, which is housed in a King Park building that opens onto the Garden. A propos of its name, the Weed and Seed program simultaneously focuses on preventing crime and on fostering young community members through education, outreach, and mentoring. The Peace Garden is a refuge where Weed and Seed teens can contemplate both personal and vegetable growth, by working in the soil and contributing to the garden.
The morning ceremony drew representatives from the various groups involved, as well as families. After the speeches, a funk band fired up Michael Jackson tunes and community members danced on the gravel path at the Garden’s entrance.
The Garden path meanders between a series of redwood garden planters, each representing one of the ethnic groups in Long Beach , and displaying culturally distinctive artwork and plants. Words of inspiration can be found tucked into unobtrusive corners on rocks and signs, leaving visitors the pleasure of finding tidbits of encouragement on their own.
The Garden path starts at a hand-painted sign displaying the Weed and Seed principles next to a well-stocked bookshelf (I spied Melville’s Moby Dick on top of the pile). At the far end, past the planters, a table displays painted brick artwork created by Weed and Seed teens, each one a tribute to the creativity and dedication of the individuals involved. The brightly colored bricks bring to mind another famous speech that pinpoints the key to turning the Dream into reality: “…brick by brick, rail by rail, calloused hand by calloused hand.” (Obama, 2005)
What does a Peace Garden have to do with food? Everything. Weed and Seed’s directors recognize the importance of nutrition education in restoring balance within a community. The garden itself will be a part of a network of gardens in Long Beach , a “green belt” that connect the small community gardens with the larger urban farms. Each month, the Weed and Seed center plans to host a workshop on nutrition and cooking, empowering the community with the ability to make healthy decisions in the grocery store and at home. These workshops will culminate in the March 2011 nutrition festival, where families can learn how easy it can be to choose and prepare healthy and nutritious foods. If you’re in the area, I hope that you, too, will visit the Peace Garden and be inspired to get involved.
