This story first appeared on the Gapers Block:

Step into the shoes of Cob Connection founder Chad Bliss and be surprised. When most executives push papers and write checks, Bliss spends his days in Humboldt Park farming and harvesting crops on the once empty lots he transformed into organic farms five years ago. Bliss and his organization change lives by engaging and inspiring local youth and ex-offenders.

What we do is develop local food systems,’ said Bliss. ‘When you develop local food systems, you have to look at the factors within that. We have work force development by teaching young people skills so they can be more involved in their communities and make a difference. We have micro-enterprise by selling to farmers markets, restaurants and local businesses. We have food security by showing people they are going to have food tomorrow by growing it. So it’s a very successful model. We’ve come a long way from that wheelbarrow and shovel in the beginning.’

Debuting in 2005 at a food festival and becoming a 501(c)(3) organization in 2007, Cob Connection is a leader in the local and sustainable food movement and helps drive public awareness in and around Humboldt Park.

The biggest challenge was trying to find someone to fund us because no one really understood what I was talking about concerning food and how it is symbolic for everything like power and life,’ Bliss said. ‘To get someone to fund it was a challenge because they thought there had to be some other kind of purpose other than teaching people how to grow their own food.’

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