Expanding Workforce Pathways in Controlled Environment Agriculture
At GLASE, we are committed to supporting workforce development initiatives that make the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry more inclusive and accessible. That’s why we are excited to highlight Impact Justice and their Growing Justice initiative, which will be featured in our upcoming Vivid Canopy: Diverse Workforce in Action panel at Indoor Ag-Con on March 11.
Meet the Panelist: Kelly Stewart Danner
We are thrilled to welcome Kelly Stewart Danner, one of the panelists for Vivid Canopy: Diverse Workforce in Action. Since 2022, Kelly has led Impact Justice’s CEA job training and placement program, Growing Justice. She has spearheaded workforce initiatives within Impact Justice, focusing on career development in CEA and expanding access to resources for incarcerated women. With a background in scaling mission-driven startups, Kelly brings valuable insights into how the industry can foster a more inclusive workforce.
“We recognized the challenges formerly incarcerated individuals face when reentering the workforce, alongside the CEA industry’s need for skilled workers. Growing Justice empowers women to develop a skill set that enhances employment opportunities and supports fresh food access in their communities,” says Kelly Stewart Danner. “About a quarter of the US population has a criminal record – companies that exclude this huge pool of talent due to criminal history are missing out on a massive number of qualified applicants. Formerly incarcerated workers tend to be highly loyal and productive employees: they’re more likely to stay in their jobs longer, which reduces rehiring costs. A reported 85% of HR professionals feel that workers with criminal records perform their jobs as well or better than their peers. It’s really a triple win for the workers, the employers, and the communities that are made safer by giving these folks a way to make a living.”
About Impact Justice
Impact Justice is a national innovation and research center dedicated to rethinking the criminal justice system by seeding and scaling boundary-breaking programs that honor and empower people. Their work challenges outdated approaches to justice reform and changes expectations about what can be accomplished when unexpected partners come together.
What is Growing Justice?
Growing Justice is an innovative job training program that addresses two critical challenges: food insecurity in prisons and the high unemployment rates among formerly incarcerated individuals. Through partnerships with the California and South Carolina Departments of Corrections, Skout Strategy, AmplifiedAg, and Agritecture, Impact Justice is establishing indoor farms within correctional facilities to train incarcerated individuals in CEA operations. The two pilot sites, located at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, CA, and Camille Graham Corrections Center in Columbia, SC, utilizes shipping containers outfitted with irrigation systems and grow lights to produce leafy greens for prison meals while serving as a robust, hands-on learning environment.
Additionally, Impact Justice is working to expand Growing Justice by creating nonprofit indoor farms that provide additional job training for formerly incarcerated individuals. These farms, such as the planned site at their Oakland headquarters, will offer employment opportunities and increase fresh food access in lower-income communities.
Building Career Pathways in CEA
Recognizing the rapid expansion of the CEA sector, which is projected to see significant global growth in the coming years, Growing Justice is forging partnerships with industry leaders to connect program graduates with stable employment in indoor farming. Additionally, Impact Justice works with Honest Jobs, an organization that supports companies in successfully hiring and onboarding employees with a history of incarceration.
Join the Conversation
The Vivid Canopy panel will take place on Tuesday, March 11, from 3:00–5:00 PM PST at Indoor Ag-Con. Leaders from Village Hydroponics, Impact Justice, and Eden Green Technologies will discuss strategies for addressing labor shortages while fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce in CEA. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from industry experts and learn how innovative programs like Growing Justice are shaping the future of sustainable agriculture.
For more information on Impact Justice and Growing Justice, visit Impact Justice’s website and the Growing Justice program page.
