Cultural Preservation in Public Space: The FDR Park Southeast Asian Market

Sarun Chan is the Executive Director at the Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia. Sarun was born in a refugee camp in Thailand during the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide led by the Khmer Rouge regime. Raised in low-income neighborhoods throughout South Philadelphia, Sarun has an innate reflective nature on the American, immigrant, and refugee experience.

Sarun is a former child laborer working in agriculture and packing factories since the age of nine. In his adult professional career, he has worked in various community based organizations and large nonprofits for nearly two decades. Sarun has directed social service initiatives, cultivated community building, developed intergenerational and intercultural programs, and advocacy on various social issues and disparities including education, health, and community development.

From witnessing, experiencing, and living his life in poverty stricken neighborhoods, it has inspired Sarun to further his life’s work to help bring visibility to the under-represented and bridge resource gaps to improve the quality of life for the underserved. Serving diverse communities has enriched Sarun's spirit as an individual and he continues to grow and translate these experiences to make an impact in our homes, community, and environment.

Justin DiBerardinis is the Director of FDR Park for Philadelphia Parks and Recreation. Justin is a lifelong Philadelphian with a deep passion for the democratizing power of public space and the needs of working class Philadelphians. 

Justin began his career in community organizing and leadership development, working primarily in the Kensington section of the city. Over the last ten years he has brought those community-focused skills and methodologies to bear in some of Philadelphia's most dynamic and innovative public spaces. Justin served as the Senior Director of Public Programming and Community Engagement at Bartram's Garden from 2013 to 2019. Since February 2020 he has had the privilege of serving as the first Director of FDR Park.