E52: Empowering Youth Through Flower Farming with Hannah Blackwell of Southside Blooms

Lead with Heart | Philanthropy, Nonprofit Leadership, Nonprofit Management & Fundraising

This episode of the Lead with Heart podcast features Hannah Blackwell, founder and creative director of Southside Blooms, a social enterprise nonprofit based in Chicago.
Southside Blooms transforms vacant urban land into productive flower farms using solar power and sustainable methods. Hannah shares how her childhood love of nature led her to establish Southside Blooms' youth training program, which provides job and leadership skills in the floral industry.
Through urban farming and a flower shop social enterprise, Southside Blooms empowers inner-city youth while beautifying communities.
We discussed topics like developing leadership in nonprofit programs, implementing social enterprises, and making environmental sustainability accessible on a community level.
In this episode:

• [01:40] Hannah's childhood creativity and community service influenced her founding of Southside Blooms to empower youth.
• [04:07] Southside Blooms transforms vacant land into productive flower farms using solar power and rainwater irrigation.
• [07:53] The youth program starts with basic floral skills and builds leadership over time.
• [12:29] Hannah's Mennonite upbringing shaped her faith-based approach to service and nonprofit leadership focused on character.
• [18:48] What exactly is a social enterprise?
• [25:05] Environmental sustainability is implemented through community-level practices.

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CONNECT WITH HALEY
Haley is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), Certified Stress Management Coach, and Certified EmC train the trainer. She is the Founder of The Savvy Fundraiser, a nonprofit consulting and coaching business. She has worked in both small and large nonprofit teams in the human services, homelessness, and youth sectors; and she specializes in the EmC process, nonprofit leadership, board development, and fundraising. Haley is a passionate, impact-driven, experienced nonprofit professional whose mission is to empower, elevate and engage nonprofit leaders to build healthy, thriving organizations.
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Produced by Ideablossoms