Rep. Fiedler celebrates $32,000 grant for Karen Community Association of Philadelphia for community garden partnership with Parks and Rec
Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler November 6, 2026 | 4:15 PM
Nov, 5 - Rep. Fiedler joined members of the Karen Community Association of Philadelphia (KCAP) and staff of Philadelphia Parks and Rec’s Farm Philly project for the presentation of a $32,000 check. The funds will be used for the creation of a community garden at the Lee Cultural Center as well as transportation to bring community members to and from the garden from South Philly.
“I am so inspired by what the Karen community have accomplished, overcoming the traumas of refugee camps and resettlement to begin building thriving lives here in South Philly,” said Fiedler. “I am so glad to support this ongoing work from KCAP and really thrilled that they’ve built this partnership with Farm Philly, to help connect Karen community members to the resources and connection that come with a community garden.”
The Karen are an ethnic group from the region of Myanmar (Burma) who have resettled as refugees in the United States and Canada since 2000. KCAP is comprised of Karen community leaders actively engaged in community development, along with a small network of supportive allies.
“KCAP is grateful to Representative Elizabeth Fiedler’s office for their continued support of Philadelphia’s Karen refugee community,” said a representative of the organization. “These funds came at a crucial time and have helped us to begin building the project and securing more long term funding. Our community of farmers is so excited to have the opportunity to partner with Farm Philly to create a permanent space for refugees and neighbors to cultivate food and belonging in Philadelphia!”
“Farm Philly is proud to partner with the Karen Community Association of Philadelphia to help transform underutilized parkland into a permanent, community-stewarded agricultural space,” said Ash Richards, Urban Agriculture Director of Farm Philly. “This project is about more than access to land; it is about honoring Karen and other immigrant and refugee agricultural traditions, strengthening food sovereignty, and creating a place where culture, community, and generations of farming knowledge can take root and thrive. We are excited to support KCAP in building a lasting resource that nourishes both people and community for years to come.”
Officially founded in 2024, KCAP is the first and only Karen-led social services and cultural heritage organization in Philadelphia. Beginning as grassroots efforts since 2008, KCAP has worked with city organizations to offer programs to the Karen community, successfully piloting language classes, citizenship classes, youth mentorship programs, and cultural heritage programs. The group does work throughout South Philadelphia and has a base in the Bok Building.