Become a Site Steward
Brendon Gross: Parque Central Harrison Park Site Stewardship
Brendon and his C3 team organized two clean-up workdays at Harrison Park, recruiting park patrons to help clean up and recycle the goods around them. He also worked with existing volunteers at the park in an effort to support their gardening, recycling and summer camp park cleanup efforts.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – Re-Think!
Alison Benjamin: Greater Independence Park Recycling Education and Outreach
At the farmer’s market in her ward, Alison collected 3 full pages of names to promote recycling in her district. As a result, an Environmental Committee was formed to continue this effort. Alison also had on hand information about different modes of recycling in Chicago and locations of the city’s blue cart drop off centers.
Autumn Franger: Rogers Park Swap: Trash to Treasure
Members of the 49th Ward Green Corps, led by Autumn Franger, held a two day event in which community members brought unwanted items from their homes to be exchanged or provided to other participants in the event. Almost 4000 items were collected and redistributed, making a valuable impact on the Rogers Park community to reduce and reuse.
Cari McLean: Reuse/Recycle Your Shoes
Cari worked to raise awareness about shoe reuse and recycling through special collection events. She diverted 140 pairs of shoes from the landfill and educated 100 people in her office!
Cathy Becker: Going “Winter Green” with Old St. Pat’s and Cleanslate
Cathy’s project was a collaborative effort that included Old St. Pat’s Environmental Group and Cleanslate, a job training program. She and her team assembled and distributed 300 weatherization kits to residents in need, catalyzing countless conversations on neighborhood porches about simple environmental solutions while preventing over 500,000 pounds of C02 from entering the atmosphere, and thousands of plastic shopping bags from entering landfills.
Cynthia Quick: Logan Square Neighbors Brunch for the Environment
Cynthia brought 25 members of her neighborhood together for a brunch-and-learn session on waste management and hazardous waste recycling for their Logan Square community. Brunch was followed by a field trip to the City’s Household Chemicals and Computer Recycling Facility on Goose Island.
Emily Rothenberg: Take the Pledge! Recycling Action Item
At the June 2008 Green Drinks, Emily asked Chicago residents to take action by making recycling a reality in their residential buildings. Emily did her own research to find out what was needed to institute residential recycling, including multi-unit building options, and disseminated this information to those that took the pledge.
Hanh Pham: Pretty Dirty: Giving Trash a Second Chance
Hanh’s project involved a thorough audit of trash cans along Clark Street in Andersonville; an assessment of the type and amount of eye-catching trash collected from the bins; and the creation of a dress from those materials. A gallery opening will be held in the next few months to showcase the dress, the waste audit, and a short film about the project.
Jack Smith: Hazardous Waste Education Campaign for the Hollywood North Park Community
Jack and his C3 team conducted a workshop for the Hollywood-North Park Community Association to provide information about the proper disposal and recycling of household hazardous waste in Chicago.
Jane Sullivan: Recycling for Busy People
Jane created a workshop for residents of the West Ridge and West Rogers Park neighborhoods to demonstrate how to simplify recycling. Workshop participants were rewarded with reusable canvas bags and weatherization kits. Jane provided attendees with light snacks and served the food on reusable dishware, showing the waste reduction benefits of reusing dishes and silverware at gatherings.
Jen Bakija: Recycling Awareness Campaign in Truman Square
Jen, the Blue Cart Recycling Captain for her Truman Square neighborhood, educated neighbors about blue carts and private waste hauler pickup. At her Block Club party, she set up a table to answer recycling questions and also distributed CFLs to interested community members.
Jennifer Evans: Humboldt Park Anti-Litter Campaign
For her project, Jennifer decided to work with the Chicago Park District, resulting in a park clean-up and anti-littering campaign. Jennifer and her team decided to clean Humboldt Park and spent a summer afternoon picking up trash and talking to park users about littering. Following the clean-up, Jennifer created an anti-litter campaign for the Chicago Park District. Her design was picked for city-wide use and was featured on the exterior of buses from 55 different routes.
