There is no reason that African-Americans should not participate in such an undertaking that is considered to be a billion dollar business as the future unfolds.

There is a growing movement afoot, albeit an underground one, that has led to the creation of urban gardens over the past couple of years.

The initiative dubbed "Sustainable Cleveland 2019" believes that these urban gardens scattered throughout Cuyahoga County on vacant land could lead to 28,000 new jobs within the next decade.

It is an idea that deserves serious consideration; especially in Black neighborhoods that are fraught with vacant land, unused lots and rotting industrial buildings.

It has been said that "idle hands are the devil's workshop." We are seeing in Black communities a proliferation of violent crime committed by our youth who see no hope or future.

The history of African-Americans has always been tied to the soil and the land; especially in the South. We see no reason that these "roots" cannot be resurrected in northern cities like Cleveland as it pertains to "Sustainable Cleveland 2019."

How nice it would be to link this new initiative with our public schools and introduce at an early age to students the concept of urban farming.

Thirty-seven percent of Cleveland residents say it is important that their food be grown locally.

Yet just 2 percent of the food purchased in the entire region is grown here.

That's why Sustainable Cleveland 2019 is trying to dramatically increase the percentage of locally produced food in restaurants schools and consumer shopping carts.

There is no reason that African-Americans should not participate in such an undertaking that is considered to be a billion dollar business as the future unfolds.

It is an idea worth pursing and one that we believe deserves further consideration.