By Sarah, on May 21st, 2013 
Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago (NHS) is a charter member of the NeighborWorks® Network, a network of community development organizations working in more than 4,400 communities nationwide. NeighborWorks® Week is the largest volunteer community-revitalization event of its kind, involving more than 40,000 volunteers to develop healthy communities.
By Sarah, on May 16th, 2013
By Sarah, on May 15th, 2013 
You are invited to participate in Climate Cycle’s 5th Annual Ride to Recharge!
Climate Cyclists will pedal along the Chicago lakefront with people of all skill levels and walks of life coming together to help our students and schools go green.
Routes options range from 4 to 10 to 20-miles, with all routes ending in Grant Park for a momentous closing ceremony.
Register today!
Once you’ve registered, customize your personal fundraising page and begin your fundraising campaign! Riders are required to meet fundraising minimums that go towards funding solar panels and environmental school projects in Chicagoland schools.
The registration fee for ALL riders is $30.
By Sarah, on May 13th, 2013  Wednesday 5/15: Connect with Chicago’s growing urban agriculture movement, share some food, learn about garden and farm donation programs and other creative ways to ensure that the food we grow goes to good use, and show off your own garden or farm during the community slideshow at AUA’s Spring Gathering!
5-5:40PM: Sign-ins, mix & mingle, and POTLUCK
Please bring a tasty (and labeled!) dish to share, along with your own plate/bowl/cutlery.
5:40-5:45: Welcome & Intro
5:45-6PM: Community Slideshow
Showcase your urban garden or farm project! Send 1-2 photos to coordinator@auachicago.org by 8AM on May 14.
6-7PM: Panel discussion – “Sharing the Harvest”
Farmers, gardeners, food pantry coordinators and recipients from across the city will discuss donation programs, garden “gleaning” projects, and other ways that local gardens and farms can ensure that what they grow goes to good use.
Moderated by Ben Helphand, Executive Director of NeighborSpace.
Panelists include: Laura Erickson (Green Youth Farm), Erin Fuller (Merchant Park Community Garden), Breanne Heath (Growing Home), Todd Jones (Every Last Morsel), Robert Nevel (KAMII, White Rock Gleaning Program), Al Simmons (Ginkgo Organic Giving Garden), and Angela Taylor (Garfield Park Garden Network).
7-7:45PM: Breakout discussion sessions
7:45-8PM: Mix & mingle
By Sarah, on May 10th, 2013
Tuesday, May 14th & Wednesday, May 15th
Marquette Park Pavilion – Gary, IN 46403
The 2013 Calumet Summit will take place May 14th and 15th at the Marquette Park Pavilion in Gary, Indiana. The Summit is an opportunity for those who work to advance environmental quality in the bi-state Calumet region to:
• Connect with others engaged in environmental planning and conservation
• Learn about existing studies, plans, and projects that inform or lead to collaborative action
• Identify key priorities, next steps, partners, and resources
• Celebrate the bi-state region’s world class environmental assets and their connection to economic and social well-being
The convening and planning of the Calumet Summit 2013 is being coordinated by the Calumet Stewardship Initiative (CSI). The Summit registration fee is $25, which includes breakfast and lunch each day, and can be paid by credit card or PayPal (through the Calumet Heritage Partnership). Space is limited, and registration will CLOSE at 5pm on Monday, May 6th.
Sponsoring organizations include: Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, ArcelorMittal, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, One Region, the Legacy Foundation, Chicago Park District, and The Field Museum.
Poster Session
Please email Peter Avis (pavis@iun.edu) if you are interested in presenting a poster. Provide a poster title, authors, and a very brief (1-2 sentence) overview about the focus of the poster. The posters will be presented in the lower level (next to the bar area) of the Marquette Park Pavilion and available for viewing during the entire summit. Official viewing times will be 3:45-5:00 p.m. on May 14, during which presenters will stand by their posters. Posters can be taken down after the summit ends on May 15 (or earlier if needed). Presenters should set up as early as possible on the morning of May 14 prior to the conference. Boards will be available with numbers for your poster corresponding to the poster numbers in the schedule. The approximate size target is 36 inches high and 48 inches wide (boards can be inverted but they tend to hang best in this format). Foam boards or cardboard poster templates on easels will be provided. Push-pins or clips will be provided. Handouts to pass out are welcome.
Accommodations near Gary, IN: http://www.indianadunes.com/where-to-stay/ & http://www.visitlakecounty.org/restful.cfm
Contact: Kristie Edwards, 312-665-7485, kedwards@fieldmuseum.org
By Sarah, on May 9th, 2013 
In 1992, Friends of the Chicago River hosted 25 volunteers for “Chicago River Rescue Day.” That small group “rescued” the river by pulling old shopping carts, mattresses, and plastic bags from its banks. Little did they know that day would continue year after year, evolving into Chicago River Day which now hosts over 4,000 volunteers at 70 sites along the river each year.
