Become a Story Gardener!
Become a Story Gardener!
Story Garden brings a moment of fun and peace that everyone needs.
Story Garden in Brownsville, New York City
Story Garden in Gallup, New Mexico
ATD Fourth World Story Gardens are always held in the same outdoor location—regularly and reliably—for quality children's activities and storytelling that encourage learning, intergenerational bonding, community connections, and hope!
Story Gardens in New Mexico and New York City enrich the soils of organic creativity. Elders know where the deep roots extend into traditions. Adults plant seeds of love. Neighbors nurture the seedlings of learning. All so that children can harvest happiness, friendship, confidence, pride, and self-expression along with a rooted identity of belonging to their families and communities. Then, the children return to sow skills, knowledge, patience and delight among others.
Story Garden connects books with art activities, growing passions for watercolor and painting.
“Story Garden is the place where we encourage the arts and give opportunities to children for discoveries.”
- A mother in Brownsville, NYC
Despite the construction happening around our activities, Story Garden continues to build harmony in the community. Parents know us and Story Garden is important to them.
Children and families at the Story Garden built “little human” figurines to give to participants of the United Nations commemoration for the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Solidarity grows between people who do things together.
“I am so proud when I listen to children say they are artists or when they feel powerful and independent thanks to Story Garden.”
- A Story Garden facilitator
At Story Garden, more and more people, not just children, are interacting. Children whose families keep to themselves in their own neighborhood will interact at the Story Garden with children from other places.
A mother in Brownsville said Story Garden helps her contribute to the community. She invited Story Garden facilitators to the local fair to do projects for the broader neighborhood.
More and more elders are sitting in the “living room” of the Gallup Flea Market Story Garden.
A new project called “We Got Skills'' will showcase what the kids do at the Flea Market Story Garden. The kids can take more ownership of the project, putting their touch on it.
Children have opportunities to put their culture in their art projects, painting any images and words that they have in their minds, for example traditional dress and local landscapes.
"There’s a couple of children I’ve seen go to Story Garden, and they’re not angry anymore. They’re more at ease. There’ s no more foul language coming out of their mouths. One girl used to be frustrated with stuff. When I went back, she sat there really good. She had patience. I think it comes from you guys being patient with them, teaching them how to be patient."
"My daughter was in special ed through last year. She’s not anymore. I think it's because she’s doing better with you guys." - A Gallup Story Garden mother
"I learned that I am a better reader. I probably started at Story Garden when I was about six. Now, I'm gonna be nine. Reading the books actually helped me catch up with my reading in school." - A Story Garden participant
After doing a project with colors of the rainbow, children are asking for more science experiments at Story Garden.
"For that moment at Story Garden, they forget all their troubles and what they are going through."
- The mother of a family going through homelessness, explaining why her two children love coming to Story Garden
Thank You!
Your donation of any amount contributes:
$50 Shovels and wheelbarrows (Art supplies)
$150 Seeds (Books)
$500 Water (Travel expenses for the mobile Story Garden)
$1000 Fertilizer (1 month stipend for a facilitator)