About Us
A dream in the minds of a small group of Naperville parents and the determination to make the dream a reality are behind the We Grow Dreams Greenhouse & Garden Center, a not-for-profit corporation in West Chicago, IL.
This dream is being fulfilled by providing job training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The founders recognized the lack of employment opportunities for people with disabilities and came together to creatively address this need. A greenhouse was identified as a labor-intensive, multiskilled business — something necessary for a dynamic job vocational training ground. Individuals with disabilities were envisioned working with volunteers and greenhouse employees, learning the business, and developing a variety of work skills. This vision became the support model for the venture.
We Grow Dreams has been providing job training and employment to young adults with disabilities for over fifteen years. We Grow Dreams was founded in 2004 when the founders purchased this greenhouse, formerly called WeGo Greenhouse. Since then the greenhouse has provided countless hours of job training and development.
The We Grow Dreams job-training program provides opportunities for our Team Members to learn a variety of tasks in the day-to-day operation of a wholesale and retail greenhouse business. Over 45 specific jobs have been identified for the job-training program including deadheading plants, filling pots with soil for seeds/seedlings, transplanting, spacing plant materials, watering, stocking plants/supplies, greeting & assisting customers, running the cash register, folding cartons, clerical tasks and maintenance tasks. In addition to these jobs, our Craft Program produces greeting cards, hypertufa pots, personalized garden bricks, and bird feeders for sale to the public. Team Members develop valuable work, communication, and social skills that will facilitate their employment in the future.
Current Board Members
Ben Hum, President
Holly Riordan, Treasurer
Eric Stenstrom, Secretary
Karen Pachyn, Director
Linda Yoakam, Director
Donna Jarmusz, Director
Gregg Bettcher, Executive Director
For more information about our Team Member program and to schedule a tour, please contact the Greenhouse, at 630-293-0100, or e-mail info@wegrowdreams.org
1055 West Washington Street
West Chicago, IL 60185
Mailing:
PO Box 861
West Chicago, IL 60186
Office 630-293-0100
Fax 630-293-1510
Hours
Monday to Friday: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Sunday: Closed