12/08/2025
Congratulations to 2025 CNN Hero of the Year Quilen Blackwell! His nonprofit Southside Blooms transforms vacant lots on Chicago's South Side into flower farms that employ at-risk young people to grow, arrange and sell the flowers. He is changing lives by transforming neighborhoods and creating real jobs. If you missed CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute, watch a replay tonight at 11p ET or tomorrow on demand on the CNN app. The Elevate Prize Foundation is generously matching donations up to 50k each for this year’s Top 5 heroes – if you’d like to support Quilen or any of our incredible heroes, visit CNN.com/Heroes to donate via Pledge.
