The mission of the Chicago Conservation Corps is to recruit, train and support 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 an initiative of the Chicago Department of Environment, which - in collaboration with Partner Organizations - supports C3 Leaders by providing training, technical assistance, and resources.
C3 Leaders participate in five 4-hour training classes that equip them with a broad understanding of urban environmental challenges and opportunities. Local experts teach these classes, which cover environmental principles and skills in five subject areas (water, air, energy, land and community organizing). Then they go out and lead projects in their own neighborhoods and networks, all around the City.
To learn more about how to join the Corps, visit the next Orientation dates for the Fall Class.
Contact C3 Leaders!
The following people have completed the C3 Leadership Training program offered by the City of Chicago, Department of the Environment. They would be happy to talk with you about your interests, their projects, and other things they know about in and around their neighborhoods.
Click any name to contact that person by email…
North
Michael Herman (Ravenswood Manor/Albany Park) - interested in bicycles, depaving, recycling, green household practices, growing and cooking food.
Nancy Johnson (North Park) - working on air quality, climate change, zoning, green design and building.
Julie Peterson (Lincoln Square) - organizer of beyondtoday.org, involved in many issues.
Central
Cathy Becker (West Loop) - Loves finding people with green hearts to make projects fun, and baking cookies to keep them happy during the hard and/or boring parts!
Ted Ernst (Marshall Square) - connected with bicycles, depaving, community gardens, co-op living issues and groups.
Grace Sielaff (South Loop/Downtown) - working on a project to recycle beverage bottles at the Air and Water Show, looking for volunteers, from anywhere in the City!
South
Kevin Murphy (Southeast Chicago) - working on Calumet Stewardship Initiative, Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative and the Southeast Environmental Task Force.
Joann Podkul (Southeast Chicago) - working on Calumet Stewardship Initiative, Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative and the Southeast Environmental Task Force.
Sharon Rolek (Lake Calumet Area, including South Chicago, East Side, Hegewisch, etc.) - interested in reduce, reuse, recycling issues.
Carla Winterbottom (Beverly/Morgan Park) - interested in CFLs, global warming, trees, native plants, invasives, etc. and also one of the artists working on a “cool globe” for the City.
Elizabeth Wyman (Hyde Park) - interested in meeting others interested in projects on the South end of town.