Vote for VertiGrow!  We need your help!  Please click on the link below and visit the Ashoka Changemakers competition page.  You have to register with an account, and then you can vote for your three favorite projects.  We are 1 of 13 finalists (chosen from over 200 applicants!) 
http://www.changemakers.com/en-us/nutrition

This past weekend, I represented VertiGrow at the Northwestern University Conference on Human Rights in Evanton, IL. The focus of this year's conference was "Urban Slums: the Shadow of the Humanitarian Generation," and the conference served as a great learning and networking experience. Distinguished panelists included Robert Neuwirth, author of Shadow Cities: A Billion Squatters, a New Urban World and Katherine Sierra, Vice President for Sustainable Development at the World Bank.

Furthermore, all delegates at the conference participated in a case study competition where each delegate group investigated different urban slum scenarios  and submitted proposals of solutions developed in response to their urban slum scenario. Casy study cities  included Kibera, Beijing, Lima, Rio de Janeiro, Mexico City, Dharavi, La Courneuve and  Casablanca. I am happy to announce that my team (Team Kibera) was chosen as the overall competition winner based on our written proposal and final presentation!

~Tina

We have been working closely with Medicine in Need to design the next version of VertiGrow.  This means talking to designers, manufacturers, and potential users. 

We are currently conducting a market survey with college students and recent graduates in the Boston area.  If you would like to participate or know someone else who would, please let us know!  You can email vertigrowteam@gmail.com. 

~Ellie