Foundation Honors Allen with $500,000 "Genius Grant"

It's often said that life can change with one ring of the phone. For Will Allen, change came with a recent call from the MacArthur Foundation. On September 23rd, the Foundation notified Allen that he was among the 25 recipients of their 2008 "Genius Grants," which means he'll receive a total of $500,000 over the next five years, with no strings attached, to further his vision for sustainable community food systems.

Milwaukee, WI (PRWEB) November 6, 2008 -- It's often said that life can change with one ring of the phone. For Will Allen, change came with a recent call from the MacArthur Foundation. On September 23rd, the Foundation notified Allen that he was among the 25 recipients of their 2008 "Genius Grants," which means he'll receive a total of $500,000 over the next five years, with no strings attached, to further his vision for sustainable community food systems (http://www.growingpower.org).

Allen, an urban farmer, has gained regional and national attention over the last decade for his work as the lead trainer and Chief Executive Officer of the Milwaukee-based, non-profit organization, Growing Power, Inc. In 1993, Allen offered a group of teens the opportunity to help him renovate the greenhouses in order to grow food for their community. What started as a simple partnership to grow a few gardens blossomed into a national and global commitment to sustainable food systems, using the innovative Growing Power Community Food Center as the demonstration model and training grounds to support this initiative.

"One of my core beliefs is that healthy communities cannot exist without healthy food systems," says Allen, "At our urban farm, everyone is welcome!"

From elementary students and farmers to government officials and University professors, Growing Power welcomes anyone who is interested in urban sustainable food systems, renewable energy, the environment and food, to participate in at least one of the many educational opportunities the organization offers year-round. In particular, the organization provides regular trainings, resource development, and technical support-outreach for limited resource farmers and socially disadvantaged communities.

"As a multicultural organization, we value diversity within the sustainable agricultural movement, at all levels from leadership to youth and producers/consumers. It is our mission to provide valuable resources to traditionally under-served communities, in particular immigrant, African-American, Latino, Asian, and Native American farmers," says Allen, "The more we grow as an organization, the more we are able to provide for our community, especially to those most in need."

One way Will Allen and Growing Power contribute to achieving this mission is by supporting and facilitating the Growing Food and Justice For All Initiative. This national network is actively working towards dismantling racism as a core principal which brings together social change agents from diverse sectors to bring about new, healthy, and sustainable food systems and to support and build multicultural leadership in impoverished communities throughout the world.

Allen's daughter, Erika Allen, manages Growing Power's sustainable agricultural projects in the metropolitan Chicago area, and shares her father's passion for food security and social justice.

"My father works to connect cultures by bringing everyone together around food sovereignty, and, in doing so, fosters understanding between people," she says. "He always says that we grow food and we grow communities. With the recognition and support the MacArthur grant brings, I'm honored to help grow the legacy of my family and Growing Power."

Will Allen will continue to expand upon the innovative systems at the Growing Power Community Food Center. In fact, Growing Power is preparing to launch a major fundraising initiative to support a new, carbon-neutral, five-story building that would increase greenhouse and farming production, add classroom space, and incorporate a multi-story vertical fish farm. In the meantime, Growing Power has been very resourceful in using existing infrastructure and available resources to meet the needs of its community, one hungry person at a time.

About Growing Power

Growing Power is a national nonprofit organization and land trust supporting people from diverse backgrounds, and the environments in which they live, by helping to provide equal access to healthy, high-quality, safe and affordable food for people in all communities. Growing Power implements this mission by providing hands-on training, on-the-ground demonstration, outreach and technical assistance through the development of Community Food Systems that help people grow, process, market, and distribute food in a sustainable manner. Food produced by Growing Power is sold at an on-site market stand, as well as to a variety of stores and restaurants in Milwaukee and Chicago. Monthly workshops, training, and technical support to individuals and communities are offered on a regular basis. For more information about educational opportunities and other Growing Power programs, please visit www.growingpower.org or call (414) 527-1546.

About the MacArthur Foundation

The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world.

The MacArthur Fellows Program awards unrestricted fellowships to talented individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction. There are three criteria for selection of Fellows: exceptional creativity, promise for important future advances based on a track record of significant accomplishment, and potential for the fellowship to facilitate subsequent creative work. For more information, visit www.macfund.org.

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Two Muses Media & Entertainment

Phone: 917-561-1062

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