Will Allen, Urban Farming's Leading Proponent, Played UM Basketball

The leader of the Urban Farming movement took lessons from his Miami and Florida sports careers that still help him today.Will Allen is the head of Milwaukee-based Growing Power Inc., an urban ag producer and educating organization focused on teaching poor communities techniques for creating self sustaining, and profitable, food...

By Jacob Katel

October 30, 2009

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The leader of the Urban Farming movement took lessons from his Miami and Florida sports careers that still help him today.

Will Allen is the head of Milwaukee-based Growing Power Inc., an urban ag producer and educating organization focused on teaching poor communities techniques for creating self sustaining, and profitable, food supplies.

He played basketball for the University of Miami Hurricanes and was the first African-American in the school's history to do so.

He also played for the Miami Floridians in the 1971-72 season for the American Basketball association.

Allen told BizTimes.com that "My athletic career has really helped me," Allen said. "It taught me so many things about life skills, hard work, dedication and teamwork. I run this organization like a sports franchise in a lot of ways. I may emerge as a team leader, as the captain, but everyone here is a partner, a part of the team."

Log on to www.growingpower.org for more information.

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