Carpenter Art Garden • 295 Carpenter Street • Memphis, TN 38104

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Carpenter Art Garden to Dedicate Sankofa Teaching Garden

June 2, 2026, Binghampton Neighborhood, Memphis, TN - As a part of its Blooming in Binghamton festival being held on Saturday, June 6, the Carpenter Art Garden (CAG) will host a dedication ceremony for its newly installed Sankofa Teaching Garden. 

Rooted in the Ghanaian principle of Sankofa ,which means go back and fetch it, the garden provides an intergenerational teaching and growing space that honors the foods, stories, and cultural resilience of Africa and the African Diaspora while fostering connection across Binghampton’s diverse international communities.

The Sankofa Garden features two distinct learning areas: one dedicated to African Diaspora crops that continue to shape African American cuisine, drinks, and medicinal traditions, and another highlighting global food traditions represented by cultures from around the world. Together, these spaces create opportunities for hands-on learning, cultural exchange, and community connection through gardening, cooking, and storytelling. Year-round programming, including planting workshops, cooking demonstrations, cultural storytelling, and sustainability education, is being planned for the space

This unique garden is a significant milestone as it shows the Carpenter Art Garden’s commitment to youth development, cultural education, and community wellness in the Binghampton neighborhood. Funding for the project was secured through a competitive grant awarded by the Garden Club of America. The Little Garden Club of Memphis, a longtime supporter of Carpenter Art Garden, identified the opportunity and prepared the successful grant application on CAG’s behalf. Carpenter Art Garden was one of only six organizations nationwide selected to receive funding through this grant program, underscoring both the significance of the Sankofa Garden project and the strong partnership between Carpenter Art Garden and the Little Garden Club of Memphis. 

“This garden is about more than growing food—it’s about growing understanding,” said Ayanna Murray, Interim Executive Director. “It’s a space where young people and community members can connect to their roots, learn from one another, and celebrate the cultures that make Binghampton vibrant. Together, the Carpenter Art Garden and The Little Garden Club are creating a space where youth and families can explore African Diaspora foodways, celebrate cultural heritage, and build connections through gardening, education, and community engagement.”

The dedication will take place around noon on Saturday, immediately after the 11:40 AM panel discussion entitled Agricultural and Environmental: Your land, my land, our space.

For more information, please contact Ayanna Murray, Interim Executive Director at ed@carpenterartgarden.org  or visit https://www.carpenterartgarden.org.

Founded in 2012, the Carpenter Art Garden serves the Binghampton neighborhood in Memphis, TN. 

Vision: Empowering the children of Binghampton to create their best futures.

Mission: Growing young creatives through art, education, and vocational programs.