The Winona State University Lyceum Series will host urban farmer Will Allen at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, in Harriet Johnson Auditorium, Somsen Hall.
Allen is internationally recognized as a leading practitioner of urban agriculture. He believes all people, regardless of economic circumstances, should have access to fresh, safe, affordable and nutritious foods at all times.
Founder and CEO of Growing Power Inc., Allen is an innovator in intensive farming practices that can result in remarkable yields of food in small areas, including methods of composting, vermicomposting (using worms to refine and fertilize compost) and aquaponics (growing fish and food plants in a closed system).
In 2008, Allen was awarded the John D. and Katherine T. McArthur Foundation “Genius Grant” and named a McArthur Fellow – only the second farmer ever to be so honored. He is a member of the Clinton Global Initiative, and he worked with First Lady Michelle Obama to launch her “Let’s Move!” initiative to reverse the epidemic of childhood obesity by 2015. In May 2010, Time magazine named Allen one of the World’s 100 Most Influential People.
Allen’s book, The Good Food Revolution, is currently being taught in English and history classes at WSU.
Funding for the Lyceum Speaker Series is provided by WSU Student Activity Fees and the WSU Foundation.
For more information, contact Gretchen Michlitsch at gmichlitsch@winona.edu.