Jumaani Bates: Recycling at Wright College
Jumaani led an audio and visual presentation on recycling for students at Wright College. He informed students of where recyclables, electronic waste, and batteries should be brought whether on or off campus. Over 600 people participated!
Kathleen Boyle: Rethink Retrain Return
Kathleen hosted a community forum in Chopin Park to raise recycling awareness in the 38th Ward. Kathleen worked with the Northwest Neighborhood Federation (NNF) and provided information on household waste reduction, recycling facilities, and ways that her neighbors can make simple but effective change in their community.
Laura Calvache: Composting Workshop 101
Laura hosted a workshop to show members of the Monticello community group how to effectively use outdoor composters. Six residents decided to buy Earth Machines at a distribution event the following week, and Laura estimates these composters will lead to 312 pounds of waste being diverted from landfills.
Linda Johnson: Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation’s (GADC) Litter Free Zone Initiative
Linda and the GADC are improving recycling and environmental activism in the Auburn Gresham community through a series of activities related to the agency’s Litter Free Initiative. Residents are now recycling 250 bags of goods per week, as opposed to the 50 bags picked up at the start of the program. The continuation of volunteer support has resulted in a steady increase in participation.
M. Grace Sielaff: Water Bottle Awareness at Air and Water Show
Grace led a team of plastic bottle recycling ambassadors at the 2007 Air and Water Show to raise awareness about reusing water containers rather than purchasing disposable bottled water. Grace and her team recycled thousands of bottles and have plans to reinvigorate their campaign at the 2008 show.
Nathan Huber: Lighten your Load: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Re-Think at the Wellington United Church of Christ
Nate held an event at the Wellington United Church of Christ, inviting members to bring items they no longer needed to be recycled or properly disposed of. Over 75 community members participated. Because of this response, Nate plans to hold similar events periodically in the future.
Pat Marshall: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Campaign in New Lawndale and Douglas Park
Pat organized her community to think about waste management, emphasizing the benefits of composting outdoors. She held an event on October 18th at Chamber Elm School where recycling and composting tools were identified.
Sarah Beazley: Neighborhood Recycling Meet and Greet
Sarah brought together neighbors and members of the Department of Environment staff to increase awareness and participation in her community’s newly installed Blue Cart Recycling Program. In exchange for compact fluorescent light bulbs, attendees turned in household hazardous waste items to be properly disposed of and recycled.
Sharon Rolek: Reuse and Recycle in Calumet
With the help of her neighbors and friends, Sharon created a ‘Resident’s Guide to Recycling Drop-off Sites’ for the Lake Calumet community. This guide will help residents use and expand their recycling activities by showcasing where and how they can recycle. The material is even more helpful as it is available in both English and Spanish.
Terina Hodges: Englewood Community Cleanup and Planting Day
Terina and her crew cleared almost 2 tons of debris and recyclable materials from her shared community spaces, creating a litter-free zone. Going the extra mile, she planted grass and flower seeds, 10 trees, and organized a mural painting to further beautify the area.
Vanessa Nava: Back of the Yards Pilot Recycling Program
Vanessa started a pilot recycling program in the Back of the Yards community to address the street trash issue and to encourage community residents and youth to get more actively involved in their neighborhood. She worked with the Back of the Yard’s Neighborhood Council to secure a collection truck, and then began collecting recycling from fifty-eight families, with service twice a week for a six week trial period. Vanessa raised awareness for her project through meet and greet events held in conjunction with the Hoops in the Hood program.
Worms Ate My Lunch!
Carla McGarrah: Green Kitchens Workshop
Carla led a workshop at Gourmet Gorilla, teaching participants how to construct worm bins for their homes and how to make inexpensive non-toxic green cleaners. The group also discussed ways to reduce energy andU resource consumption, and how to minimize waste production in the home.
