PENN STATE UNIVERSITY
AIAS for SANKOFA​
The American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) is an independent, nonprofit, student-run organization dedicated to providing unmatched progressive programs, information, and resources on issues critical to architecture and the experience of education. The AIAS aims to promote excellence in architectural education, training, and practice; to foster an appreciation of architecture and related disciplines; to enrich communities in a spirit of collaboration; and to organize students and combine their efforts to advance the art and science of architecture.
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*The AIAS chapter represented on this website in connection with SVCG is Penn State University.
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Sankofa village for the Arts, Executive director, Shabaka Perkins had the vision to feed our community while educating them to grow healthy food. We found the ideal location in Homewood South, two lots over by the URA, these lots were located on North Braddock Avenue and Susquehanna Street, once a popular drug corridor. Enlisting the help of Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC), Grow Pittsburgh, and G-TECH,the site was prepared and developed in August of 2015. The developing of this site included soil testing, which indicated that raised beds would be the way to go, due to the levels of lead found in the soil. To protect crops, our produce and our gardeners, heavy duty landscape fabric and wood chips were applied to make the garden safer for growers and the community. Since the Geraldyne B. Hill Senior Garden Project would be an intricate part of Sankofa Village Community Garden it was designed to be handicap accessible. Sankofa Village Community Garden's first gardeners were the young campers from The Legacy Arts, Bara Makona Summer Campers.
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Penn State University AIAS for SANKOFA Mission
Penn State AIAS for Sankofa aims to provide information on Sankofa Village Community Farm for those interested in giving back to the community as a whole. The site showcases innovative projects for the farm designed by Stuckeman Architecture School students at Penn State University. These ideas are meant to showcase the beauty of this community garden and encourage people of all ages to support SVCG and organizations similar to it.