pictured above: Mayita Dinos, designer of Arlington Garden, and community members soon after breaking ground on construction of the garden.
Dear Garden Supporters,
2020 will be remembered as the year everything changed, and I hope that 2021 will be the year that everything started to change for the better, but that will be up to us.
This year marks our 16th Anniversary, our “Sweet 16,” because the garden was founded from togetherness and community and brings joy and respite to so many. We will continue to celebrate safely from a distance, until we can gather in person, with more virtual programs organized by our Programs and Development Manager, Paloma Avila and interviews in Letters from the Garden, by Communications and Volunteer Manager, Andrew Jewell. We also have a new Garden Representative, Maggie Smart McCabe, to enforce photo permits and sell marmalade, and a new board president Kimberly Fung Jacobsen. We are kicking off the year with our annual Board retreat, and we will share the results of last year’s work in our upcoming annual report as well as in our updated strategic plan and diversity, equity and inclusion statement.
Certainly, these past 10 months have reminded us of what is important, and Arlington seems to be one of those things, as demonstrated by our successful crowdfunding campaign and end of year appeal. Some of the things that I am grateful for are having a safe place to stay at home, providing for my young son, keeping in touch with family and friends, and access to natural, free open spaces. If you are in need of something inspirational right now, I highly recommend, The Serviceberry An Economy of Abundance, by Robin Wall Kimmerer:
“Gratitude is so much more than a polite thank you. It is the thread that connects us in a deep relationship, simultaneously physical and spiritual, as our bodies are fed and spirits nourished by the sense of belonging, which is the most vital of foods. Gratitude creates a sense of abundance, the knowing that you have what you need.”
I hope you feel gratitude, and a sense of belonging, as I do, for this precious little place we call The McKenney Family Arlington Garden in Pasadena. I hope that you all continue to stay safe, and enjoy the abundance of joy our garden offers during this tumultuous time.
Michelle Matthews, Executive Director
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