by Steven Doyle
Recently I attended a special event benefitting the Promise of Peace Gardens at Central 214, hosted by chef Graham Dodds and Café Momentum director and chef, Chad Houser. This collaborative event between Kimpton Hotels and Promise of Peace helped fund the summer kids’ camps and the building of a new garden at CC Young Retirement Center on Earth Day 2013.
Promise of Peace Community Garden is a non-profit seeking simple solutions for increasing high school completion rates and healthy life styles as a result of positive community engagement. POP strives to connect the groups of neighborhoods in East Dallas through horticultural, environmental, and nutritional educational experiences.
The sold out event began with entertainment provided by Bob and Sally Ackerman, who play upbeat, folksy music. The chefs passed appetizers and served wine before the five course dinner, and ended by awarding raffled items which raised even more funds for the garden.
The gardens are always looking for agricultural interns to spend two to six hours a week in the garden hosting tours, doing garden maintenance such as weeding, mulching, and project development. Volunteers are always welcome and always walk away with inspiration after their experience in the garden.
