Quilen Blackwell, owner of a Chicago nonprofit that employs at-risk youth to turn vacant lots into flower farms, has won CNN's Hero of the Year Award. Blackwell is CEO of Chicago Eco House, which grows flowers on South and West side lots, and Southside Blooms, an Englewood flower shop at 6250 S. Morgan St.
His organization has been employing at-risk youth, ages 16 to 24, since 2014 at gardens in Englewood, Woodlawn, Washington Park and West Garfield Park. The award comes with a $100,000 prize that Blackwell said he will use to convert more empty lots into flower farms.
"This is a big win for the 'hood — and a big win for Chicago," Blackwell, 41, told the Chicago Sun-Times Monday. Blackwell said business is booming, and he needs to grow more flowers to meet the demand he expects in 2026. He said he wants to buy more vacant lots from the Cook County Land Bank to expand flower operations. This year, his group converted three lots on the West Side, he said.
Blackwell created Chicago Eco House to help curb violence in the city. The flower shop Southside Blooms opened in 2020 at the nonprofit's headquarters at 6439 S. Peoria St. The shop moved the following year to its location on Morgan Street.
Read more at Chicago Sun Times
