Newsletter Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Hello NCH2 Community!
It may not feel like spring yet, but there are many signs of spring around us this time of the year--especially in our local woodlands. It is a joyful experience to find spring ephemerals poking out of the leaf layer--bluebells, spring beauties, trilliums, mayapples, and rue anemones--all of which provide early critical nutrients to pollinating insects. And be mindful of any "overwintered" pollinators in the leaf compost. In true Chicago fashion, our region continues to see flurries, freezing temperatures, but with these early signs of spring, the Earth's renewal is evident. If you have hibernated all winter, make a plan to check out the places in the area that showcase these plants.
Earth Month--so much to do and learn! The commemorative month encourages us to make lists of ways we can honor nature and Mother Earth. In the most elementary approach ....Sesame Street started this theme in March, and added later in the month Brandi Carlisle, Snuffy, and Big Bird. Additionally The Planetary Health Alliance released an ebook to help readers embrace their connection with nature “Growing Green Hearts: Inspiring the Next Generation with Planetary Health.” According to information in their newsletter, this downloadable book isn't a prescriptive guide, but offers stories and ideas that are meant to encourage educators to apply these experiences to their specific educational context. Check out the Earth Month events we have listed in this newsletter!
Next month is Mental Health Awareness Month...stay tuned for an NCH2 event!
As we think about all of the challenges a dramatically changing climate creates, we think about it from a One Health lens--how do these shifts affect our health and the health of all other living things on the planet. Next month is Mental Health Awareness Month. Check out this worldwide effort to understand the impact of climate change on human mental health.
It may not feel like spring yet, but there are many signs of spring around us this time of the year--especially in our local woodlands. It is a joyful experience to find spring ephemerals poking out of the leaf layer--bluebells, spring beauties, trilliums, mayapples, and rue anemones--all of which provide early critical nutrients to pollinating insects. And be mindful of any "overwintered" pollinators in the leaf compost. In true Chicago fashion, our region continues to see flurries, freezing temperatures, but with these early signs of spring, the Earth's renewal is evident. If you have hibernated all winter, make a plan to check out the places in the area that showcase these plants.
Earth Month--so much to do and learn! The commemorative month encourages us to make lists of ways we can honor nature and Mother Earth. In the most elementary approach ....Sesame Street started this theme in March, and added later in the month Brandi Carlisle, Snuffy, and Big Bird. Additionally The Planetary Health Alliance released an ebook to help readers embrace their connection with nature “Growing Green Hearts: Inspiring the Next Generation with Planetary Health.” According to information in their newsletter, this downloadable book isn't a prescriptive guide, but offers stories and ideas that are meant to encourage educators to apply these experiences to their specific educational context. Check out the Earth Month events we have listed in this newsletter!
Next month is Mental Health Awareness Month...stay tuned for an NCH2 event!
As we think about all of the challenges a dramatically changing climate creates, we think about it from a One Health lens--how do these shifts affect our health and the health of all other living things on the planet. Next month is Mental Health Awareness Month. Check out this worldwide effort to understand the impact of climate change on human mental health.
Index
Creating Welcoming Spaces in Nature: Community Spotlight
Events and Save the Dates
Funding Opportunities and Resources
Job Opportunities
In the News
Connect with Us
Creating Welcoming Spaces in Nature: Community Spotlight
Events and Save the Dates
Funding Opportunities and Resources
Job Opportunities
In the News
Connect with Us
Creating Welcoming Nature Spaces: La Ronda Parakata
Image: Workshop I La Parakata presenters (L to R) Deisy Garnica, Rene Diaz, Erika Palmerin, Lorena Lopez, Alfonso "Piloto" Nieves, and Ted Gross. Claudia Galeno-Sanchez, third from the left, leads Women for Green Spaces and participated in the workshop.
