Friends, Thank you for your patience, encouragement, and activism as we continue the work to reopen the 65th & Woodlawn Community Garden and Kumunda Garden. This is love in action. So far, we have over 2,000 signers. Keep spreading the word! These gardens not only serve as a place for people to grow much needed fresh produce, but they are also a welcoming place for community to gather and engage across generations. In these gardens, seniors share their knowledge of traditional herbs, families grow together, and neighborhood kids play and explore nature. We have no other local space like this. The Big News: After two months of trying to communicate directly with First Presbyterian Church leadership, we have successfully confirmed a face-to-face meeting with the Executive Presbytery of Chicago on Tuesday, April 17th. The goal of the meeting is to determine the best way to work collaboratively with First Presbyterian Church and find solutions to ensure the reopening of the gardens this growing season. We will share an update next week as soon as we have more information, and will hopefully be able to provide more clarity on the next steps for moving forward. We see this meeting as a stepping stone in the right direction. We deeply appreciate your commitment in this collective effort. It has shown us how strongly our community feels about keeping this shared space open to all. Please help us continue moving the conversation by sharing the petition and links to the press stories below on social media with our hashtag #SaveWoodlawnsGardens. You can also follow our page @65thandWoodlawn on Facebook. In unity and solidarity, The Woodlawn Community Gardens Volunteer Committee Woodlawn Community Gardens Media Chicago Sun-Times https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/community-gardens-face-uncertain-fate-as-south-side-church-contemplates-closure/ Chicago Tribune http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-woodlawn-community-garden-closed-by-church-20180410-story.html Columbia Chronicle http://www.columbiachronicle.com/metro/article_951a45f0-39f1-11e8-828c-e333c3777cd7.html WBBM Radio 780 AM https://wbbmnews.radio.com/articles/news/woodlawn-residents-hold-petition-keep-community-gardens-open WGN TV Channel 9 http://wgntv.com/2018/03/27/woodlawn-gardeners-fight-to-save-community-plots/ Vocalo Radio 91.1 FM https://soundcloud.com/vocalo/community-gardening