From working in homeless shelters, to assisting youth in schools, to performing paraprofessional care for adults living with autism, John Walter Whalen has made his life and work a mission to help others and serve his community.

John studied microbiology at Piedmont Community College and completed his Associates in Science while working night shifts at UVA Medical Center. During this time, he forged the pathway for Athena Aerial Productions, his first entrepreneurial adventure offering drone imagery to assist neighbors with insurance claims and film for local media.

After a decade in the medical field and running Athena Aerial, John was inspired to make the change he wanted to see in the world and follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, Walter Giles, who farmed and created fellowship by feeding the community.

In the spirit of sustainability, John designed and constructed his first tiny home during the COVID-19 pandemic. He went on to design, build, and sell multiple tiny homes to assist with affordable housing, especially for fellow BIPOC farmers.

John studied at Virginia State University to achieve his Certificate in Sustainable Urban Agriculture, leading him to an internship at Sankofa Community Orchard, where he has been mentored by nationally-recognized farmer and activist, Duron Chavis. John was accepted into the 2024 cohort of Sankofa’s Central Virginia Urban Farming Fellowship, and is currently connecting with like-minded folks who believe urban farming can also be a revolutionary form of activism.