Local Food Heroes
“I am an avid gardener, and passionate about growing. I believe people should be nourished with food that they grow themselves in Mother Earth or purchase locally, instead of genetically enhanced food from distant places that is chemically treated for transport.
The community that I live in and love deserves to have fresh fruits and vegetables, and any way I can contribute brings me joy and hope.
I am passionate about the things I care about.”
— Loretta J. Brown, The Giving Garden and Proviso Partners for Health-Co-Founder
“I grew up in Tottenham in the UK and as I listened to life in Maywood, I realized the experiences in Maywood were like my life in Tottenham. Outside of Tottenham or Maywood, people want to demonize the community and only shame us with headlines of high crime, unemployment, and poverty-every place the community struggles. Inside Tottenham or Maywood, there is a reality of pride, joy, and success.
Surprisingly, people from the outside are not as interested in Black communities flourishing. Maywood is my adopted home, and I am changing the narrative and telling the dynamic true experiences of Black community flourishing. Maywood has a cultural history and future filled with belonging to grow a sustainable food system and more. We are creating the pathways for us all to flourish.”
— Lena Hatchett, Proviso Partners for Health-Co-Founder
“My mother always said "it's people who matter, not things." That has influenced me all my life. I didn't grow up here. I grew up in Michigan and mostly raised my kids in Wisconsin. My first involvement with a soup kitchen was there where we served street people.
I have lived in Broadview now for more than 30 years. I worked for a religious order that was/is committed to social justice. I helped start the Quinn Center pantry/soup kitchen in 2005. We serve bag meals twice a month and distribute groceries once. We also serve a hot meal inside twice or three times a month. The most important factor there is COMMUNITY, which goes back to what my mother said. People are looking for connection and caring. We are all part of the Maywood/Broadview/Proviso community and we are all God's children. Feeding people and making sure everyone has food is basic to that. The most important part!”
— Martha Minnich