South suburban hydroponic farm owner seeks to democratize the food system and change the narrative in the Ford Heights neighborhood

Nov 10th, 2022

If it hadn’t been for the pandemic, Derek Drake would have never discovered his purpose. Furloughed from his job at Northwestern University in 2020, he asked himself: “What’s the right next move?” 

That move was taking his 25-year working experience in hospitality and restaurants and starting a farming business. [continue reading]