During the first portion of the NCH2 Summit, we hosted 4 simultaneous workshops where people and organizations representing regional Models of Excellence presented how their work creates welcoming spaces in nature. One of these presentations featured a partnership among the Field Museum's Roots and Routes initiative, The Chicago Park District, and Northeastern Illinois University in the Burnham Wildlife Corridor. These organizations, plus the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Coastal Program, and other community organizations, restore and care for the corridor of nature on Chicago's southern lakefront.
In the fall of 2015 the Chicago Park District awarded grants to five teams to develop “gathering spaces” within the Corridor to reflect the nature and culture of the area. Although this presentation focused on the artists' creativity and vision for La Ronda Parakata, the four other spaces were noted (see them detailed here) and are located on the lakefront north and south of Parakata. The presentation slide deck showcases the artistic process, the essential community involvement, and examples of how this gathering space continues to be used and celebrated. If you ever get the chance to visit while biking, rolling, or walking south of 31st street, especially on a warmer day, take a picnic! It is a glorious creative space, full of pollinator plants, pollinators, and quiet. We hope you will experience a welcoming nature space.
In the fall of 2015 the Chicago Park District awarded grants to five teams to develop “gathering spaces” within the Corridor to reflect the nature and culture of the area. Although this presentation focused on the artists' creativity and vision for La Ronda Parakata, the four other spaces were noted (see them detailed here) and are located on the lakefront north and south of Parakata. The presentation slide deck showcases the artistic process, the essential community involvement, and examples of how this gathering space continues to be used and celebrated. If you ever get the chance to visit while biking, rolling, or walking south of 31st street, especially on a warmer day, take a picnic! It is a glorious creative space, full of pollinator plants, pollinators, and quiet. We hope you will experience a welcoming nature space.
Upcoming Events
Image, P.E.R.R.O. logo
Environmental Justice 101 Information Session with a focus on Pilsen
Join P.E.R.R.O. (Pilsen Environmental Rights and Reform Organization) for an information session about environmental justice issues, especially in the Pilsen community. P.E.R.R.O is "a grassroots community group of Pilsen residents that formed in 2004 to fight the disproportionate amount of pollution in the Pilsen neighborhood."
When: Saturday, April 6, 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Where: Dvorak Park Clubroom, 1119 W. Fullerton St.
Join P.E.R.R.O. (Pilsen Environmental Rights and Reform Organization) for an information session about environmental justice issues, especially in the Pilsen community. P.E.R.R.O is "a grassroots community group of Pilsen residents that formed in 2004 to fight the disproportionate amount of pollution in the Pilsen neighborhood."
When: Saturday, April 6, 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Where: Dvorak Park Clubroom, 1119 W. Fullerton St.
Image, Laura Derks, Cleaning up area and preparing for native seed spreading in Pilsen with Women for Green Spaces.
Earth Month Action
1) McKinley Park Earth Day Clean-up Saturday, April 20th 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Meet by the stone planters south of the lagoon, supplies provided by McKinley Park Stewardship. Plant giveaway by Neighbors for Environmental Justice. More info on Instagram @mckinleyparkstewardship
2) Steelworkers Park Spring Re-Set, Sunday, April 14th 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Chicago's diverse climbing groups will work to set over a dozen new routes on the ore walls. There will be food trucks, music, games, community. Free and all welcome. 87th and Lake Michigan.
3) Hazel Johnson EJ Way Clean Up, Monday April 22--Earth Day to clean up the Hazel Johnson EJ Way in honor of Earth Day 2024 and PCR's founder Hazel Johnson, known as the mother of the environmental justice movement. Register here.
4) Will County Forest Preserves is hosting fun all month long. Recycling bicycles, cleaning the riverside, trash pickup!
5) Dupage County River Sweep, this annual event will be on May 4, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. It is a county-wide self-coordinated stream cleanup held each spring. Register here.
6) The Chicago Park District organizes park cleanups on April 20 every year. If you don't see one organized for your local park, let them know you would like to help.