You are invited to join Friends of the Chicago River and over 4,000 volunteers with thousands more beyond the banks for the 21st Chicago River Day. Volunteers will gather for a day of hands-on environmental work along the Chicago River. Volunteers range in age from pre-schoolers to seniors, represent a wide variety of ethnic and economic backgrounds, and reside throughout the 673-square mile Chicago River watershed. They work side-by-side to collect garbage and sort for recycling, remove invasive vegetation, spruce up river-edge trails, plant native seedlings, and much more.
These two sites need more volunteers. Can you help?
Riverside Shopping Center – 3145 S. Ashland, Chicago. This site is along the banks of Bubbly Creek and is best suited for adults only. To learn more about this site and sign up to volunteers, please click here.
Origins Park – 2701 S. Ashland, Chicago. This site is located at the South Branch Turning Basin where the South Branch, Bubbly Creek and the Sanitary & Ship Canal converge. This site is suitable for adults or children. To learn more and sign up for Origins Park, please click here.
Are you interested in other sites throughout the city? Visit our main event page listing with details about all of our Chicago River Day locations by clicking here.
By Sarah, on May 8th, 2013
Please join us in celebrating Urban Biodiversity Week, May 13th to May 19th! This event is part of the National Urban Biodiversity Week, a seven-city collaboration to bring urban dwellers into contact with local flora and fauna. Urban Biodiversity Week will showcase events in the Millennium Reserve: Calumet Core area.
Greencorps Chicago is participating in Urban Biodiversity Week on May 13 & May 15. Urban Biodiversity Week will showcase events in the Millennium Reserve: Calumet Core area from May 13 to May 19. The week celebrates urban biodiversity and conservation activities and provides opportunities for local residents and visitors to participate in outdoor activities in the Calumet region.
Hegewisch Marsh Tours
May 13 @ 12:30-1:30 pm or 2-3 pm
May 15 @ 4:30-5:30 pm or 6-7 pm
Location: 13200-13298 S Torrence Ave, Chicago IL 60633
Join Greencorps staff on a tour showcasing Hegewisch Marsh. During the tour, learn about the history of the site, restoration work completed to date, future restoration plans for the site, site’s significance amongst other efforts in the Calumet region, and value of site as restored habitat.
Please wear boots that can get wet or muddy, bring binoculars if you have them and a rain jacket just in case. We will be walking on woodchips most of the time (the path is not recommended for strollers).
Parking location and meeting site will be determined approximately a week prior to the event. Please note that there is ongoing construction on S. Torrence Avenue. Please check www.urbanbioweek.illinois.gov for updates on parking and site access. To register, contact Greencorps main office at 312-746-9777.
There are many other exciting events taking place throughout the week. The celebration will culminate with a Nature Block Party on May 18 – a family fun day at Eggers Woods and William Powers Recreation Area that will include a garlic mustard pull, tree hike, bird hike, biking, fishing, archery, and nature themed games and art projects. For a full list of events with timing and location details, please visit www.urbanbioweek.illinois.gov or see attached calendar.
By Sarah, on May 6th, 2013 Spring Workdays 2013
Saturdays 9am — 2pm
May 11—25 – Invasive plant removal, Seed collection Spring ephemerals
June 8—22 – Garlic Mustard and other invasive species removal
Wear appropriate clothing including sturdy shoes, long sleeves-long pants and a Hat. We work rain or shine so be prepared. We have water and refreshments ,Tools and Gloves provided.
IMPORTANT PARKING INFORMATION
The Golf course lot is paid parking. JARVIS volunteers come to the Shed east of the fence to receive free parking passes for your wind shield. We have Bike storage in the shed.
Call 773 327 5053 for transportation options and directions.
Sponsored by the LAKE VIEW CITIZENS COUNCIL authorized by the CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT
Questions? Contact CHARLOTTE NEWFELD Voice 773 327 5053 E-Mail cnewfeld@sbcglobal.net
Hot line 7733464965 web site Jarvis Bird Sanctuary.org
By Sarah, on May 1st, 2013
By Sarah, on May 1st, 2013
By Sarah, on April 25th, 2013
By Sarah, on April 20th, 2013
By Sarah, on April 19th, 2013
By Sarah, on April 18th, 2013
By Sarah, on April 17th, 2013 Invitation to Earth Data: A Sustainable Chicago 2015 Celebration
You are invited to join the City of Chicago and partners at the Earth Day 2013 event, Earth Data: A Sustainable Chicago 2015 Celebration, on Monday, April 22 at 6:00 p.m. at the Chicago Cultural Center, (78 E. Washington), Preston Bradley Ball Room.
This event will be a celebration of the community’s and City’s accomplishments in making Chicago greener and a discussion of the remaining challenges and the ‘made in Chicago’ solutions that the community, in partnership with government, can produce.
- Who’s coming? The event will convene City government; the sustainability and data analytics community; the public; and, the event host, World Wildlife Fund, who recently named Chicago an Earth Hour Climate Leader.
- Why sustainability and data? The event represents the intersection of Earth Day and Big Data Week and will set the stage for Mayor Emanuel’s Earth Day announcement of the first competition in the Chicago Cleanweb Challenge – a series of competitions to increase sustainability through applied data analysis.
