After graduating from the College of Arts & Sciences at Ohio University in 2011, Nathan Edge began working for an organization called Hattie Larlham, where he manages the Hattie’s Gardens program.
“I have enjoyed the creativity involved in helping to create this program from the ground up,” says Edge, who earned a B.A. in Sociology and a minor in Business Administration.
This program combines work training for adults with disabilities with local, organic food production and employs two dozen adults, with various disabilities, and trains them on the skills necessary for a transition into community employment.
Hattie’s Gardens also partners with locals schools and the local Akron Zoo to help create sustainable food networks and education programs.
The program started with only a 400-square-foot garden, but over the course of four years has grown to eight acres across three locations.
“We have been lucky enough to partner with other great organizations that have helped us to solidify the local food system and economy in the greater Akron area,” says Edge. “They help support our goal of providing healthy food to all residents in Akron and further our ability to provide meaningful work training for the adults with developmental disabilities that we serve.”
“Most enjoyable part of my job has been developing Hattie’s Gardens into an exciting work training program and enabling those in our program to become independent, working members of society.”
Edge is speaking at the Sociology Alumni Panel on April 15.
Comments