Beginnings

Sylhet Farm & Farmers Market started when Rahman, the founder of the Hope Center in the Detroit Banglatown neighborhood, asked Daniel from One New Humanity if he would help them with their vision to start an urban farm and farmers market. The Hope Center had acquired over 2 acres of vacant land, a building, multiple houses and was attempting to renew their community but needed help. Sylhet is a green, fertile region in Bangladesh where many in Detroit have immigrated.

The partnership started slow with the help of volunteers, but over time it has grown to become a significant part of the Banglatown community. The farm has distributed thousands of lbs of fresh food for free or low cost to the community through the Sylhet Farmers Market. We have mentored youth as a host site for the Grow Detroit Young Talent Program and led approximately 1,400 volunteers who collectively gave around 86k service hours.

Dream It.

One New Humanity programs start with a community leader who saw a problem and wanted to do something about it. That is the story of Joy Thrift. Louise came to us and said, “Why doesn’t Hamtramck have a thrift store? We need a place that offers affordable, gently used, practical items to people. Also, it needs to be walkable.” Little did she know we are were having a similar conversation among friends, but nobody had the time to manage a retail store. We said, “OK, Louise, you have a job.” Well, it was more of a process, but it all happened so fast.

A Gym For Women

In October 2016, Sisterhood Fitness officially opened to the community! We are the only local fitness studio exclusively for women in Hamtramck. We cater to the unique needs of immigrant women living in Hamtramck, but all are welcome. We have a few members that have built some wonderful intercultural friendships. All we ask is whoever comes is respectful to the other members.

The women buy a punch card; each class attended is one punch. It is very affordable and designed to show the value created by the members. The cost of the cards only subsidizes the actual operating cost. We fundraise throughout the year to continue offering these essential services. Since starting, we have served hundreds of women in different locations around our community. We operate predominately by volunteers. We are open five days a week and offer a variety of exercise classes and one-on-one instruction. Please click the button below if you want to know anything specific to Sisterhood Fitness.

The United States prides itself on its freedom, including freedom of religion. But while Muslim Americans may be free to practice Islam, they still find themselves facing prejudice and discrimination from society at large. Here’s a look at anti-Muslim sentiment in the US, and how we can dismantle Islamophobia in our country and communities.

In April 2022, One New Humanity signed a lease on a space that has become the permanent home for Sisterhood Fitness. It is located one block down the street from Joy Thrift in the downtown district of Hamtramck. The space was a former medical clinic, and our landlord let us go ahead with the plan to demo several walls to create two open studios. One space is a fitness studio where we can easily pull out tables and chairs to convert for community meetings. The second is a commercial kitchen we are planning to use for new programming. We kept an area for volunteers to watch kids while their moms were in class. Also, former medical offices were kept, and we plan to use them for educational classes like ESL, GED Prep, and Citizenship prep as we build capacity and recruit more volunteers. We have heard over and over again what women need and want, so this space has been specifically tailored to those ideas. We have several things we want to do as we grow our funding and volunteers. You can see some before and after photos below.

On a spur of the sweeping Mount Shamāḥī in Yemen, the city of Ibb is nestled. A strategic location for thousands of years, Ibb holds centuries of rich history, culture, and tradition within its walls. Here’s a look at the notable characteristics of Ibb and the Yemeni history and culture found there.

From singer Pat Benatar to director Gore Verbinski and graphic artist Frank Kozik, Polish Americans have made incredible contributions to the culture and development of the United States. Here’s how Polish culture has been upheld by immigrant communities through US history, and how it continues to thrive today.

I mentioned in my last update that we hired our first Executive Director, which was a big decision for a small organization. We are two months into it, and it was a good decision. Amanda Marshall lives in Detroit with her family, and just like we thought, she jumped right in, taking over leadership responsibilities and helping to bring new creative ideas. She has a master's degree in social entrepreneurship focused on community development and practical experience. Amanda will help us get to where we want to go, a sustainably funded, healthy organization serving Hamtramck and the Banglatown neighborhood of Detroit for many years to come with the help of volunteers.

Thrifting can be an exciting way to shop that not only saves you money, but has the potential for unbelievable finds and impactful community support! Here’s how thrift shopping helps you and those around you, and an in-depth exploration of thrifting tips to elevate your shopping.

Every time I would go to write a quick update, something else would come up. The summer was busy in a good way. We are excited to be growing our team with new staff and volunteers committed to our mission—here are a few highlights.

Buying clothes can bring a rush of joy, but behind much of today’s popular fashion are systems and practices that bring real harm to both people and the planet. Here’s a look behind the fitting room curtain at fast fashion, how it’s harmful, and how you can put your clothes where your ethics are.

One of the biggest draws of a women-only gym is a comfortable environment. Sadly, this is something that’s missing from many co-ed gyms. Women are regularly discouraged from working out due to harassment from men at the gym. Unwanted come-ons, negative comments, condescending behavior, or uncomfortable looks can leech away women’s desire to exercise.

Just as environmental deserts are characterized by a lack of water, food deserts are characterized by a lack of healthy, affordable food. The concept is a bit vague and nebulous, with no quantitative parameters and no exact agreed-upon food desert definition. However, that broadness is what allows us to think about food deserts in the many different environments in which they occur.

There is nothing more exciting than seeing people thrive when given opportunities. If you have connected to our organization through the community garden, Joy Thrift, or somewhere else, there is a good chance you might not know we are renovating a new space located on Joseph Campau in Hamtramck, a block down the street from Joy Thrift. We plan to use it as a community center to grow our women's fitness program, Sisterhood Fitness, host ESL, GED, and Citizenship classes, and help launch a baking academy run by a professional pastry chef. The entire space will provide more opportunities to those in our community who need it.

Mentorship is an exercise in possibility. Like sculptors who see potential in unshaped stone, mentors see the possibilities in youths who may not see it themselves. Youth mentorship brings children and adolescents hope, confidence, and belief. But it’s more than just a pep talk. Mentorship holds great power for youth development, and causes positive changes with substantial outcomes.

The opening day for our community garden at Sylhet Farm is Saturday, May 7. It is located at 12500 Joseph Campau. We have 41 plots reserved, but you can still request one by using the online form below. The community garden gate will be opened at 7 am and closed at 7 pm every day through mid-October. We hope you can join us and meet new people.

So, why is community service important? There are as many reasons as there are volunteers. For each individual, volunteering can have an abundance of meaning. It can be a way to make a difference in the world, a chance to support important causes, or an avenue to act on philosophical, ethical, religious, or cultural beliefs.

Plants are growing in the greenhouse, people are coming outside, and volunteer season at Sylhet Farm has started. We always have a ton to do for those willing to brave a mix of temperatures in early spring. Please send me an email, and I can send you some times we plan to be out there.