Will Allen (urban farmer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Will Allen
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Allen holds a tilapia in his hand at the urban farm Growing Power
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| Born | February 8, 1949 Rockville, Maryland, U.S.
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| Education | B.A. Physical Education (1971) Honorary Ph.D. Agriculture (2012) |
| Alma mater | University of Miami University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee |
| Occupation | Chief Executive Officer |
| Known for | Urban farming, Professional basketball |
| Height | 6 ft 7 in (201 cm) |
| Children | Erika, Jason, Randall, Adrianna |
| Awards | 2008 MacArthur Fellowship, Genius Award |
Will Allen was born on February 8, 1949. He is an American urban farmer from Milwaukee. Before becoming a famous farmer, he was a professional basketball player.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Will Allen grew up in Rockville, Maryland. He was a talented basketball player in high school. He even won a state championship!
He earned a basketball scholarship to the University of Miami. There, he played for the Miami Hurricanes college team. Will Allen made history as the first African-American person to play basketball for the University of Miami.
Basketball Career
After college, Will Allen was chosen by the Baltimore Bullets in the 1971 NBA draft. He played a few games for The Floridians in the ABA league during the 1971–72 season. He also played professional basketball in Belgium.
Will Allen stopped playing basketball in 1977 when he was 28 years old. After retiring, he moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which was his wife Cynthia's hometown.
Urban Farming Work
Will Allen's parents were farmers in South Carolina. They later moved to Maryland, where Allen grew up. This background likely influenced his future work.
Starting a New Path
In 1993, Will Allen decided to try something new. He left his job at a big company called Procter & Gamble. He then bought an old plant nursery in Milwaukee that was no longer in use. Around the same time, he also bought a 100-acre farm in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. This farm had belonged to his wife's parents.
Growing Power Project
Will Allen became the leader of a project called Growing Power. This project focused on urban farming in Milwaukee. Growing Power also had a large farm west of Milwaukee and a project in Chicago. Will Allen's daughter, Erika, helped run the Chicago project.
Growing Power helped many people learn about growing food in cities. However, the non-profit organization stopped its main operations in 2017. Will Allen still works at the Milwaukee site through his own company, Will Allen Farms, LLC.
Awards and Recognition
Will Allen has received many important awards for his work in urban farming.
- In 2005, he received a special grant from the Ford Foundation.
- In 2008, he won the "Genius Grant" from the MacArthur Foundation. This award recognized his amazing work in urban farming and creating sustainable food production.
- In 2009, the Kellogg Foundation gave him a grant. This money helped him create jobs in urban agriculture.
Will Allen was featured in a documentary film called Fresh. The film called him one of the most important leaders in the movement for food security and urban farming.
He also co-wrote a book called The Good Food Revolution: Growing Healthy Food, People and Communities. This book was nominated for an Image Award in 2013. Another book for younger readers, Farmer Will Allen & the Growing Table, was written about him in 2014.
In 2012, the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee gave Will Allen an honorary Doctor of Agriculture degree. This was a special award to honor his contributions to farming. He also gave a speech at their graduation ceremony that day.
See also
- Growing Power
