In celebration of honoring Earth Day 2015 and our planet’s ecology through healthy, regenerative design, we are highlighting each of the 23 awesome videos from our 30+ spectacular speakers from Greenroofs.com‘s Greenroofs & Walls of the World Virtual Summit 2015 ~ Connecting the Planet with Living Architecture: People, Projects & Design, running through May 31st.

Our hope is that by familiarizing you more with each presentation and its particular benefits, you will be enticed to join us during our wonderfully easy-to-navigate online Virtual Summit!  And, along with the speakers’ input, I will identify 5 Key Learning Objectives or “takeaway” bullet points that each video presentation provides to participants.

Today we are spotlighting the “Social Healing with Greening” Panel – Part 2 with Patrick Carey and Darius Jones – Part 1 was highlighted yesterday – see here.

Patrick Carey, one of contributing editors, is a natural speaker and I believe he and Darius and a great time while recording their panel as a follow-up to Part 1.  Darius has quite an emotional story, and is an exceptional young man!  Patrick met Darius recently after he moved from Seattle to Chicago and was taking some classes at the Chicago Botanic Garden where Darius works.  After chatting with Darius, Patrick formulated the idea for this “Social Healing with Greening” Panel.

The premise of Panel Session is that the idea of ecology is not limited to stormwater runoff and saving energy.  It also includes how we relate to each other, how imbalances are addressed – no less so than in the natural environment.  Panelists experienced in working with issues of human ecology like unemployment, poverty, and rehabilitation through projects that also heal the natural environment, will share their experiences and perspectives.

With an open heart, Darius shares his rocky background, prison, time at Cook County Sheriff’s Vocational Rehabilitation Impact Center, and transition to the job program to Chicago Botanic Garden which resulted in his current position here after five years.  His beautiful smile, subsequent outlook, and love of his new career not only impart a wonderful meaning to the world, but provide a lovely, sincere face to these social programs that we tout so highly.

“The Windy City Harvest Apprenticeship program annually enrolls 15 to 20 students in a nine-month classroom and hands-on certificate course in sustainable urban agriculture that is accredited by the Illinois Community College Board for 31 continuing education credits. The certificate includes a 14-week paid internship at Windy City Harvest (WCH) farms or partnering urban-farming operations. The program … attracts a diverse group of students: career changers, young adults with a history of incarceration, and those with significant barriers to employment.” ~ Windy City Harvest Apprenticeship, Chicago Botanic Garden

Darius gives us a really unique perspective from the experience of coming though one of these programs!

Chicago, IL, USA. “Patrick Carey, GRP, has a degree in architecture and is principal of Hadj Design. Since 2000, Hadj Design has evolved from a design-build green roof and living wall to a research and design organization. Patrick has designed, installed, or consulted on over 100 green roofs to date. This work ranges from residential to commercial and institutional, various geometries and global climate regions, and with various performance characteristics such as storm water, food production, healing garden, habitat support, public art, and phytoremediation.

As such, he has been an activist in forming or aiding in the formation of grass roots green roof groups. His academic background is in philosophy, architecture, and botany/horticulture.  Patrick is a trainer with Green Roofs for Healthy Cities where he facilitates the Green Roof 101, 201, 301, & 401 Courses and has also taught at various universities.” ~ Read his complete bio here from the VS2015.

Chicago, IL, USA. “Darius Jones was born and raised in Chicago’s East Garfield Park neighborhood on the city’s west side. He first became interested in urban agriculture while serving a five-month sentence in the Vocational Rehabilitation Impact Center’s garden program in 2010. In 2011, he enrolled in the nine-month Windy City Harvest Apprenticeship program and received his certificate in October of that year.

