The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation is pleased to have provided funding to Growing Home over the last six years.
Growing Home believes that everyone deserves a good job, to eat well, and to live in a vibrant, supportive community. The organization proudly runs three of Chicago’s first high-production, USDA-certified organic urban farms in the Englewood community of Chicago. Their mission is to operate, promote, and demonstrate the use of organic urban agriculture as a powerful and therapeutic vehicle for job training, employment, food access and community development. Through this innovative workforce development program, Growing Home helps individuals overcome the barriers created by criminal records, homelessness, or lack of job histories to become successful members of Chicago’s workforce. Growing Home also partners with local community organizations to offer workshops on gardening, nutrition, and cooking with produce.
Despite the global pandemic, Growing Home continues to grow to meet community needs. In April, the organization opened a new Honore Street South farm for more growing and training space. Growing Home was able to train over 50 people in the workforce development program by transitioning the classroom portion to a virtual format, including virtual elevator pitch workshops. Additionally, staff made wellness check calls to over 500 past participants to ensure they could meet basic needs and connect them to emergency assistance when necessary. Growing Home also partnered with local organizations to offer CSA’s in Englewood at no cost to residents as well as engage in door-to-door delivery and food drives.
For more information on Growing Home, visit https://growinghomeinc.org
