midwest refugee

Resident badass Will Allen leads nation’s urban farming movement

The concept of ‘urban farming’ has begun to pop up more and more since Milwaukee’s Will Allen was put on the map for positive achievements he, along with his nonprofit organization Growing Power, have made strengthening neighborhoods the inner city with, well…food.

Allen knows that human beings have an inherent desire to sow the food we serve to ourselves and our loved ones. It’s human nature to take pride in nourishing another; and everyone knows that food tastes best when it’s shared with a friend or two. (Or ten.)

Allen, along with Growing Power, examines these basic traits in humanity to better help Milwaukee’s toughest neighborhoods unify, rather than disassociate or faction off in anger or fear. At Growing Power, he’s teaching people life skills to decrease hunger, disease, and dependence on government welfare programs in the community.

Apparently it’s been working, because Allen was awarded the MacArthur Genius Grant to help support Growing Power’s work.

And guess what? They’re not the only ones who’ve noticed. Because of Allen’s hard work, First Lady Michelle Obama has even invited him to the White House (twice, nbd), most recently in May 2010 for a state dinner.

La-tee-frickin’-da.

So if you wanna take a closer look at this forward-thinking social food movement that’s even caught the eye of the First Lady, drop by Growing Power’s International Conference on Urban Farming at Milwaukee’s State Fair Park NEXT weekend, Sept. 10-12.