Phimmasone Kym Owens, Founder and Executive Director
Message from Our Founder
Happy New Year and Happy Lunar New Year!
The team at Refugee Garden Initiatives (RGI) is thrilled to kick off another impactful farm season. We've been working diligently behind the scenes, focusing on strategic planning and marketing to ensure a successful year ahead. This season brings exciting developments, including the launch of flower sales to diversify our revenue streams. Additionally, our Empowerment Program will receive a significant facelift, with a renewed focus on ESL, food literacy, and financial literacy. We're also expanding our wellness program to offer more resources tailored to our elders.
As part of our mission to empower refugees through food resources and storytelling, we were honored to participate in events that align with our core values:
41st Annual MLK Holiday Brunch - Hosted by NANBPBW, Inc. Ann Arbor Club, this scholarship fundraising event was a celebration of unity, empowerment, and community. I had the privilege of attending alongside Laotian American poet and author Bryan Thao Worra and Laotian American Community of Michigan (LACM) President Theep Phommavong. The event underscored the importance of education and community support—values that resonate deeply with RGI's mission.
#Laomerica 50 Exhibit | American Laodyssey Closing Reception - Sponsored by RGI, this event in Ypsilanti, Michigan, was a beautiful celebration of Laotian culture and community. As one of the emcees, I had the honor of welcoming guests, emphasizing how food is an integral part of our cultural identity. The event highlighted the power of storytelling and community, both central to RGI's work.
Take Care: Democracy, Art & Healing Event at UMMA - This gathering showcased how art can be a transformative tool for healing and community resilience. Meeting inspiring artists like Philippa Pham Hughes, Molly Spencer, and Holly Bass sparked ideas on integrating art into our Healing Garden at RGI, further enriching our storytelling initiatives.
These experiences reinforce our belief in the transformative power of community, culture, and storytelling. As we prepare for the new season, we're excited to implement the lessons learned from these events, enriching our programs and expanding our impact.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to grow, nurture, and empower through Refugee Garden Initiatives.
Peace to you,
Phimmasone Kym Owens
Volunteers on The Farm on Jennings - Fall 2024
Who We Are
Refugee Garden Initiatives (RGI) is a 501(c)3 non-profit. RGI emerged in 2021, sparked by a profound question during Phimmasone Kym Owens' Social Work course: "How can you be an agent of change?" Rooted in her love for gardening and her own refugee background, Phimmasone founded RGI. The pivotal lessons learned during our 2022 prototype garden, primarily from single refugee mothers, led us to focus on this underserved and underrepresented population. However, RGI’s mission is not limited to single refugee mothers but extends to all refugees and anyone with lived refugee experiences.
Why Single Refugee Mothers: Through the 2022 prototype garden, we discovered that the majority of our refugee participants were single mothers. Their stories resonated deeply with us, highlighting their underprivileged status and unmet needs. Phimmasone, herself a single refugee mother and a University of Michigan alum, saw an opportunity to leverage her privilege and education. She is driven to pay this forward by providing transformative opportunities to other single refugee mothers.
A Holistic Approach to Thrive: At RGI, we believe in a holistic approach to empower single refugee mothers, ensuring they thrive, not just survive:
Trauma-Informed Care: We recognize the significance of addressing the trauma many refugees carry. Our programs include mental health support and counseling to help participants heal and grow.
Food Security: Our culturally diverse gardens provide sustenance and honor ancestral traditions, alleviating the food security challenges refugees face in a new homeland.
Education: We offer comprehensive ESL programs, along with life and work skills training, empowering participants to engage fully in their new communities.
Entrepreneurship Opportunities: Through entrepreneurship initiatives, we foster self-reliance, giving single refugee mothers the tools they need to succeed.
Amplifying Voices: RGI provides a platform for storytelling and advocacy, ensuring that the experiences, struggles, and dreams of our beneficiaries are heard and acted upon.
Empowering Through Phimmasone's Success: Phimmasone's journey as an entrepreneur stands as a testament to what is possible. Her success inspires us to continue forging pathways for single refugee mothers, offering them opportunities to thrive, succeed, and create brighter futures.
Why Your Support Matters: Your support is the driving force behind our holistic mission. By joining hands with RGI, you empower single refugee mothers to heal, learn, grow, and prosper.
Join us in making a difference—click the "Donate" button below or in the top navigation menu to discover more and make your contribution today.
Refugees working on the prototype garden in 2022
Volunteers assist in the installation of fencing around the perimeter of the 2022 prototype garden
Healing and Sensory Garden will be getting a new facelift in 2025
Board of Directors
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Dr. Suchiraphon (Su) McKeithen-Polish
PRESIDENT
Dr. Suchiraphon (Su) McKeithen-Polish was born and raised in Thailand and lived in various countries due to her father's diplomatic career. She is a highly accomplished and influential figure in the field of bilingual education and community leadership. With a wealth of experience and expertise, she currently serves as a Bilingual Education Program/Title III Consultant at Macomb ISD and is an active member of the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) EL Advisory Committee, EL Statewide Network, and the National Association of Bilingual Education. Additionally, she holds the esteemed position of Commissioner of the Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission (MAPAAC) and serves as the President of the Council of Asian Pacific Americans (CAPA).
Dr. Su is also a devoted spouse and parent to three accomplished daughters, each flourishing in their respective fields of study and work.
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Thavone Phommavongsa-Huinil
SECRETARY
As a Lao refugee, she understands the challenges that refugees and immigrants face daily. She is a senior adjunct professor at Grand Valley State University and advocates for all groups to access behavioral and mental health treatments. She is a certified Imago Relationship Therapist who strengthens connections and fosters healthier communication patterns. She has a private practice in Grand Rapids, MI.
In her personal life, Thavone loves spending time with her blended family of five children and her partner, Ian Huinil-Jimenez, from the Indigenous Mayan tribe. She has a diverse food palette and enjoys trying various foods. Additionally, she loves nature and animals, spending as much time outdoors as she can.
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Weronika Damek Valvano
TREASURER
Weronika Damek Valvano is a current MPH student in Epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.
Weronika was born in Poland and resided there until she was 8 years old, when her family immigrated to the United Kingdom. She immigrated to the United States following graduation from a university. Outside of academia and volunteer work, Weronika enjoys hiking, backpacking, kayaking, and growing flowers.