Non-profit Southside Blooms transforming vacant lot into hope, youth job opportunities

CHICAGO (WLS) — New life for a lot that had been vacant for years.

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The non-profit organization Southside Blooms uses flower farms to provide jobs for young people in underserved communities.

“It’s going to be amazing to see and to just have the beautification of this lot even though it’s been empty for years just to see something that has life in the neighborhood,” Garfield Park Community Council Aretha Berdell said.

The new flower farm will be at the corner of Pulaski and West End in Garfield Park.

It will be the sixth urban garden of Southside Blooms with chamomile and sunflower blooming next spring.

“Everything that’s planted was perennial so the beauty will perpetuate itself year after year,” Southside Blooms Farm Operations Manager Ruben Nicolaescu said.

Southside Blooms began in Englewood in 2017. Currently 30 youth are on the payroll.

“Not even doing it for the money,” Southside Blooms Employee Marquise Green said. “This is my getaway I do this for my peace of mind I’m excited to come to work. Not a lot of kids my age are excited to come to work I’m excited.”

“I feel like we are showing Chicago we can do better,” Southside Blooms Employee Dionta White said. “We can do better, and we want better for our city.”

White said he has a record, and his job opportunities were limited. His mom lived across the street from the Englewood site, and the owners offered him an option he never thought possible.

“It’s just like Southside blooms really changed me. Saved me,” White added.

Southside Blooms plans to fill the corner with more plants and trees while maintaining a garden lined walkway for residents not only transforming the corner but also transforming the lives of their employees.

To learn more about the organization, click here.