Ebonie

Meet Ebonie: a mother, community leader and a welcomer to all.

All it took was a ‘yes,’ another ‘yes’ and initiative to create Shalom & Tranquility Community Garden.

Ebonie has been an advocate for her community and wanted to make a difference; one of the reasons she graduated in the first cohort of S.E.E.D.S Women’s Development Program led by Jasmin Santana, Cleveland City Councilwoman Ward 14. In this cohort, Ebonie met fellow gardener, Tanisha Velez (a member of our LIFT program) who encouraged her to start a community garden, and Ebonie said ‘yes.’

A mother of two special needs children in a neighborhood with limited exposure to the value of eating home grown food, Ebonie wanted to have a space for all types of families to be educated about health and build community, all while sharing in the shalom the garden brings.

“Gardening has become that thing. You know that thing I need to soothe my soul. The garden has become the place where I can come for Peace & Tranquility in the midst of all the chaos and turmoil that surrounds me.”

All for community.

Ebonie applied for a Rally CLE (our one-day event for resident-led projects) grant to help with her garden in 2020. King's Church partnered with Ebonie and helped kickstart the garden, and a year later, the relationship with King’s is still ongoing as they serve with Ebonie throughout the summer.

Ebonie shared the vision of what she wants the community garden to be. Families with special needs children and typically developing children in the same place. Seniors and neighborhood kids gardening. White and black people getting their hands dirty together. A gathering place; a place where people can learn and grow.

Ebonie shared, “The problem is we put too many boundaries on community. I want to bring community together.”

You can serve alongside Ebonie (she would honestly love to meet you!) in her garden! Keep up to date with her events on @shalomtranquilitycgcleveland on Instagram.