{"href":"http://player.captivate.fm/services/oembed?url=http%3A%2F%2Fplayer.captivate.fm%2Fepisode%2F906ec8ec-01c9-449a-9e71-5702ea980d80","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Captivate.FM","provider_url":"https://www.captivate.fm","width":600,"height":200,"type":"rich","html":"","title":"S3E32: Nona Yehia & Caroline Croft Estay - Empowering the Underserved","description":"Episode Summary\r\n\r\nJoin Harry Duran, host of Vertical Farming Podcast, as he welcomes to the show co-founders of Vertical Harvest, Nona Yehia and Caroline Croft Estay. An architect and entrepreneur, Nona conceptualized and built Vertical Harvest, the first vertical hydroponic greenhouse in the world. Combining her expertise in behavioral health and experience in training and case management, Caroline crafted and implemented the innovative \u201cGrow Well\u201d employee model at Vertical Harvest. In today\u2019s episode, Harry, Nona and Caroline discuss the inspirational work they are doing to bring architectural, economic, and social innovation to communities nationwide. Their mission is to bring meaningful employment to underserved populations and educate communities on how good jobs help differently abled individuals to thrive.\r\n\r\nEpisode Sponsor\r\n\r\nCULTIVATD\r\n\r\nKey Takeaways\r\n03:05 \u2013 Harry welcomes to the show, Nona Yehia and Caroline Croft Estay, who share the story of how they met and the work they\u2019re doing at Vertical Harvest\r\n09:27 \u2013 The origin story of Vertical Harvest\r\n15:39 \u2013 Caroline talks about her vision for diversity and inclusion at Vertical Harvest\r\n19:22 \u2013 How Nona and Caroline became \u2018unexpected farmers\u2019\r\n24:07 \u2013 Caroline talks about the \u2018Grow Well\u2019 model they\u2019ve developed at Vertical Harvest\r\n28:02 \u2013 Caroline and Nona reflect on the passion they share for working with those with disabilities\r\n35:44 \u2013 Nona talks about a powerful life lesson she learned early on\r\n37:51 \u2013 Caroline shares why her father was such an influential person in her life\r\n41:01 \u2013 Nona and Caroline talk about the importance of representation in the vertical farming industry\r\n49:43 \u2013 What excites Nona and Caroline the most about the future of Vertical Harvest\r\n56:33 \u2013 A little known fact about Nona and Caroline\r\n58:34 \u2013 Harry thanks Nona and Caroline for joining the show and let\u2019s listeners know where they can learn more about Vertical Harvest and connect with Nona and Caroline\r\n\r\nTweetable Quotes\r\n\r\n\u201cWe like to say at Vertical Harvest that necessity is the mother of invention. And it does bring people together to think innovatively, as Caroline has always done, and to come together to really focus on solutions.\u201d(06:17)\r\n\r\n\u201cWhen it was just about food, I was like, \u2018This is a cool idea. I\u2019m excited to be a part of it.\u2019 But when it was about food and futures, something that is so personal to me and to so many people in our country, it really became a must. It wasn\u2019t an option anymore; we had to follow through on it.\u201d(08:35)\r\n\r\n\u201cWe\u2019re talking about things that aren\u2019t typically talked about in a workplace all the time. And we\u2019re talking about it with an inclusive, integrated workforce, which is even more mind-blowing.\u201d(25:16)\r\n\r\n\u201cWe say, \u2018different abilities\u2019 and \u2018people with disabilities.\u2019 And I want to explain that. This summer we were really digging into our language and labels and I thought, \u2018why am I picking what it is. I\u2019m gonna poll all of our employees with disabilities, which do you prefer being called?\u2019 And it was a fifty-fifty split.\u201d(29:20)\r\n\r\n\u201cIf you take the time, if you slow down, if you pay attention, everybody can teach you something.\u201d(32:14)\r\n\r\n\u201cWhat is equity for people, whether it is disabilities or people of color? where are these barriers? They\u2019re everywhere.\u201d(45:41)\r\n\r\n\u201cWhat we are doing at Vertical Harvest has the potential to change so many lives, and not in the warm and fuzzy feeling way. It\u2019s a solution for a history of inequities, and no opportunities, and keeping people victimized.\u201d(52:44)\r\n\r\nLinks Mentioned\r\n\r\nNona\u2019s LinkedIn\r\n\r\nCaroline\u2019s LinkedIn\r\n\r\nVertical Harvest Website\r\n\r\nVertical Harvest Facebook\r\n\r\nVertical Harvest Instagram\r\n\r\nSponsor Info:\r\n\r\nCultivatd Website\r\n\r\nCultivatd Instagram\r\n\r\nCultivatd\u2019s Twitter\r\n\r\nCultivatd\u2019s Facebook\r\n\r\n\ud83c\udf99\ufe0f\ud83c\udf99\ufe0f\ud83c\udf99\ufe0f\r\n\r\nPodcast Production and Marketing by FullCast: https://bit.ly/3sxZ34y\r\n\r\nSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/d21e93af-1092-4fe5-bb99-662e36a6dffd/image.jpg"}