South Side flower shop owner named CNN’s Hero of the Year
By Mohammad Samra, Chicago Sun-Times | December 8th, 2025 (Click Here For Original Article) Quilen Blackwell, owner of a Chicago nonprofit that employs at-risk youth to turn vacant lots into flower farms, has won CNN’s Hero of the Year Award. Blackwell is CEO of Chicago Eco House, which grows flowers on South and West side lots, and Southside Blooms, an Englewood flower shop at 6250 S. Morgan St. His organization has been employing at-risk youth, ages 16 to 24, since 2014 at gardens in Englewood, Woodlawn, Washington Park and West Garfield Park. The award comes with a $100,000 prize that [...]