Melvin Parson: Market Gardener and Social Entrepreneur
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Melvin Parson, founder of We The People Growers Association, was the Spring 2019 Entrepreneur-In-Residence at The Henry Ford, funded by the William Davidson Foundation Initiative for Entrepreneurship. In the following interview clips, Parson — fondly known as Farmer Parson — shares his journey and mission towards securing equality and social justice through urban farming, comparing it to taking a seat at the table as a full member of society.
"Gardeners I've Known, Gardener I've Become," Clip from Interview with Melvin Parson, April 5, 2019
Market gardener and social entrepreneur Melvin Parson founded We The People Growers Association in 2015. Driven by his mission for equality and social justice, Farmer Parson uses vegetable farming as the vehicle to address social ills. His vision for the future includes We The People Opportunity Center, which he describes as a world-class urban farm that will help people transform their lives through programming and employment readiness.
View Artifact"Food and Social Justice" Clip from Pre-Interview with Melvin Parson, April 5, 2019
Market gardener and social entrepreneur Melvin Parson founded We The People Growers Association in 2015. Driven by his mission for equality and social justice, Farmer Parson uses vegetable farming as the vehicle to address social ills. His vision for the future includes We The People Opportunity Center, which he describes as a world-class urban farm that will help people transform their lives through programming and employment readiness.
View Artifact"Gaining Awareness of a Healthy Lifestyle" Clip from Pre-Interview with Melvin Parson, April 5, 2019
Market gardener and social entrepreneur Melvin Parson founded We The People Growers Association in 2015. Driven by his mission for equality and social justice, Farmer Parson uses vegetable farming as the vehicle to address social ills. His vision for the future includes We The People Opportunity Center, which he describes as a world-class urban farm that will help people transform their lives through programming and employment readiness.
View Artifact"Finding a Seat at the Table" Clip from Pre-Interview with Melvin Parson, April 5, 2019
Market gardener and social entrepreneur Melvin Parson founded We The People Growers Association in 2015. Driven by his mission for equality and social justice, Farmer Parson uses vegetable farming as the vehicle to address social ills. His vision for the future includes We The People Opportunity Center, which he describes as a world-class urban farm that will help people transform their lives through programming and employment readiness.
View Artifact"Growing the Business," Clip from Interview with Melvin Parson, April 5, 2019
Market gardener and social entrepreneur Melvin Parson founded We The People Growers Association in 2015. Driven by his mission for equality and social justice, Farmer Parson uses vegetable farming as the vehicle to address social ills. His vision for the future includes We The People Opportunity Center, which he describes as a world-class urban farm that will help people transform their lives through programming and employment readiness.
View Artifact"Farming Chose Me," Clip from Interview with Melvin Parson, April 5, 2019
Market gardener and social entrepreneur Melvin Parson founded We The People Growers Association in 2015. Driven by his mission for equality and social justice, Farmer Parson uses vegetable farming as the vehicle to address social ills. His vision for the future includes We The People Opportunity Center, which he describes as a world-class urban farm that will help people transform their lives through programming and employment readiness.
View Artifact"We The People Growers Association," Clip from Interview with Melvin Parson, April 5, 2019
Market gardener and social entrepreneur Melvin Parson founded We The People Growers Association in 2015. Driven by his mission for equality and social justice, Farmer Parson uses vegetable farming as the vehicle to address social ills. His vision for the future includes We The People Opportunity Center, which he describes as a world-class urban farm that will help people transform their lives through programming and employment readiness.
View Artifact"Social Justice and Human Connection," Clip from Interview with Melvin Parson, April 5, 2019
Market gardener and social entrepreneur Melvin Parson founded We The People Growers Association in 2015. Driven by his mission for equality and social justice, Farmer Parson uses vegetable farming as the vehicle to address social ills. His vision for the future includes We The People Opportunity Center, which he describes as a world-class urban farm that will help people transform their lives through programming and employment readiness.
View Artifact"Social Justice Mission," Clip from Interview with Melvin Parson, April 5, 2019
Market gardener and social entrepreneur Melvin Parson founded We The People Growers Association in 2015. Driven by his mission for equality and social justice, Farmer Parson uses vegetable farming as the vehicle to address social ills. His vision for the future includes We The People Opportunity Center, which he describes as a world-class urban farm that will help people transform their lives through programming and employment readiness.
View Artifact"Community Support," Clip from Interview with Melvin Parson, April 5, 2019
Market gardener and social entrepreneur Melvin Parson founded We The People Growers Association in 2015. Driven by his mission for equality and social justice, Farmer Parson uses vegetable farming as the vehicle to address social ills. His vision for the future includes We The People Opportunity Center, which he describes as a world-class urban farm that will help people transform their lives through programming and employment readiness.
View Artifact"Growing and Selling," Clip from Interview with Melvin Parson, April 5, 2019
Market gardener and social entrepreneur Melvin Parson founded We The People Growers Association in 2015. Driven by his mission for equality and social justice, Farmer Parson uses vegetable farming as the vehicle to address social ills. His vision for the future includes We The People Opportunity Center, which he describes as a world-class urban farm that will help people transform their lives through programming and employment readiness.
