Making Money While Making Change with Quilen and Hannah Blackwell

Nonprofit Nation with Julia Campbell

At RSVPify, you can host ticketed events for free - no subscription required. Host any free event with a monthly or annual subscription. Use the code NONPROFITNATION50 at checkout for an 50% off any annual subscription (discount applied for first year only) - or 50% off any monthly subscription for three months (billed at full rate subsequently).

Financial sustainability is crucial, but social impact is the heart of nonprofits. With the social enterprise model, how can we ensure that our organization prioritizes its social mission while maintaining a viable business?

My guests today are Quilen and Hannah Blackwell, the co-founders of Southside Blooms, an off-grid flower farm youth social enterprise where participants convert vacant lots into commercial flower farms using solar powered rainwater irrigation. This creates jobs for young people on the south and west sides of Chicago.

Hannah and Quilen were married in 2015, and immediately set up the Chicago Eco House, a rehabbed two flat greystone property in the heart of Englewood and got to work getting to know the community. Soon they were farming several vacant lots close to their house, constantly researching what would fulfill their mission of using sustainability to alleviate poverty. It became clear that flowers would be the avenue to do this and Southside Blooms was born.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Southside Blooms empowers at-risk youth through urban flower farming.
• The benefits of the social enterprise model for long-term financial sustainability in nonprofits.
• Balancing earned income with maintaining a charitable mission.
• Real-life examples of how Southside Blooms has transformed lives.

Guest Bios
Quilen and Hannah Blackwell are the co-founders of Southside Blooms, an off-grid
flower farm youth social enterprise where participants convert vacant lots into
commercial flower farms using solar powered rainwater irrigation. This creates jobs
for young people on the south and west sides of Chicago.
After a whirlwind dating and engagement, Hannah and Quilen were married in 2015, a
little over a year after meeting and moved to Englewood a few months later. They
immediately set up the Chicago Eco House, a rehabbed two flat greystone property in
the heart of Englewood and got to work getting to know the community. Soon they
were farming several vacant lots close to their house, constantly researching what
would fulfill their mission of using sustainability to alleviate poverty. It became clear
that flowers would be the avenue to do this and Southside Blooms was born.
Quilen holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison
and a master’s degree in environmental policy and sustainability from the University
of Denver. Hannah holds a BA in Justice Studies from Northeastern Illinois University.
The Blackwells reside on the south side of Chicago with their three children, who are
all under six years old.
Check out Southside Blooms

Take my free masterclass: 3 Must-Have Elements of Social Media Content that Converts