Will Allen, founder of Growing Power, Inc. and author of “The Good Food Revolution”, spoke on campus last Wednesday about the importance of nutrition.
In 1993, Allen created Growing Power, Inc., a national nonprofit urban farming organization. It was initially planned to give kids in North Milwaukee jobs and the area fresh food.
In the last 19 years, Allen and Growing Power, Inc. have helped communities build farms in Milwaukee and Merton, Wisc. and Chicago, Ill. They also provide food for restaurants in Milwaukee, Madison and Chicago.
Growing Power, Inc. is currently the only functioning farm in Milwaukee.
Allen spoke at UW-Whitewater’s 27th annual Kyle Lecture in the Summer Auditorium.
The presentation was hosted by the Political Science Department and funded by the UW-Whitewater Institute for Democracy and Civic Engagement
Political Science Chair Susan Johnson wanted to have a speaker who had done something “noticeable and memorable” for nutritional issues in Wisconsin.
“Allen is a really good representation of a person whose accomplishments are important to share,” Johnson said.
The former professional basketball player said he didn’t think he would become a farmer. Although, being the son of a sharecropper, it seemed appropriate.
Wesley Enterline of Facilities Planning and Management was impressed with Allen’s presentation.
“There are a lot of speakers who tend to be talkers,” Enterline said. “[Allen] is a doer. He’s not blowing smoke.”
Growing Power, Inc. simply state their goals on their website “to grow food, to grow minds, to grow community.”
Samantha Jacquest contributed to this article