7) Evanston Ecology Center's 50th birthday at the Earth Day Fest Saturday, April 20, from noon to 3 p.m., at Ingraham Park, located directly behind the Morton Civic Center. Enjoy games, tree plantings, food trucks, earth-friendly resources, and more.
1) McKinley Park Earth Day Clean-up Saturday, April 20th 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Meet by the stone planters south of the lagoon, supplies provided by McKinley Park Stewardship. Plant giveaway by Neighbors for Environmental Justice. More info on Instagram @mckinleyparkstewardship
2) Steelworkers Park Spring Re-Set, Sunday, April 14th 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Chicago's diverse climbing groups will work to set over a dozen new routes on the ore walls. There will be food trucks, music, games, community. Free and all welcome. 87th and Lake Michigan.
3) Hazel Johnson EJ Way Clean Up, Monday April 22--Earth Day to clean up the Hazel Johnson EJ Way in honor of Earth Day 2024 and PCR's founder Hazel Johnson, known as the mother of the environmental justice movement. Register here.
4) Will County Forest Preserves is hosting fun all month long. Recycling bicycles, cleaning the riverside, trash pickup!
5) Dupage County River Sweep, this annual event will be on May 4, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. It is a county-wide self-coordinated stream cleanup held each spring. Register here.
6) The Chicago Park District organizes park cleanups on April 20 every year. If you don't see one organized for your local park, let them know you would like to help.
7) Evanston Ecology Center's 50th birthday at the Earth Day Fest Saturday, April 20, from noon to 3 p.m., at Ingraham Park, located directly behind the Morton Civic Center. Enjoy games, tree plantings, food trucks, earth-friendly resources, and more.
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Northwestern University's Native American and Indigenous Student Alliance Spring Pow-Wow
This free event is open to all and is a space for Native and non-Native people to gather together to dance, eat, socialize, share art, be in community, and much more. For more information, visit this website. When: April 27 Where: Welsh Ryan Arena, Evanston, IL |
Image, Trickster Website
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Dark Skies Monitoring Free Training: 18+ Welcome
Dark Sky Monitors assist in collecting data on light levels in the Preserves after dusk. New and returning Dark Sky Monitor volunteers are welcome. This training will include an introduction to the importance of protecting our night-time environments and the impacts of artificial light at night. Volunteers will be trained to use sky quality meters and ground observing networks. More information available here.
When: May 4, 8:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Where: Willow Springs, Palos Area
Dark Sky Monitors assist in collecting data on light levels in the Preserves after dusk. New and returning Dark Sky Monitor volunteers are welcome. This training will include an introduction to the importance of protecting our night-time environments and the impacts of artificial light at night. Volunteers will be trained to use sky quality meters and ground observing networks. More information available here.
When: May 4, 8:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Where: Willow Springs, Palos Area
One Earth Film Festival -- new Dates for 2024
Make sure to join the thousands of viewers in the Chicago region and around the world who take part in this gem of a film festival that showcases many relevant topics on how to sustain our Earth from environmental justice, to clean water, to the carbon cycle! Check out the listings for this year's festival here.
When: April 17-23, 2024
Make sure to join the thousands of viewers in the Chicago region and around the world who take part in this gem of a film festival that showcases many relevant topics on how to sustain our Earth from environmental justice, to clean water, to the carbon cycle! Check out the listings for this year's festival here.
When: April 17-23, 2024
Funding Opportunities and other Resources
Image, Laura Derks
Openlands Treekeeper Planting Grants
Openlands regional focus on restoring and maintaining the tree canopy has been going on for decades. More recently they are focusing on new tree planting in communities with low canopy cover including Archer Heights, Brighton Park, Chicago Lawn, Gage Park, Garfield Ridge, McKinley Park, New City, South Lawndale, West Elsdon, West Lawn. Other neighborhoods in Chicago are also welcome to apply.
