{"id":{"repo_id":"uiuc","oai_identifier":"oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/132460"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/uiuc/oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/132460","repository":{"repo_id":"uiuc","name":"University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign","base_url":"https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh"},"display":{"title":"Green spaces, Black entrepreneurs: transforming Chicago’s historically marginalized neighborhoods","abstract":"The leisure research details the many physical, psychological, and social benefits associated with urban green spaces. Less attention has been placed on the economic benefits individuals can experience while being involved in these projects. An example of this includes the case of African American entrepreneurs in the context of urban greening projects. The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of African American entrepreneurs in the context of greening projects. Specifically, the research questions that guided this study were: (1) What motivates African American entrepreneurs to engage in urban greening projects such as community gardening?; (2) What challenges do African American entrepreneurs face in creating and sustaining community gardens?; (3) How do African American entrepreneurs describe the impacts of their work on their communities?; and (4) What systems of support do African American entrepreneurs need to sustain their work? This exploratory qualitative study involved interviews with four African American entrepreneurs. Using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis and Lincoln and Guba’s trustworthiness criteria, findings revealed that motivations included environmental stewardship, community connectedness, environmental education, environmental preservation for future generations, and lived disparities. Challenges included limited funding, infrastructure, and systemic racism, while impacts included economic, health, and spiritual benefits. Participants emphasized the need for greater resources, government support, and peer networks.","abstract_html":"The leisure research details the many physical, psychological, and social benefits associated with urban green spaces. Less attention has been placed on the economic benefits individuals can experience while being involved in these projects. An example of this includes the case of African American entrepreneurs in the context of urban greening projects. The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of African American entrepreneurs in the context of greening projects. Specifically, the research questions that guided this study were: (1) What motivates African American entrepreneurs to engage in urban greening projects such as community gardening?; (2) What challenges do African American entrepreneurs face in creating and sustaining community gardens?; (3) How do African American entrepreneurs describe the impacts of their work on their communities?; and (4) What systems of support do African American entrepreneurs need to sustain their work? This exploratory qualitative study involved interviews with four African American entrepreneurs. Using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis and Lincoln and Guba’s trustworthiness criteria, findings revealed that motivations included environmental stewardship, community connectedness, environmental education, environmental preservation for future generations, and lived disparities. Challenges included limited funding, infrastructure, and systemic racism, while impacts included economic, health, and spiritual benefits. Participants emphasized the need for greater resources, government support, and peer networks.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Hudson, Jeffrey"],"institution":"University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign","degree_name":"M.S.","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"Recreation, Sport, and Tourism","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Fernandez, Mariela","Stodolska, Monika","Walker, Rebecca"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025-12","date_published":"2025-12","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:25:07Z","subjects":["Entrepreneurs","environmental","green space","gardening","Black","African American","urban farm"],"languages":["en"],"rights":["Copyright 2025 Jeffrey Hudson"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132460","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Fernandez, Mariela","Stodolska, Monika","Walker, Rebecca"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Hudson, Jeffrey"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2025-12","2025-09-04"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["text","Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Recreation, Sport, and Tourism"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["M.S."]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Entrepreneurs","environmental","green space","gardening","Black","African American","urban farm"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["en"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright 2025 Jeffrey Hudson"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132460"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["The leisure research details the many physical, psychological, and social benefits associated with urban green spaces. Less attention has been placed on the economic benefits individuals can experience while being involved in these projects. An example of this includes the case of African American entrepreneurs in the context of urban greening projects. The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of African American entrepreneurs in the context of greening projects. Specifically, the research questions that guided this study were: (1) What motivates African American entrepreneurs to engage in urban greening projects such as community gardening?; (2) What challenges do African American entrepreneurs face in creating and sustaining community gardens?; (3) How do African American entrepreneurs describe the impacts of their work on their communities?; and (4) What systems of support do African American entrepreneurs need to sustain their work? This exploratory qualitative study involved interviews with four African American entrepreneurs. Using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis and Lincoln and Guba’s trustworthiness criteria, findings revealed that motivations included environmental stewardship, community connectedness, environmental education, environmental preservation for future generations, and lived disparities. Challenges included limited funding, infrastructure, and systemic racism, while impacts included economic, health, and spiritual benefits. Participants emphasized the need for greater resources, government support, and peer networks.","Submission original under an indefinite embargo labeled 'Open Access'. The submission was exported from vireo on 2026-02-19 without embargo terms","The student, Jeffrey Hudson, accepted the attached license on 2025-08-28 at 17:29.","The student, Jeffrey Hudson, submitted this Thesis for approval on 2025-08-28 at 17:36.","This Thesis was approved for publication on 2025-09-04 at 15:49.","DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #22786 on 2026-02-19 at 18:24:14"]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Green spaces, Black entrepreneurs: transforming Chicago’s historically marginalized neighborhoods"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Fernandez, Mariela","Stodolska, Monika","Walker, Rebecca"],"dc:creator":["Hudson, Jeffrey"],"dc:date":["2025-12","2025-09-04"],"dc:description":["The leisure research details the many physical, psychological, and social benefits associated with urban green spaces. Less attention has been placed on the economic benefits individuals can experience while being involved in these projects. An example of this includes the case of African American entrepreneurs in the context of urban greening projects. The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of African American entrepreneurs in the context of greening projects. Specifically, the research questions that guided this study were: (1) What motivates African American entrepreneurs to engage in urban greening projects such as community gardening?; (2) What challenges do African American entrepreneurs face in creating and sustaining community gardens?; (3) How do African American entrepreneurs describe the impacts of their work on their communities?; and (4) What systems of support do African American entrepreneurs need to sustain their work? This exploratory qualitative study involved interviews with four African American entrepreneurs. Using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis and Lincoln and Guba’s trustworthiness criteria, findings revealed that motivations included environmental stewardship, community connectedness, environmental education, environmental preservation for future generations, and lived disparities. Challenges included limited funding, infrastructure, and systemic racism, while impacts included economic, health, and spiritual benefits. Participants emphasized the need for greater resources, government support, and peer networks.","Submission original under an indefinite embargo labeled 'Open Access'. The submission was exported from vireo on 2026-02-19 without embargo terms","The student, Jeffrey Hudson, accepted the attached license on 2025-08-28 at 17:29.","The student, Jeffrey Hudson, submitted this Thesis for approval on 2025-08-28 at 17:36.","This Thesis was approved for publication on 2025-09-04 at 15:49.","DSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #22786 on 2026-02-19 at 18:24:14"],"dc:format":["application/pdf"],"dc:identifier":["https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132460"],"dc:language":["en"],"dc:rights":["Copyright 2025 Jeffrey Hudson"],"dc:subject":["Entrepreneurs","environmental","green space","gardening","Black","African American","urban farm"],"dc:title":["Green spaces, Black entrepreneurs: transforming Chicago’s historically marginalized neighborhoods"],"dc:type":["text","Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Recreation, Sport, and Tourism"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["M.S."],"thesis:institution_name":["University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:25:07Z"}