Plants and the "green collar" industry that thrives on them are powering our lives in ways we never thought possible, creating new jobs that not only help our economy, but also make our world, and our lives, better! There have never been more opportunities to change the world through plants than there are today, but awareness of the industry that sustains them, known as "horticulture" is at an all-time low. The more we know about plants, the more we can make a difference today. By empowering today's youth - the next generation of game changers and dreamers - to unlock the potential of their natural world, BLOOM! is opening their eyes to opportunities they never knew possible and, in the process, seeding their future and ours.

Join PegCityLovely as she chats with Susan E. Yoder, IOM, the Executive Director of Seed Your Future - a national movement to promote horticulture and encourage more young people to pursue careers working with plants. They discuss opportunities for young people and share unique insights into:

· The nearly 58,000 new jobs in the "green-collar" industry, as horticulture is often called, expected to become available each year for the next five years,

· How horticulturists are using their plant knowledge to solve some of our biggest challenges, like feeding a growing world, climate change and clean water.

· Why the average American can recognize over 1,000 brands and logos, but fewer than 10 plants in their local areas.

· How horticulture plays a role in fashion and beauty, science and even art and design

With more than 100 different careers in the industry, horticulture - the art, science, technology and business of plants - has something to offer for everyone. Jobs include drone specialists, plant scientists, landscape architects and urban farmers, just to name a few. Learn how parents and partners can access a host of resources designed to make it as easy as possible to talk to young people about the world of plants and spread the word about BLOOM!

About Susan E. Yoder, Executive Director of Seed Your Future

Susan joined Seed Your Future in September 2016 and brings with her more than twenty-five years of experience working with nonprofit organizations. For most of her career, she has worked with organizations that focus on youth development and providing children, youth and families with opportunities to grow and thrive. She is passionate about the outdoors and the positive impact it can have on physical and emotional health. She is dedicated to finding more opportunities to move the traditional classroom outside, thus providing youth with the opportunity to learn about - and in - the natural world. An avid outdoorswoman and gardener, her personal motto is "Think Outside - No Box Required."