>> For years, Southside blooms has been beautifying neighborhood blocks, one flower at a time in our nature.

It's a new documentary film.

It digs into the nonprofit's work on the south and west sides of the city.

It also highlights environmental educators working to plant the seeds of meaningful change.

Joining us now, our Calyn Blackwell, co-founder of Southside Blooms and James Parker, director of in our Nature.

Gentlemen, thank you for joining us.

>> Thank for having here.

>> So James Park or what inspired you to make this film?

>> Yeah, I my co-producer and I Juliet, we noticed how partisan nature and environmental education had become and now kind of unexpected.

That was in a way.

You know, this thing that we all share in common had become so divisive.

And so that kind of set us out on this inquiry for the film and quickly revealed lots of issues of access, you know, for kids to environmental education, both because of parents, politics, but also, of course, a long history of access disparity based on, you know, where you live or where you're going up.

And then, you know, that kind of combined with these alarming statistics about screen time where we're seeing kids spend 8 hours.

Plus a day on a screen in less than 5 minutes outside.

So all of that together, kind of that.

The question to us, like, what does this mean for the future?

And it's it's not a given that kids will develop a relationship to nature or have an understanding our shared dependence on on all the natural systems that support us.

And so we kind of went into the field.

We started working with and listening to a lot of environmental educators across the country.

And we really quickly discovered that nature and especially those who teach with nature can be some of our most powerful forces for reconnecting across divides and importantly, for building really effective place based community led solutions.

And of course, that's where the story outside.

But comes in.

>> Well, yeah, so let's get to the story of Southside blooms.

Keelan Blackwell.

Tell us a little bit about what it means for you to have the work of Southside blooms told through film.

>> Yeah, this is a big deal.

Amazing opportunity for us.

You know, when James first approached us about featuring a son in our nature, I mean, it was a commission no-brainer.

really helps to put a big spotlight on community-based sustainability work here in Chicago.

And we're really ecstatic to really have our youth are the real stars of a Southside blooms, the show like what they're doing on the ground every day transform some of the most dangerous and impoverished neighborhoods in Chicago through sustainable floor, streakers, flower we're we're very, very happy be a part this.

>> Q and tell us a little bit about the work that the organization does and how that sort of rises to meet some of the concerns that James in the film are addressing.

>> Yes, so we're based here what on Southside.

We our missions, you sustain ability to lead the NFC poverty.

And we do that by trying to establish flowers as an anchor industry to provide jobs for some of the most high-risk youth here in our city.

said there's a viable alternative to the streets that many of our youth fortunately being So, you know, in terms of like a lot of the themes that the film's touching, you know, we're not only talking about environmental education from an academic perspective, but we're talking about very real bomb up community development really showing how >> you know, environmental is working with you.

This all very real problems in our case here in the city, it could be, you know, a counter crime, violence to the blight, you know, we think making a lot.

We'll bring them to turn them into the flower farms and solar panels and rework catchment systems.

So, yeah, I really feel like we're bringing a lot of the themes that James talked about the film to life in a very real and scalable way.

>> James, you talk about environmental education in the film and that can mean different things.

What do you think were some of the most crucial components that you wanted to get into the movie?

>> Yeah, I think it's a great question and I think it kind of ties in to a lot of what we're trying to do with this film, which is kind of expand the definition of what environmental education can and should be.

And I think, you know, we see formal environmental education happening in classrooms across the country.

And that is super important.

But we also see a lot of kind of informal environmental education happening and so many different parts of the country.

And that's really it's such a huge opportunity.

We think in this moment to really kind of divides and importantly, also to really kind nurture.

Well, you know, there are few few things that are more powerful then spending time in nature to really kind make us feel better or to navigate challenges that we're having.

And and so I think the example of Southside limbs, you know, it is an environmental education program, but it also so much more, you know, its economic development.

It's mental health it's building these really powerful bridges across the city of Chicago.

>> A killing.

But what describe the impact that you hope your organization is able to to make in your community?

Because obviously are also providing opportunities for the young people that you worth would work with across, you know, the south and west sides of the city.

>> Yeah, we've been around for 11 years.

So you know, have a pretty strong track record impact in the city at this point.

You know, we have about 6 farms across the city representing about 10 acres of formerly vacant land that we've turned into productive farmland, far flowers.

You know, we have our Inglewood far shopper action.

The process opening up.

Flowers from the West Side in North Lawndale this summer we employ about 25 you know, between the farm in the flower shop, your youth are doing high and events.

Also, this isn't just a very basic program.

We Our youth are doing events at the field Museum McCormack plays you know, Ritz Carlton and everything in between.

So the impact a very tangible.

It's very concrete.

You know, we have we have youth have been working with us for 3 to 4 years who started you know, at entry level position, our youth programming and, you know, work their way up to management.

We're making a solid middle class income 1920, years old.

So, you know, though, the work really does speak for itself.

And a lot of that has really been, you know, due to unlocking the potential of our youth, you know, through the state will be platform that we've built us >> That's exciting, especially for those young people who are able to turn those incomes that you talk about.

James, what would you say are your biggest concerns right now for the state of our environment?

>> There are so many things to be concerned about.

I think it truly is a, you know, we hear that we're calling crisis.

>> But for me.

>> And I think for this movie, what we're really focused on is ensuring that we continue to make sure that we connect kids to nature and that everyone has access to environmental education.

You know, not only so that, you know, future generations can be informed and have critical thinking.

But, you know, to have access to these really powerful tools for for stealing.

And you know, it's it's something that we would love to see not be some viewed as sort of a luxury or an add-on or something that's only accessible to, you know, certain groups or certain places.

But environmental education being something that's really central to what it means to to be educated.

>> Kaylyn, we've got 20 seconds left.

Same question to you.

Your biggest concern for the state of our environment.

>> Well, I see a big opportunity in today's environment for communities that maybe haven't traditionally represented and the environmental education movement.

You know, I look at like our communities, for example, and many of you that we work with.

They wouldn't necessarily scene as like of our mail is for scientists.

But they're really showing that a lot of the solutions are simple.

Affordable or accessible and also are very impactful.

So I think this will be a great opportunity to, you know, kind of redirect the spotlight to some of the more simpler solutions.

And you know, that >> Their environmental lists in all will have to leave it