He began working as the sales coordinator for the program, increasing sales by 100 percent for each of the two years that he had that role. Today he is the coordinator of the McCormick Place Rooftop Farm. In 2013, WBEZ Radio named Darius an “Eco-Hero” for his work with urban agriculture ventures in Chicago. In 2014, he was named one of the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Employees of Distinction, and was also awarded one of six “Golden Beet Awards” by the Illinois Stewardship Alliance for the “other varieties” category.” ~ Read his complete bio here from the VS2015.

You will benefit from these 5 Key Learning Objectives as Patrick Carey and Darius Jones share on the subject:

1) Learn about the life consequences growing up in the west Garfield Park neighborhood of Chicago which resulted in Darius’ incarceration, his struggles and influences for rehabilitation in Cook County’s Vocational Rehabilitation Impact Center, enrollment in the nine-month Windy City Harvest Apprenticeship program concentrating on sustainable urban agriculture, and his transition to the Chicago Botanic Garden and promotion to the McCormick Rooftop Farm;

2) Hear about Darius’ experience with the pros and cons of the Windy City Harvest Apprenticeship program, mentoring support and technical assistance and skills learned, his introduction to a now professed lifelong love of plants and growing them, and how it has opened up a world of possibilities and opportunities; 

3) He shares his experience as the manager of the McCormick Rooftop Farm, a half-acre food production farm currently growing 17 crops with beehives and indoor hydroponics; his additional opportunities as an incubator farmer with Urban Aggies, a sustainable urban agriculture business he started in 2013 – with 90 square feet of private growing space where he makes and sells pestos, vinaigrettes with herbs, salsas, and more; 

4) How the local community benefits from Windy City Harvest, with food going to shelters, WIC programs, farmers’ markets; his experience of how it has affected low income families – getting fresh food from nearby and learning to cook more healthily;

5) Patrick asks where does Darius see himself in the future, in 3, 5, 10 years?  Continuing in food industry as an entrepreneur, even 20-30 years down the road, and public speaking about his experiences.

Watch the 30:06 video presentation “Social Healing with Greening” Panel – Part 2 with Patrick Carey and Darius Jones now playing at the Greenroofs & Walls of the World Virtual Summit 2015.  If you have not yet registered (only $49 or 25), please do:

Registration fee:

$49 – special discounted pricing;

$25 for students/faculty and government professionals

All Video Presentations, Q & A Transcripts, & Exhibitor Booths are On Demand +
Networking Live 24/7 through May 31, 2015

Earn CEUs including 10 GRP CEUs.  Register here.

Registration Open through May 31st for the Greenroofs.com Virtual Summit 2015

We hope you will support our work!  Please remember that these video presentations will not be made public for at least one year.

Happy watching and participating,

~ Linda V.

Learn more about these awesome video presentations and their 5 Key Learning Objectives at the Greenroofs & Walls of the World Virtual Summit 2015:

“A Green Building Should Look Green, Which Means Hairy!” by Dr. Ken Yeang.

“Biodiversity in the Sky – How Green Roofs Can Be Designed as Wild Life Refuges” by Dr. Stephan Brenneisen.

“Green Roofs to New Cities” by Dr. Diana Balmori.

“A Higher Purpose – Benefits to Human Health and Education through Green Roofing” by Elizabeth Hart.

“Beyond Extensive and Intensive: Defining the Comprehensive Green Roof” by Molly Meyer.

“Biosolar Roofs” by Nathalie Baumann and Dusty Gedge.

“From Passive House to the Cold North—How Vegetative Envelope Components Impact Buildings” Panel with Dr. Bob Cameron, Dr. Allen Lee, Dr. Karen Liu, and Chris Wark.

“Greening Rooftops in Alberta: People, Place + Projects” by Kerry Ross.

“Greening the World Inside and Outside” by Mark Paul.

“Greenwalls in Middle Earth” by Graham Cleary.

“Pollinators on the Parapets” by Angie Durhman.

“Small Scale Green Roofs” by Dusty Gedge and John Little.

“Social Healing with Greening” Panel – Part 1 with Patrick Carey, Peter Ensign, and George Irwin.