Quilen Blackwell, owner of a Chicago nonprofit that employs at-risk youth to turn vacant lots into flower farms, has won CNN’s Hero of the Year award.

Blackwell is CEO of Chicago Eco House, which grows flowers on South and West side lots, and Southside Blooms, an Englewood flower shop at 6250 S. Morgan St.

His organization has been employing at-risk youth, ages 16 to 24, since 2014 at gardens in Englewood, Woodlawn, Washington Park and West Garfield Park.

The award comes with a $100,000 prize that Blackwell says he will use to convert more empty lots into flower farms.

“This is a big win for the hood — and a big win for Chicago,” Blackwell, 41, told the Sun-Times Monday.

Blackwell says business in booming, and he needs to grow more flowers to meet demand he expects in 2026. He said he

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