GARDEN FOUNDER: OLEAN-COWART FOR 1920 - 2004

Olean Cowart For, the founder of All People’s Garden, Inc was born in the State of Alabama on October 28th 1920. Ms For as she was lovingly referred eventually arrived in New York in the year 1946. During all those years she raised a family and was part of the fabric of the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

In 1976 Olean was assigned to a newly form community organization named Interfaith Adopt-A-Building, Inc. She was assign to the organization as a VISTA volunteer to work as a Community Organizer. Olean began to organize community resident around youth programs and community environmental issues.

Olean founded the All People’s Garden as part of the organizing of the Third Street Block Association, and the Boys and Girls club. After working with other urban gardeners, she finally settled at the space located at 293-95 East Third Street (Aves, C & D).

After planning the reconstruction of the garden in 2003, Olean passed away in 2004 approximately one year after the completion of the garden.