May 9: Nationally known speaker Will Allen to explain benefits of urban farming

The benefits of urban farms-from producing fresh vegetables to creating jobs to dismantling racism-will be the focus of a free lecture Tuesday, May 9 from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Room A011 Auditorium at the College of Lake County Grayslake Campus, 19351 W. Washington St.

The presenter is Will Allen, a nationally known speaker on urban agriculture and food security. He is the CEO of Growing Power, Inc., a Milwaukee-based nonprofit organization promoting urban agriculture.

Allen has sought to prove how local food systems can help troubled youths, defuse racism, create jobs, bring urban and rural communities closer together and improve public health. "People can grow safe, healthy, affordable food if they have access to land and clean water," he said. "This is transformative on every level. We cannot have healthy communities without a healthy food system."

A former professional basketball player, Allen later worked in marketing at Procter & Gamble Co. Changing careers in 1993, he purchased a two-acre plot near Milwaukee's largest public housing project. Growing Power includes a food and educational center that now produces enough vegetables and fish year-round to feed thousands of people. For more information on Growing Power, Inc., visit www.growingpower.org.

The presentation is co-sponsored by CLC's Student Activities office, Horticulture Club and Horticulture department.