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If you 24. On to the Dominican Center (DC)th And the locust in the heart of the Amani neighbourhood, you will find something you could never have expected. A warm red glow emanates from the basement windows. Inside is DC’s Hydroponics Lab and the first thing you notice is the smell of spring and the walls of glowing green produce.
“There is power in building self-sustaining communities,” said DC Executive Director Maricha Harris. “Urban agriculture and agricultural technology (AGTech) can be leveraged not only to provide access to fresh produce in our communities, but also to create jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities. I’m excited about ways to use hydroponics to grow an ecosystem focused on the intersection of vocational training and financial sustainability.”
DC’s Hydroponics Lab supports the concentration areas of the Amani Revitalization Plan of Education and Family Welfare and Housing and Economic Development. D.C. hydroponics specialist Wes Landry has worked with Amani residents to build the lab from the ground up. He refers to plants as his “babies” and strives to learn everything he can about urban agriculture. Before the pandemic, DC’s hydroponics lab was producing enough produce to share with residents and friends, and enough to sell to a chef who used fresh basil at his local restaurant. “Last year, because DC’s Bloom & Groom Plant Giveaway was canceled due to a pandemic flower shortage, we grew marigolds and other flowers to hand out as gifts to Amani residents,” Landry said. “We also grew basil, dried it and grinded it. We gave it to residents as holiday gifts. ,
This year, Landry is working on a growing schedule and has tested and harvested bok choy, several types of lettuce and basil crops. He plans to develop systems to grow healthy leafy greens in addition to flowers and any other crops that Amani residents are interested in. “If anyone has an idea let me know, I’ll try it,” he said.
To bring urban agriculture and hydroponics to Amani, DC hired FullCircle26, Inc., a specialist in the industry. (FC26I). “FullCircle26, Inc., is a valuable partner in this work,” Harris said. “They are experts in agriculture and farm technology, and their passion for helping communities of color is evident.”
FC26I is a full service North American sales and distribution organization of AgTech and STEM/STEAM products. The company is committed to providing access to new plant growing technologies, learning tools and training for all ages. FC26I is also launching a non-profit organization called Next Generation Harvest, whose mission is to provide greater access to generational change. FC26I is led by Founder and CEO Shelley Matthews. “Hydroponics is a way to grow fresh produce year-round and provides all the essentials for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) training for youth, teens and adults,” Mathews said. “Dominican Center has been at the forefront of community-based plant growing through hydroponics and may be a leader in agtech for the foreseeable future.”
Matthew fosters a solid relationship with DC and the building in which the organization takes place. “I was taken back to the school of my childhood (St. Leo was housed in the first building) … as a solution to the challenges of urban farming and access to fresh produce in 2019,” she said. “When I first met DC and the Amani United team, a young man said, ‘People wonder why the 53206 has so much craziness … and no access to fresh produce.’ They see hydroponics as a solution and their statements reaffirm my mission, purpose, and dedication to the efforts of our FullCircle26, Inc., team,” Matthews said.
In 2021, DC won the FC26I’s first 3D Model of Sustainability™ award for growing plants for STEM education, food sustainability and enterprise. Despite the great achievement, DC’s hydroponics lab had to be temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “During this time of shutdown, the FC26I team provided virtual training to schools and clients. Given the excellent results of these programs and the need for a location for FC26I’s Hydroponics Science and U Lab, DC was the right host partner,” Matthews said. “We look forward to rebooting and strengthening DC’s hydroponic lab with other agtech tools, STEM educational and vocational training while providing access to farming for the future. … the center could be the ‘Wakanda’ of AgTech and STEM/STEAM educational and vocational training for Amani residents, Milwaukee schools, and a model for other nonprofits striving for a successful social enterprise tool “
About the Dominican Center
The Dominican Center is located at 2470 W. Grasshopper Street in the Amani neighborhood. It works with Amani residents and partners to create a better future. The Dominican Center serves as the community anchor for the White House Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, the Building Neighborhood Capacity Program, and is the principal community partner for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Innovations in Community-Based Crime Reduction Grant for Amani.
For additional information please contact Christina Chronister at the Dominican Center
(414) 444-9930 or by email [email protected]
FullCircle26 Inc. About (FC26I)
The FC26I team provides professional sales representation, consulting, program development and distribution of farm and STEM products from a North American distribution center in Milwaukee, Wis. We help small companies gain access to international distributors and customized markets. FC26I CEO Shelley Matthews is available for speaking engagements, workshops, lectures and conferences.
