Who Is Mén Beni Gardening?

Mén Beni Gardening is a Black- and Haitian-led nonprofit organization that supports community well-being through food, gardens, art, and wellness. The name Mén Beni means “blessed hands” in Haitian Creole, reflecting the belief that healing and care begin with intentional work, using our hands to grow food, create art, and care for one another.

Mén Beni Gardening creates healing gardens, provides nourishing meals, and offers wellness and educational programs rooted in cultural tradition and environmental care. Our work helps people reconnect with the land, learn where their food comes from, and access spaces that support mental and emotional well-being.

We serve children, adults, and elders through community gardens, school partnerships, workshops, and public events. Programs often include gardening, nutrition education, creative expression, mindfulness practices, and nature-based learning, all designed to be accessible, welcoming, and culturally grounded.

At its core, Mén Beni Gardening exists to make wellness more accessible by bringing together food, nature, creativity, and community care. We believe that when people are nourished, grounded, and supported, communities are stronger and more resilient.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to Renew the body, Reconnect the mind, and Reawaken the spirit through community gardens, healing food systems, art-infused cultural education, and sustainable wellness programs that honor our heritage, uplift our stories, and restore our connection to the land

.Vision Statement

We envision a future where Black, Haitian, and Indigenous communities are deeply nourished and restored in their relationship to land, food, culture, creativity, and spirit. Through healing gardens, nourishing meals, ancestral practices, artistic expression, and collective wellness, Mén Beni Gardening fosters spaces where individuals and families can thrive.

Meet the Team

  • Fabienne Polycarpe

    Fabienne "Fabi" Polycarpe - Founder of Mén Beni Gardening

    Fabienne "Fabi" Polycarpe is a visionary environmentalist, artist, and holistic entrepreneur dedicated to healing and empowering communities through sustainability and ancestral wisdom. As the founder of Mén Beni Gardening, Fabi has cultivated a grassroots organization rooted in the principles of renewal, reconnection, and reawakening.

    Growing up in her mother’s beauty salon in Little Haiti, Fabi learned the value of natural remedies and intentional care. She holds a master’s degree in Environmental Management and Sustainability and has a diverse professional background, including experience in luxury development and the creative arts. Fabi’s holistic approach integrates her expertise as a gardener, hairstylist, and artist, inspiring others to embrace a sustainable and mindful way of life.

    Under her leadership, Mén Beni Gardening has become a beacon for transformative programs that empower individuals, uplift communities, and honor the interconnectedness of people and the environment.

  • Teara

    Teara Jackson - Mén Beni Gardening Board Member

    Teara Jackson is a dynamic community leader dedicated to advocacy and inclusivity. As a board member of Mén Beni Gardening, Teara brings her passion for empowering marginalized communities and fostering social change. Her work focuses on engaging with local laws, creating inclusive activities, and amplifying the voices of the elderly, LGBTQ+, Black, and other underrepresented groups.

    Teara’s commitment to equity and community empowerment is a driving force behind her contributions to Mén Beni Gardening’s mission. Her leadership and vision play a key role in shaping impactful programming that reflects the organization’s values of renewal, reconnection, and reawakening.

  • Keesha

    Keesha Morisma - Mén Beni Gardening Board Member

    Keesha Morisma is a visionary designer and stylist with a passion for sustainable fashion and community empowerment. As a board member of Mén Beni Gardening, Keesha brings her creative expertise and dedication to sustainability to support the organization's mission of renewal, reconnection, and reawakening.

    Her career spans years of innovative work in sustainable design, including hosting workshops for artisans in Togo, Africa, where she collaborates to bring her eco-conscious creations to life. Keesha's commitment to preserving culture and fostering sustainability aligns seamlessly with Mén Beni Gardening’s goals of holistic healing and environmental stewardship. Her insights and leadership play a vital role in driving impactful community initiatives.

  • Amarise

    Amarise DeFranco - Mén Beni Gardening Board Member

    Amarise DeFranco is a talented visual artist based in California, renowned for her ability to weave cultural elements into her animations and artwork. As a board member of Mén Beni Gardening, Amarise lends her creative vision and deep appreciation for cultural storytelling to amplify the organization's mission of healing and sustainability.

    With a career rooted in artistic expression and cultural preservation, Amarise’s work reflects a profound connection to community and heritage. Her dedication to using art as a tool for empowerment and transformation aligns perfectly with Mén Beni Gardening’s goals of fostering renewal, reconnection, and reawakening in the communities they serve.

  • Kimmi

    Kimmie Ducasse - Mén Beni Gardening Board Member

    Kimmie Ducasse is a Mindful Nature Guide, Traditional Herbalist, Food Forest Educator, Earth Steward, and Animal Whisperer who radiates the vibrant energy of a Child of the Sun and Ocean Mama. As a passionate energy worker and lover of life, Kimmie’s holistic approach to healing and sustainability embodies the essence of Mén Beni Gardening.

    With a profound dedication to preserving traditions that support sustainable living, Kimmie educates and empowers communities through her expertise in herbal medicine, land stewardship, and mindful connections with nature. Her unique ability to connect with both the earth and its creatures infuses every initiative with purpose and harmony.

    As a board member of Mén Beni Gardening, Kimmie plays an integral role in advancing the organization’s mission of renewal, reconnection, and reawakening, creating spaces where communities can thrive in alignment with the natural worl

  • Kim Seymour

    Event Manager