Growing Home

Founded in 2002, Growing Home began with nine participants in its first year of training. The development of the Wood Street Urban Farm in 2006 marked a significant milestone, providing a permanent home for the job training program in Englewood. By 2011, the City of Chicago passed a new ordinance facilitating urban farming, influenced by Growing Home's precedent-setting efforts. The Honore Street Farm was the first to open under this new ordinance. In 2013, Growing Home received the Bank of America Neighborhood Builders Award and was recognized for Outstanding Community Strategy of the Year by the Chicago Community Trust. A partnership with Cabrini Green Legal Aid was established in 2014 to help participants overcome legal barriers to employment.

Growing Home operates USDA-Certified Organic farms in urban neighborhoods, focusing on organic agriculture as a means to provide job training and employment opportunities. The program emphasizes hands-on experience in agriculture, landscaping, food service, and customer service, alongside general workplace and life skills. The farms serve as a model for using organic farming to foster community development and economic stability.

Growing Home addresses employment barriers by providing transitional employment and green industry training to individuals with histories of incarceration, homelessness, or substance dependence. The organization offers produce to local residents at reduced prices, advocates for issues impacting Englewood, and hosts various trainings and workshops. The program has changed the lives of hundreds of workers and thousands of their family members by supporting them in overcoming challenges such as criminal records, medical needs, child-care, and housing.