Carla Riggs: Vermicomposting Workshop at True Nature Foods
Carla organized two vermicomposting workshops to educate her community members about the benefits and tools for indoor composting. She enlisted the help of a dedicated group of volunteers and the staff of True Nature Foods to support 40 community members in creating their very own worm bins.
Erin McAllister: Worms Ate My Lunch in River West
Erin conducted a worm composting workshop at the Green Grocer store to educate the surrounding community about the benefits and techniques associated with vermicomposting. Erin estimates that if each of the bins made at the workshop used just 3 pounds of food waste a week, her project would save 3,120 pounds of waste from entering the landfill each year.
Jacob Lozano: Worms Ate My Lunch, Vermicomposting Workshop at Lincoln Park Zoo
Jacob introduced worm composting to Chicago residents by holding workshops at the Lincoln Park Zoo’s Farm-in-the-Zoo. Inside the Farm’s Edible Garden, Jacob explained the merits of vermicomposting and how many of the items in the garden could be turned into rich soil in the bin. Jacob plans on continuing these workshops in the spring.
Jason Gremley: Rainbow Beach Vermicompost Demo and Giveaways
Jason introduced 23 members of his Southside community to worm composting, green cleaning, fair trade organic goods and food, and energy efficient lighting in the peaceful surroundings of the Rainbow Beach Victory Gardens. Jason sees his continued C3 stewardship as providing simple ways to raise consciousness in those around him.
Josee Thibault: Moms and Kids and Worms!
Josee reached out to members of the Hip Mama Collective and created a vermicomposting event using the Worms Ate My Lunch project guide. Twelve women attended the workshop and learned how to build and prepare compost bins. Every woman left with a fully functioning compost bin and the skills to vermicompost successfully.
Lorraine Grandinetti: How To Be An Environmentally Conscious Renter’ Workshop and Brunch
Lorraine opened her home to neighbors and friends as part of an effort to communicate ways to be ‘green renters.’ Participants created their own worm composting bins and green cleaners, and learned several water conservation techniques. Lorraine presented ‘The Story of Stuff’ video while participants ate an environmentally friendly vegan meal. All waste from the event was either composted or recycled on site!
Mary-Claire Jarvis: Worms Ate My Lunch: Vermicomposting Workshop
Mary-Claire provided worm composting demonstrations and giveaways as part of a local garden walk in her Graceland West community. More than 50 community members visited her station, opening their eyes to viable composting options in the urban environment.
Maureen Johnson: Metro Worm Condo’ Workshop and Do-It-Yourself Vermicomposting Video in Wicker Park
Maureen Johnson facilitated a ‘Metro Worm Condo’ Workshop and Do-It-Yourself Vermicomposting Video.
Paula Levin: How to Feed Red Worms
Paula hosted a vermicomposting workshop at the Paseo Prairie Garden in Logan Square. 20 participants were taught vermicomposting basics and were provided with the materials, know-how, and confidence to start their own worm composting bins. Paula’s team shared information about the ecological benefits of vermicomposting, including reduction of landfill waste and the compost’s use as a rich fertilizer for gardens and house plants.
Polyana Wolf: Worms Ate My Lunch: Vermicomposting Workshop at Gale School
Polyana and her project team worked with students of Gale School in the North of Howard Community to introduce them to vermiculture and how it could be used within the school. Polyana worked with members of the greenhouse staff to ensure longterm success of the project and even inspired one of the students to create a rap about worm composting.
Sam Mattone: Vermicomposting brunch
Sam educated neighbors and friends about the ease and utility of composting in their homes by having guests bring something for brunch and leaving with a fully equipped vermicomposting bin. Sixteen worm bins were created as a result of the event, diverting almost 20 pounds of waste from Chicago’s landfills each week.
Tony Massarello: Worms Ate My Lunch: Vermicomposting Workshop
Tony held a worm composting demonstration for community members in the Humboldt Park neighborhood to express the ease with which they could divert waste from the landfill. Sixteen participants created worm composters from Rubbermaid bins, scrap paper, dirt, drills and, of course, worms.