The Good Food Revolution
While reading “The Good Food Revolution” it was very eye opening that someone could go from being well off with a good amount of money to having nothing all for something that they love. Will Allen showed all three of the pillars in the public affairs mission in his book. Cultural Competence, Ethical Leadership, and Community Engagement were all clearly shown throughout the book. After reading the book I thought to myself about what I would do if I was in a career that didn't make me happy, and I decided that I wouldn't be able to give up my career even if it was for something I love and lose everything that I have. Will Allen did and I respect him very much for that sacrifice he made for his community.
In Will Allen's’ book “The Good Food Revolution” he shows Cultural Competence in his book by hiring people of all races and ages to work in his greenhouse and to sell his products out from a booth that was ran by a local development committee. Cultural Competence was a big part of the book and was shown in many ways, and it was also a very important part of Will Allen’s roadside stand and greenhouse. It was important that he had people of all different ages and races working for him because it showed that he respected people of all races and wouldn’t lie to them about the product he was selling. When he first started out people of the white race and even African Americans would only buy their crops from the white farmers booths, even though Will Allen’s produce was better looking and the same price as the produce they were buying from the white farmer. People believed that since he was black that he couldn't sell his food at the same price of that of a white person. And was accused of people thinking he was entitled to sell his crops of that of a white person. That all changed when he started to involve people of all different cultures and people saw that he was really just trying to help his community by giving them access to the organic foods that they didn't have near them anymore.
Ethical Leadership is shown by Will Allen to his employees in many ways, even when Allen couldn't afford to pay them he still made sure that they had what they needed and gave them time off if they needed to be somewhere else. Will Allen didn't like to ask for money but when he was financially not in a good place and was needing more money he choose to apply for more grants from different institutions. He hesitated when doing this because he wanted to try be more financially independent because he didn't like to take money from other people or receiving hand outs because he liked to work hard for his money. Will Allen didn't like to ask for money but when he needed it people weren't reluctant to give it to him, because he was well respected by his friends, family, and community because he gave up everything he had to make his community a better place and provide better food for them. Will Allen also showed Ethical Leadership also by protecting his employees and letting Karen and her family live in the duplex behind the greenhouse free of charge as long as they worked for him and helped him grow his business. While Karen’s Family lived behind the greenhouse Will saw that his greenhouse could be more than just a farm stand but a safe place for people, which is how Karen saw it. While Karen’s Family lived there DeShawn Karen’s son liked to watch Will Allen prepare many meals in the kitchen behind the florist's shop. Will talked DeShawn through the process and showed everything he did so that way DeShawn could maybe one day prepare a meal for himself or even his family one day. This is another one of the multiple ways that Will Allen showed ethical leadership throughout his journey. When owning a business it is important to have values and ethics. Having these values and ethics makes you have better relationships with your customers and community, and makes your customers and community respect you more.
Will Allen involved his community in many ways and supported them in ways people could have never imagined. Community Engagement was a crucial part of the book and of Will Allen’s greenhouse.