- What’s on the agenda? Join the Institute for Cultural Affairs, Little Village Environmental Justice Organization, the City’s Chief Sustainability and Chief Data Officers, and others to discuss how we are using sustainable actions and open data to drive Chicago’s efforts to tackle climate change and create the city of the future
- There’s more! This event will announce the Earth Data Hackathon that will take place later that week on Friday, April 26 & Saturday, April 27 as the first event in Mayor Emanuel’s Chicago Cleanweb Challenge. See earthdatahackathon.eventbrite.com for additional details.
RSVP for the April 22 Earth Data: A Sustainable Chicago 2015 Celebration at earthdatacelebration.eventbrite.com or via email to olivia.cohn@global-philanthropy.org by Friday, April 19.
By Sarah, on April 17th, 2013
By Sarah, on April 16th, 2013 ATTEMPTS TO TURN THE WEST LOOP “BRIGHT GREEN”
Moving Design is a coalition of artists and designers, working with community partners, leading initiatives that inspire change through the power of design. We use creativity as a catalyst for change, moving our community to action.
Moving Design, in conjunction with the Chicago Conservation Corps, has organized a group of designers, artists, and activists to create interventions in the West Loop focused on the idea of sustainability. They developed the USE LESS / DO MORE campaign. During the month of April, USE LESS / DO MORE will be set loose on Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood—implementing an orchestrated effort to lower tolerance for waste, encourage methods of creative reuse and suggest ways for the community to live more sustainably.
USE LESS / DO MORE participants have engineered an educational website utilizing Isotypes; a photo and video competition spurring community participation through the use of Instagram and Vine; mud-stenciled slogans; microscopic yet poignant pop-up parks and Works Progress Administration-inspired posters in local storefronts.
“I’m excited about (Moving Design’s) West Loop sustainability project and can’t wait to see what they come up with. Artists have always been one of the unspoken inspirations in our world, so it’s only fitting that this is being done,” said Alderman Walter Burnett.
On April 20th we will celebrate our interventions in a public event at Haymarket Brewery. From 1:30-4pm, the community is invited to see documentation of our installations, view videos and imagery from our #CaptureGreen competition, ask questions of our expert advisors, participate in demonstrations, and have the chance to get products to make their own lives more sustainable.
Posters can be seen throughout the month of April at Perman Wines, La Colombe, Mox Multisport , Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and Metropolitan Chicago, Threadless and Haymarket Brewery.
www.movingdesign.com
at.movingdesign.com/calltoaction2013/
#UseLessDoMore
#CaptureGreen
Moving Design
Moving Design is a coalition of designers and artists, working with community partners, leading initiatives that inspire change through the power of design. We use creativity as a catalyst for change, moving our community to action.
Founded by Rick Valicenti/3st, Moving Design is focused on bringing together the brightest designers to shed light on issues that remain unseen and unheard. Through creative initiatives on pressing issues, Moving Design engages, informs, and activates the public.
Previous Programs: Intervention on Water Intervention and Bike Safety.
Chicago Conservation Corps
The Chicago Conservation Corps (C3) recruits, trains and supports a network of volunteers who work together to improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods and schools through environmental service projects that protect our water, clean our air, restore our land and save energy.
C3 is a program of the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, with support from the City of Chicago, in collaboration with partners across the city. This Moving Design intervention was inspired by one West Loop resident’s participation in the Chicago Conservation Corps.
For more information, visit: chicagoconservationcorps.org
Image captions
MD-Directors-ValicentiPaprocki-01.jpg: Co-Directors Rick Valicenti/3st and Robyn Paprocki/3st discuss the current Moving Design Call-to-Action, and plan future interventions.
MD-Production-Intervention-01.jpg: Moving Design Participants Craig Stover and Nikole Gramm build one of our first interventions in the west loop, a typographic installation encouraging the community to refuse to make more trash (or, refuse). The installation was created from cans found on the streets in the surrounding area.
MD-Production-Posters-01.jpg: Moving Design Participants Jessie Devereaux and Lauren Gallagher work with David Sieren of the Post Family to letterpress a series of prints that will be installed in the West Loop neighborhood and at the Haymarket event on April 20th.
MD-Worksession-01.JPG: Gordon Gill speaks to Moving Designers on building sustainable architecture.
MD-Worksession-02.JPG: Led by Rick Valicenti, Moving Designers begin to brainstorm about ways to best engage the West Loop community in sustainable living initiatives.
By Sarah, on April 15th, 2013 
Join a couple hundred volunteers and Friends of the Parks and celebrate Earth Day at various park locations throughout the city on Sat., April 20. For a list of park clean-ups near you, visit www.earthdaychicago.com.
Chicago Park District’s official Earth Day Celebration will be at Humboldt Park, 1359 N. Sacramento Blvd., on Sat., April 20 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. with the volunteer clean-up scheduled from 9 a.m. – noon and the celebration from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. The event is free for all ages!
By Sarah, on April 1st, 2013
By Sarah, on April 1st, 2013
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