According to the Openlands website: "TreePlanters Grants are awarded to people, groups, or organizations that can bring together and coordinate their neighbors to plant 10-40 trees in predetermined locations in their neighborhood." The grant application is relatively simple--check out the application here.
Openlands regional focus on restoring and maintaining the tree canopy has been going on for decades. More recently they are focusing on new tree planting in communities with low canopy cover including Archer Heights, Brighton Park, Chicago Lawn, Gage Park, Garfield Ridge, McKinley Park, New City, South Lawndale, West Elsdon, West Lawn. Other neighborhoods in Chicago are also welcome to apply.
According to the Openlands website: "TreePlanters Grants are awarded to people, groups, or organizations that can bring together and coordinate their neighbors to plant 10-40 trees in predetermined locations in their neighborhood." The grant application is relatively simple--check out the application here.
Image, Laura Derks
Prepare for Spring Bird Migration--Lights Out Chicago and Acting Now to Better Equip Buildings for Birds
Spring migration has moved up quite a bit this calendar year 2024. Check out the new "Lights Out Chicago" program. Last year, thousands of migrating birds crashed into the McCormick Conference Center in Chicago and sustained lethal damage.
The Chicago Department of Planning and Development is scheduled to release its "bird-friendly regulations on April 15 and are considering making them optional for building developers. The Chicago Bird Alliance is asking everyone who can contact the Department and the Mayor bout how important it is to protect migrating birds. "The Bird Protection is not Optional Campaign" toolkit can be found on this website.
And in Evanston, the Ecology Center will host the Chicago Bird CollisionMonitors to talk about bird collisions on Tuesday April 9, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. "Nurturing Nature Speaker Series: Bird Collisions: Hazardous Features & Easy Solutions". Learn more here.
Spring migration has moved up quite a bit this calendar year 2024. Check out the new "Lights Out Chicago" program. Last year, thousands of migrating birds crashed into the McCormick Conference Center in Chicago and sustained lethal damage.
The Chicago Department of Planning and Development is scheduled to release its "bird-friendly regulations on April 15 and are considering making them optional for building developers. The Chicago Bird Alliance is asking everyone who can contact the Department and the Mayor bout how important it is to protect migrating birds. "The Bird Protection is not Optional Campaign" toolkit can be found on this website.
And in Evanston, the Ecology Center will host the Chicago Bird CollisionMonitors to talk about bird collisions on Tuesday April 9, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. "Nurturing Nature Speaker Series: Bird Collisions: Hazardous Features & Easy Solutions". Learn more here.
Job Opportunities
New
Communications Associate at the Active Transportation Alliance. Consider applying if "you’re someone with a talent for crafting compelling narratives, distilling key messages, and producing content across a range of platforms"--full-time role, based in Chicago.
Continuing
Chicago Regional Trees Initiative: Community Coordinator (2 positions)
Learn more and apply Grant Administrator Learn more and apply
The Delta Institute is hiring an Environmental Finance Center Specialist.
Dupage Forest Preserves has an opening for Natural Resources Restoration Supervisor here
Elevate is looking to fill many positions. Look through their career opportunities here.
Equiticity has several positions open including Director of Finance and other positions. Learn more here.
Faith in Place Eco-Ambassador applications for academic high school students from Southern Illinois and the North & West Suburbs. Teens (14-18 years old) with a particular interest in Environmental Justice, Climate Change, and STEM education are encouraged to apply! Learn more here.
The Keller Science Action Center at the Field Museum is hiring for two positions and two internships Pollinator Conservation and Chicago Green Ambassadors Program.
The Friends of the Forest Preserves has several new positions, including a Communications Internship. Learn more here.
llinois Nature Conservancy, Indian Boundary Prairies Youth Program Assistant and Illinois Youth Environmental Thinkers Intern (age 16-18)– (Job 54847). Deadline to apply is May 3rd.
A Natural Resource Specialist at the Lake County Forest Preserves. Three-year full-time position.
