Growing Home Social Enterprise and Transitional Jobs
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Program intern, Melvin, harvesting tomatoes at the Wood Street Urban Farm
Growing Home’s mission is to operate, promote, and demonstrate the use of organic agriculture as a vehicle for job training, employment, and community development.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Growing Home’s mission is to operate, promote, and demonstrate the use of organic agriculture as a vehicle for job training, employment, and community development.
Growing Home was founded in 1992 by Les Brown, Director of Policy for the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. He wrote that “Homeless people are often without roots. They’re not tied down, not connected, not part of their family anymore. Our organic farming program is a way for them to connect with nature – to plant and nurture roots over a period of time. When you get involved in taking responsibility for caring for something, creating an environment that produces growth, then it helps you build self-esteem.”
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Wood Street Urban Farm, August 2010 Growing Home was founded in 1992 by Les Brown, Director of Policy for the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. He wrote that “Homeless people are often without roots. They’re not tied down, not connected, not part of their family anymore. Our organic farming program is a way for them to connect with nature – to plant and nurture roots over a period of time. When you get involved in taking responsibility for caring for something, creating an environment that produces growth, then it helps you build self-esteem.”
Growing Home operates an employment training program through three USDA Certified Organic farm sites.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Wood Street Urban Farm, August 2010 Growing Home operates three USDA Certified Organic farm sites.
Growing Home’s Les Brown Memorial Farm – Marseilles, IL
Presenter
Presentation Notes
LB Farm
Su Casa Market Garden – Back of the Yards, Chicago
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Su Casa Catholic Worker House With our Field Training Specialist interns practice beekeeping, and other specialized skills at Su Casa.
Growing Home’s Wood Street Urban Farm - Englewood, Chicago
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Wood Street Urban Farm, September 2008
Growing Home’s Newest Farm:
Wood Street Urban Farm Extension Site
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Growing Home’s newest farm, Wood Street Urban Farm extension site Honore between 58th and 59th
Job Training: Growing Home’s program targets individuals who have major barriers to employment, including having been previously incarcerated, homeless, and/or having a history of substance abuse.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Job Training: Growing Home’s program targets individuals who have major barriers to employment, including having been previously incarcerated, homeless, and/or having a history of substance abuse. Wood Street Urban Farm, April 2009
Job skills: Program participants gain specific skill sets in farming, customer service, and horticulture, as well as, job readiness skills like resume writing, interview etiquette, and other employment skills.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Interns working the farm stand at the Les Brown Memorial Farm, and harvesting at the Wood Street Urban Farm. Job skills: Program participants gain specific skill sets in farming, customer service, and horticulture, as well as, job readiness skills like resume writing, interview etiquette, and other employment skills.
Opening of the Farm and Training Center, August 2009
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Wood Street Urban Farm, August 2009
"Plants are like people. Or people are like plants. They need nurturing, and help... to become stronger and to stand on their own.” – 2011 Program Participant, Lisa R.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Wood Street Urban Farm, August 2010. Urban Farms Manager, Tim Murakami, talking to Growing Home interns and staff about tomato harvesting. "Plants are like people. Or people are like plants. They need nurturing, and help... to become stronger and to stand on their own.” – 2011 Program Participant, Lisa R.
Participants are paid for their time in class and working. Their hours are split evenly between time in classes—including courses in soils, plant identification, pruning, math at the market—and time working on the farms and at the farmer’s market.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Wood Street Urban Farm, Farm and Training Center, August 2010. Food processing and classroom space Participants are paid for their time in class and working. Their hours are split evenly between time in classes—including courses in soils, plant identification, pruning, math at the market—and time working on the farms and at the farmer’s market.
"Since I've been [at Growing Home] ... I'm more peaceful. It's like I'm in a totally different world, I'm still in Chicago and Illinois, but my mind goes elsewhere because there is something about the soil that's just calming.” - 2010 program graduate, Latoya W.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Wood Street Urban Farm Fred’s first harvest and Latoya harvesting in winter "Since I've been [at Growing Home] ... I'm more peaceful. It's like I'm in a totally different world, I'm still in Chicago and Illinois, but my mind goes elsewhere because there is something about the soil that's just calming.” - 2010 program graduate, Latoya W.
Community Outreach
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Seneca Kern giving a tour at the Wood Street Urban Farm. Visitors preparing to u-pick at the Les Brown Memorial Farm. The farm stand at the Wood Street Urban Farm. Community Outreach: Interns learn specific skills through outreach programming—leading private tours, organizing community service days, and working at the Wood Street Urban Farm’s Farm Stand.
Mayor Daley with our community outreach coordinator, Seneca Kern, and program interns
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Wood Street Urban Farm Mayor Daley Visit, August 2009
Community Open House at the Wood Street Urban Farm, May 2011
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Intern Gerry S. prepares enchiladas, made with Growing Home produce, for visitors at the Wood Street Urban Farm Open House Event, May 2011.
"I was so ready to be done with the bad parts of my life. I wanted it behind me, and I wanted to be clean. Growing Home has helped. It's peaceful here. And its an indescribable feeling: to get up every day and make a conscious decision to focus on the positive.” - 2009 program participant, Jasmine E.
