A local organization is planting the seeds of a sustainable future.
Socially Equal Energy Efficient Development (SEEED) Knoxville is a nonprofit organization that focuses on creating environmentally-sustainable jobs for Knoxville residents. SEEED’s mission is to work towards environmental sustainability and ensure that Knoxville’s citydwellers can have sustainable jobs.
To improve employability, SEEED offers a career readiness program which is a nine week program of classes for inner-city residents of Knoxville who are between the ages of 16 and 28. These classes, which are funded through partnerships with local affiliates, are free to attend.
Julia Schaefer, a junior studying kinesiology, has attended these career readiness workshops throughout her time at the university. She said that the classes create a healthier Knoxville community.
“Giving members of the community these opportunities is so important, because [they have] a great impact on not only the community but also on [participants’] personal health,” Schaefer said.
SEEED also has a community garden to address the long-term issue of Knoxville’s “food deserts” — areas where healthy food is either unavailable or too expensive for many residents.
Cory Tacosik, a junior studying supply chain management, has had first-hand experience with community gardening. He said that community gardening had a huge positive impact on his family and their community.
“My great grandfather had a community garden, and it was really helpful for him and people in his community to have this space to get food,” Tacosik said.
The community garden serves inner-city Knoxville through fruit trees, plants and garden beds. Community members may use this space to plant their own food and be able to learn more about growing their own food. SEEED hopes that by offering this space, community members will be able to develop gardening into a self-sustaining method of obtaining food.
“I think that this is a great opportunity for people to be part of this because it connects people to their community and gives them the opportunity to get more food,” said Tacosik of SEEED’s community garden.
Another of SEEED’s programs is called GreenCAP or Green Community Awareness Program. GreenCAP is used for outreach, education and marketing to residents in low-income to moderate-income households. The program is a marketing venture to spread the mission and values of SEEED to residents who would otherwise be unaware of it.
The people working in GreenCAP are also from low-income and moderate-income households, because SEEED’s mission includes providing long-term employment to residents of these income demographics.
Volunteers seeking to become involved with SEEED find themselves with no shortage of ways to help. SEEED looks for career readiness instructors, canvassing team leaders, community gardeners, administrators, and cleaning and maintenance volunteers.
Those hoping to get connected with SEEED can learn more about the program at its website.