View Artifact"Becoming Farmer Parson" Clip from Pre-Interview with Melvin Parson, April 5, 2019
Market gardener and social entrepreneur Melvin Parson founded We The People Growers Association in 2015. Driven by his mission for equality and social justice, Farmer Parson uses vegetable farming as the vehicle to address social ills. His vision for the future includes We The People Opportunity Center, which he describes as a world-class urban farm that will help people transform their lives through programming and employment readiness.
View Artifact"Farming: Connecting to the Earth and Community" Clip from Pre-Interview with Melvin Parson, April 5, 2019
Market gardener and social entrepreneur Melvin Parson founded We The People Growers Association in 2015. Driven by his mission for equality and social justice, Farmer Parson uses vegetable farming as the vehicle to address social ills. His vision for the future includes We The People Opportunity Center, which he describes as a world-class urban farm that will help people transform their lives through programming and employment readiness.
View Artifact"Challenges," Clip from Interview with Melvin Parson, April 5, 2019
Market gardener and social entrepreneur Melvin Parson founded We The People Growers Association in 2015. Driven by his mission for equality and social justice, Farmer Parson uses vegetable farming as the vehicle to address social ills. His vision for the future includes We The People Opportunity Center, which he describes as a world-class urban farm that will help people transform their lives through programming and employment readiness.
View Artifact"Overcoming Self-Doubt and Learning from Personal Experiences" Clip from Pre-Interview with Melvin Parson, April 5, 2019
Market gardener and social entrepreneur Melvin Parson founded We The People Growers Association in 2015. Driven by his mission for equality and social justice, Farmer Parson uses vegetable farming as the vehicle to address social ills. His vision for the future includes We The People Opportunity Center, which he describes as a world-class urban farm that will help people transform their lives through programming and employment readiness.
View Artifact"Assuming Financial Risk," Clip from Interview with Melvin Parson, April 5, 2019
Market gardener and social entrepreneur Melvin Parson founded We The People Growers Association in 2015. Driven by his mission for equality and social justice, Farmer Parson uses vegetable farming as the vehicle to address social ills. His vision for the future includes We The People Opportunity Center, which he describes as a world-class urban farm that will help people transform their lives through programming and employment readiness.
View Artifact"Personal Growth," Clip from Interview with Melvin Parson, April 5, 2019
Market gardener and social entrepreneur Melvin Parson founded We The People Growers Association in 2015. Driven by his mission for equality and social justice, Farmer Parson uses vegetable farming as the vehicle to address social ills. His vision for the future includes We The People Opportunity Center, which he describes as a world-class urban farm that will help people transform their lives through programming and employment readiness.
View Artifact"What is an Entrepreneur?" Clip from Interview with Melvin Parson, April 5, 2019
Market gardener and social entrepreneur Melvin Parson founded We The People Growers Association in 2015. Driven by his mission for equality and social justice, Farmer Parson uses vegetable farming as the vehicle to address social ills. His vision for the future includes We The People Opportunity Center, which he describes as a world-class urban farm that will help people transform their lives through programming and employment readiness.
View Artifact"Finding My Inspiration," Clip from Interview with Melvin Parson, April 5, 2019
Market gardener and social entrepreneur Melvin Parson founded We The People Growers Association in 2015. Driven by his mission for equality and social justice, Farmer Parson uses vegetable farming as the vehicle to address social ills. His vision for the future includes We The People Opportunity Center, which he describes as a world-class urban farm that will help people transform their lives through programming and employment readiness.
View Artifact"Advice for Entrepreneurs," Clip from Interview with Melvin Parson, April 5, 2019
Market gardener and social entrepreneur Melvin Parson founded We The People Growers Association in 2015. Driven by his mission for equality and social justice, Farmer Parson uses vegetable farming as the vehicle to address social ills. His vision for the future includes We The People Opportunity Center, which he describes as a world-class urban farm that will help people transform their lives through programming and employment readiness.
View Artifact"What Are You Hoping to Gain as an Entrepreneur-In-Residence?" Clip from Interview with Melvin Parson, April 5, 2019
Market gardener and social entrepreneur Melvin Parson founded We The People Growers Association in 2015. Driven by his mission for equality and social justice, Farmer Parson uses vegetable farming as the vehicle to address social ills. His vision for the future includes We The People Opportunity Center, which he describes as a world-class urban farm that will help people transform their lives through programming and employment readiness.
View Artifact"What Are You Hoping to Gain as an Entrepreneur-In-Residence? (Part 2)," Clip from Interview with Melvin Parson, April 5, 2019
Market gardener and social entrepreneur Melvin Parson founded We The People Growers Association in 2015. Driven by his mission for equality and social justice, Farmer Parson uses vegetable farming as the vehicle to address social ills. His vision for the future includes We The People Opportunity Center, which he describes as a world-class urban farm that will help people transform their lives through programming and employment readiness.
View Artifact

