Gabrielle Barker '25 Gets Hands Dirty at Urban Garden in Southwest Philadelphia
Name: Gabrielle Barker
Class Year: 2025
Major: Environmental Studies
Minor: Fine Arts
Hometown: Bloomington, Ind.
Internship Organization: The People's Kitchen
Internship Title: Garden Intern
Location: Philadelphia, Pa.
What's happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
I have spent most of my time working at the People’s Kitchen community garden, getting my hands dirty, and learning about urban gardening in the Philadelphia area. The first few weeks of the summer were heavy on planting and weeding as the growing season started, and a lot more work was needed to take care of the younger plants. Now that it is later in the summer, we are harvesting a lot of produce, distributing it to the community, collaborating with other local organizations, and planning events.
I was involved with planning, canvassing, and setting up a Unity Dinner to raise awareness about the Tioga-Hope Garden in North West Philadelphia, which is under threat of development. The garden has been active for a decade and is an important green space in the neighborhood. This event was a collaboration between four Philadelphia-based nonprofits: SEAMAAC (Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Association Coalition), The Neighborhood Garden Trust, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and The People’s Kitchen. Members of these organizations got together and provided free food and live music for members of the community. I worked with volunteers from the People’s Kitchen to hand out food to about 300 people. Among these attendees were also members of the mayor’s office and reporters from the Inquirer. It was moving to see the power of community organizing and the impact it had on the community. Thanks to my experiences at this internship, I have been inspired to advocate for green spaces in underrepresented urban areas.
Gabrielle Barker '25Thanks to my experiences at this internship, I have been inspired to advocate for green spaces in underrepresented urban areas.
Why did you apply for this internship?
I applied for this internship because I am interested in how food makes its way onto our tables and the work being done to make this process more equitable. I am especially interested in the urban gardening initiatives in Philadelphia that aim to bring fresh food to areas of the city that do not have access to it. The People’s Kitchen was a perfect fit for me because they work with every stage of food production, from planting to serving. I was introduced to these concepts in a class I took at Haverford last semester called Black and Asian Foodways with Professor Talia Young, and I wanted to explore ideas of food justice at a more hands-on level.
What has been your favorite part of this internship?
My favorite part of this internship has been connecting with the community members at the urban farm and learning from them about the produce we grow. The garden is located in South West Philadelphia and sits amongst a large Black and Hispanic population. Through conversations with neighbors, I have learned about new plants and the histories they hold within their cultures. I was introduced to a mild squash called Chayote, typically grown in Mexico, by a neighbor who was familiar with how to grow and cook them, and Chin Baung, a sour leaf typically grown in Cambodia and Myanmar. The plants I have been tending to in the garden not only provide sustenance for this neighborhood but are also an avenue for cultural expression.
Through the Career and Civic Engagement Center Beyond Bryn Mawr Summer Internship Program, Bryn Mawr students pursue opportunities in fields such as nonprofits, government and law, health care, research, sciences, business, and the arts. Thanks to the generosity of our alumnae/i and donors, over 150 students across all academic departments are funded to pursue unpaid internships or research experiences in the U.S. and abroad each year.