Chief Sustainability Officer, Village of Oak Park
Adventure Sports Coordinator with R.E.A.C.H. here (Scroll down, there are several other job openings)
Urban Growers Collective has 7 full-time positions open here.
The UGC Internship Program is open and accepting applications---must be 18 and older.
Windy City Harvest is accepting applications for its Apprenticeship program.
Please send us your job openings to be featured!
Communications Associate at the Active Transportation Alliance. Consider applying if "you’re someone with a talent for crafting compelling narratives, distilling key messages, and producing content across a range of platforms"--full-time role, based in Chicago.
Continuing
Chicago Regional Trees Initiative: Community Coordinator (2 positions)
Learn more and apply Grant Administrator Learn more and apply
The Delta Institute is hiring an Environmental Finance Center Specialist.
Dupage Forest Preserves has an opening for Natural Resources Restoration Supervisor here
Elevate is looking to fill many positions. Look through their career opportunities here.
Equiticity has several positions open including Director of Finance and other positions. Learn more here.
Faith in Place Eco-Ambassador applications for academic high school students from Southern Illinois and the North & West Suburbs. Teens (14-18 years old) with a particular interest in Environmental Justice, Climate Change, and STEM education are encouraged to apply! Learn more here.
The Keller Science Action Center at the Field Museum is hiring for two positions and two internships Pollinator Conservation and Chicago Green Ambassadors Program.
The Friends of the Forest Preserves has several new positions, including a Communications Internship. Learn more here.
llinois Nature Conservancy, Indian Boundary Prairies Youth Program Assistant and Illinois Youth Environmental Thinkers Intern (age 16-18)– (Job 54847). Deadline to apply is May 3rd.
A Natural Resource Specialist at the Lake County Forest Preserves. Three-year full-time position.
Chief Sustainability Officer, Village of Oak Park
Adventure Sports Coordinator with R.E.A.C.H. here (Scroll down, there are several other job openings)
Urban Growers Collective has 7 full-time positions open here.
The UGC Internship Program is open and accepting applications---must be 18 and older.
Windy City Harvest is accepting applications for its Apprenticeship program.
Please send us your job openings to be featured!
In the News
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Hopes for Bird Protection Dashed
For most of the past four years, Annette Prince, director of Chicago Bird Collision monitors, thought Bird Friendly Chicago and the City’s Department of Planning and Development were, well, looking out the same window. But some now see Chicago’s proposed building standards are inadequate to prevent bird-strikes. A March 24 article in the Chicago Sun-Times by Kaitlin Washburn said, “With the spring migration on its way, Chicago bird safety advocates on Wednesday demanded that the city require new developments to use bird-friendly building standards.” Thousands of migrating birds are killed each year when they hit buildings, she noted, and referred to the deadly night last fall when nearly 1,000 birds died after hitting McCormick Place Lakeside Center. Guidelines for new buildings regarding bird safety are just that – options rather than mandates, and the article quoted Prince as saying. ““We want to make these measures mandatory, not an option, for developers looking to get permits or other grants from the city,” Prince said. “Whether something lives and dies should not be optional. … We know that not every building can be completely bird safe and we can’t save every bird. … But we want the most critical and dangerous areas to be addressed.” Among the “dangerous areas” are a building’s ground-level façade and lower floors. The article notes Evanston’s Robert Crown Community Center “is a good example of a bird-safe building that used a lot of patterned glass,” and quotes a seller of bird-safe glass that it costs 5-10% more than other building glass. Read the full story. |
Image, cityofevanston.org
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Image, Laura Derks
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Pollinator Garden Registry Advisory Board Established
A new board created by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson “reflects the City’s ongoing commitment to protect native habitats and increase nature-based solutions to climate change,” according to a press release from the mayor’s office. The Native and Pollinator Garden Registry Advisory Board will create a native and pollinator garden registry, develop criteria for applications and provide recommendations to the Commissioner of the Department of Streets and Sanitation, who will oversee and maintain the registry. “Now, more than ever, we need to engage available resources to help us find climate solutions _ especially those inherent in nature,” said Mayor Johnson. “Native and pollinator gardens are vital to Chicago, not only as green space, but also for the benefits they provide for native wildlife.” The members of the advisory board are Jessica Fong, Director of Education for Openlands; Naomi Davis, Founder and CEO of Blacks in Green (BIG); Laura Milkert, Chicago Region Conservation Ecology Manager for the Field Museum; Lorraine Kells, Volunteer for the Chicago Community Gardeners Association; and Brittany Buckles, Entomologist and Beekeeper for Midwest Alveole. Several City of Chicago officials will sit as ex officio advisory board members: The full press release can be found here. |
Electricity Over Gas: A Matter of Environmental Justice
In an Op-ed in the Chicago Sun-Times on March 5, Scott Onqué, policy director of Faith in Place and Faith in Place Action Fund, outlined several reasons to replace natural gas with electricity, particularly in new buildings. Chief among these were financial and health reasons.
