American Friends Service Committee New Orleans

Peace by Piece New Orleans supports and accompanies community members through political education and community organizing to realize safe and sustainable neighborhoods rooted in self-determination and community control. Using education and policy advocacy, Peace by Piece works to confront systems and institutions, specifically food and mass surveillance, that engender inequality, poverty, and violence.

The Hollygrove Community Gardens, established by the Peace by Piece summer camp, remain a space for local youth and residents to access healthy, organic produce. The Sustainable Communities Project, a collaboration between Peace by Piece New Orleans and the Hollygrove Neighbors Association, Inc., continues its dedication to ensuring food access and security by expanding gardens and adding new installations.

Over the past year, 140 volunteers have helped maintain the gardens, and last fall, the Hollygrove Neighborhood Composting Project was launched, enabling 20 households to recycle their food waste for compost and reduce landfill contributions. Engaging programs like the Community Kitchen series and Get To Know Your Garden workshops have sparked conversations about sustainability and food access among residents. We have also expanded to three new properties and partnered with local institutions, distributing over 5,300 pounds of produce and hosting community food shares for 1,200 residents while employing 25 young interns. With continued support, Peace by Piece aims to further enhance the impact of the garden programs in Hollygrove.

Testimonials

"The food giveaway events help us strengthen our sense of community. It's our neighborhood. It's an opportunity to uplift our people by feeding each other physically and communally. These events are an expression of our values like caring for each other and belonging to something bigger than ourselves. Sharing food connects us to each other, the Black growers and farmers and the land that is critical to our survival."--Barbara May, Hollygrove resident

"Hollygrove is a food desert pertaining to healthy food. With the Hollygrove Community Garden, I can pick fresh vegetables (free of charge) straight from the garden to my cooking pot."--Earl Williams, Hollygrove resident.