Watch the Film • Join the Conversation
Welcome, University of Delaware and Newark communities! In celebration of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, we are excited to share an award-winning story of disability inclusion, employment possibilities, and community wellbeing.
This FREE programming — a screening of the film Hearts of Glass AND an interactive panel discussion — is sponsored by Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen and the University of Delaware’s Career and Life Studies Certificate (CLSC).
Hearts of Glass follows the tumultuous first 15 months of operation of Vertical Harvest (VH) of Jackson, Wyoming, a state-of-the-art hydroponic greenhouse that provides meaningful inclusive employment for people with disabilities.
The film weaves the story of VH’s launch with the personal journeys of employees with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Plants and people grow together in this intimate portrait of innovation, inclusion and impact.
IN-PERSON OPTION
Join us in person at the FinTech Building at 591 Collaboration Way in Newark, Delaware on April 20th, Thursday from 5:30 - 7:30 pm ET. We will watch the film together and then roll right into the panel discussion with audience Q&A.
The event is FREE, OPEN to the PUBLIC, and refreshments will be provided by Grain Craft Bar + Kitchen.
Please register in advance using this LINK.
Accessibility: The film will be presented with open captions in English. If you need accommodations for the Q&A, please let us know when you register (e.g., live ASL interpretation).
Questions about the in-person option? Contact Lahnee Piner, Administrative Assistant for CLSC at lpiner@udel.edu
VIRTUAL OPTION
You can stream the film on this website, at your convenience, from April 6th through the 23rd. Please join us for a panel discussion at 6:45 pm ET on April 20th. Click on the Q&A tab at the top of this page to register to attend the panel discussion virtually.
Accessibility: The film is presented with audio description in English and closed captioning in English and Spanish.
Questions about the virtual option? Contact James Sellers, Program Manager for CLSC - Sellers@udel.edu or 302-831-7552
Image Descriptions
First Row: Filmmaker Welcome Video with open captions in and audio description in English.
Second Row, First Image: Text “Hearts of Glass” inside the outline of green heart accented with leaves appears at the top of the image. Below is the Grand Teton mountain next to the Vertical Harvest greenhouse, a metal, and glass multi-story structure. Three people - two women and a man stand with lettuces and tomatoes in their hands. Two of the people wear t-shirts with the Vertical Harvest logo.
Second Row, Second Image: A young woman in a Vertical Harvest hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses stands smiling. She is in front of the Vertical Harvest greenhouse and there are rows of lettuce in a growing carousel visible through the window behind her.
Third Row, First Image: Two employees, Emily and Johnny, pose together smiling and holding a plastic container of greens in front of them. A note on the container reads “Thank you for being a great teammate, Emily!” It is signed “Johnny.”
Third Row, Second Image: Multi-story vertical carousel with lettuces; illuminated by pink LED lights.
Fourth Row, First Image: View of Vertical Harvest greenhouse from the street; modern, three-story glass and steel façade.
Fourth Row, Second Image: Ty and Joelle side-by-side pruning tomato plants. Joelle’s hand is around Ty’s wrist as she guides his hand along a vine.
Fifth Row, First Image: Graphic with text "Film screening and panel discussion presented by." Underneath is the logo for the University of Delaware - white uppercase “U” and a “D” in a blue circle with blue text “University of Delaware Center for Disabilities Studies” next to it. Below the UD logo is the text “with generous sponsorship from” and the Grain Craft Bar and Kitchen logo.
Fifth Row, Second Image: Graphic divided into four squares.Top Left: "Hearts of Glass" logo (text “Hearts of Glass” inside the outline of a green heart accented with leaves) with text below, "Watch the film & join the conversation! Panel Discussion April 20, Thursday, 6:45 pm ET." Top Right: a young woman with a broad smile and long light-brown hair pulled back from her face, she wears a light gray t-shirt, below her is the text "JoJo, Vertical Harvest Employee." Bottom Left: a woman with short blonde hair in a black shirt, below her, is the text "Jennifer, 'Hearts of Glass' Director." Bottom Right: a smiling young man with reddish-brown short hair and a light beard, he’s wearing a black Vertical Harvest t-shirt over a gray hoodie; below him is the text "Lucas, Vertical Harvest Employee."