With high fees and fixed charges for gas connection, nearly 1 in 5 Chicago consumers is behind on their gas bill. In black and brown neighborhoods, that rate climbs to nearly 50%. Consequently, Illinois leads the nation in gas shut-offs, with black and brown households twice as likely to experience disconnection compared to their white counterparts.
People living in communities already burdened by health disparities are hit hardest by the dual challenges of unaffordable utility bills and heightened exposure to pollutants.
Indoor gas combustion is the most racially inequitable form of pollution exposure, with people of color exposed to 41% more than their white counterparts, he wrote. In addition to cancer-causing benzene, dangerous air pollutants generated by fossil fuel combustion exacerbate asthma in children. Making the transition from natural gas to electricity is crucial for the health of many Chicago residents. Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance is a first step, Pastor Onqué, wrote. Read the op-ed here.
In an Op-ed in the Chicago Sun-Times on March 5, Scott Onqué, policy director of Faith in Place and Faith in Place Action Fund, outlined several reasons to replace natural gas with electricity, particularly in new buildings. Chief among these were financial and health reasons.
With high fees and fixed charges for gas connection, nearly 1 in 5 Chicago consumers is behind on their gas bill. In black and brown neighborhoods, that rate climbs to nearly 50%. Consequently, Illinois leads the nation in gas shut-offs, with black and brown households twice as likely to experience disconnection compared to their white counterparts.
People living in communities already burdened by health disparities are hit hardest by the dual challenges of unaffordable utility bills and heightened exposure to pollutants.
Indoor gas combustion is the most racially inequitable form of pollution exposure, with people of color exposed to 41% more than their white counterparts, he wrote. In addition to cancer-causing benzene, dangerous air pollutants generated by fossil fuel combustion exacerbate asthma in children. Making the transition from natural gas to electricity is crucial for the health of many Chicago residents. Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance is a first step, Pastor Onqué, wrote. Read the op-ed here.
Connect with Us!
We are taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar--You can also submit materials for the next newsletter by emailing [email protected]. Make sure you have accepted our newsletter email so it doesn't wind up in your junk folder!
FOLLOW US on our social media by clicking the icons below!
CREATE your own stories on Instagram and tag @NCH2Network so we can share how you engage with nature; we would love to see them!
EMAIL US and keep us updated on local events, exciting opportunities in the area, or send photos of local nature to be featured on the website.
CONTACT US at [email protected].
We are taking requests for any upcoming events to be added to future newsletters and our events calendar--You can also submit materials for the next newsletter by emailing [email protected]. Make sure you have accepted our newsletter email so it doesn't wind up in your junk folder!
FOLLOW US on our social media by clicking the icons below!
CREATE your own stories on Instagram and tag @NCH2Network so we can share how you engage with nature; we would love to see them!
EMAIL US and keep us updated on local events, exciting opportunities in the area, or send photos of local nature to be featured on the website.
CONTACT US at [email protected].