Serenity Urban Wellness is working to help members of its community become healthier in all areas of life. Based in South End, a historically Black and Hispanic neighborhood of Little Rock, Arkansas, that is classified as a food desert, the organization is committed to helping people of all ages learn how to grow their own food. Since its founding in 2022, Serenity Urban Wellness has hosted around eight workshops per year on sustainable agriculture and environmental education. Through its community garden, it educates people about the whole cycle of urban farming, from digging and planting seeds to preserving food that’s grown without chemicals. This holistic philosophy mirrors the organization’s outreach to all generations, as it partners with Little Rock’s youth programs to teach young people gardening skills they can bring home to older relatives. “It all connects together as a whole to fight food insecurity in the South End community,” says founder Dena Patterson.
A beekeeping workshop. Photo credit: Serenity Urban Wellness
With just five members, the small organization works alongside other nonprofits in Little Rock to reach as many people as possible. In particular, its partnership with Turtle Island G.K., an urban farm, enables it to bring healthy food to a community that faces higher rates of obesity and diabetes. Founder Dena, a farmer and beekeeper, hosts workshops that teach people about the importance of these pollinators, as well as yoga classes that connect physical and spiritual health. At a spring festival, attended by almost 500 people, Serenity Urban Wellness connected the community with gardeners, farmers, and beekeepers, who explained how to get started with sustainable farming, and gave away free produce and starter plants. Other events are more playful and creative, such as a Black Fae day, a fantasy-themed event designed to share Black joy. “If you bring people from the community in for a fun activity, you hear what their needs and concerns are,” says Dena.
A stick yoga workshop hosted by Dena Patterson, January 2026. Photo credit: Serenity Urban Wellness