Name: Gabriel Barker
Academic Year: 2025
Major: Environmental Studies
Minor: Art
Hometown: Bloomington, Indiana
Internship organization: The People's Kitchen
Internship Name: Garden Intern
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
What happens during your internship? We'd love to hear about what you do!
I've been spending most of my time working at the People's Kitchen Community Garden, getting my hands dirty and learning about urban horticulture in the Philadelphia area. The first few weeks of summer were busy planting and weeding as the growing season began and more work was needed to care for the young plants. Now that the summer is in the later stages, we're harvesting a lot of produce, distributing it to the community, collaborating with other local organizations, and planning events.
I was involved in planning, door-to-door canvassing, and preparing for a unity dinner to raise awareness about the Tioga Hope Garden in Northwest Philadelphia, an area at risk of development. The garden has been active for 10 years and has become an important green space in the neighborhood. The event was a collaboration between four Philadelphia-based nonprofits: SEAMAAC (Southeast Asian Mutual Aid Association Coalition), Neighborhood Garden Trust, Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and People's Kitchen. Members of these organizations came together to provide free food and live music to members of the community. I worked with volunteers from People's Kitchen to distribute food to about 300 people. Among these attendees were members of the mayor's office and a reporter from the Inquirer. I was moved to see the power of community organizing and the impact it had on the community. This internship experience has inspired me to advocate for undervalued urban green spaces.
