Will Allen came from humble beginnings as a son of sharecroppers. Most African-Americans do not remember he played basketball for the University of Miami. They also do not remember he was the first African-American to play for the team.
He played professional basketball for a short time and he worked for Proctor and Gamble in the sales department. One day he decided to change his life and he bought farm in Milwaukee. His small 3-acre farm was successful and he received requests from the community to teach youths how to grow food, farming techniques and gardening techniques. His small farm quickly became a teaching center.
Before organic food became popular, Will Allen’s goal was to provide people with access to healthy food. He quickly became popular with advocates of health food for his efforts to promote healthy eating and to make healthy food available to people who could not afford it.
At age 60, Will Allen is the CEO of Growing Power. This organization is committed to bring about a change in eating habits. Will Allen is the driving force behind what he calls the “good food revolution.” The organization works with non-profit organizations around the country. Growing Power teaches people in urban communities how to grown their own fresh produce in small areas. The organization operates urban farms in the inner city of Chicago and has other farms in Illinois and Wisconsin.
Will Allen’s biggest concern is that people with little money cannot afford to eat healthy. He wants people to realize they can grow their own food even if they live in an inner city environment. Growing Power and Will Allen strive to make healthy food available and affordable for everyone.
Will Allen is a man with a big heart and he continues to be a driving force behind healthy eating and making healthy food available to those that are least able to afford it.