Chicago Conservation Corps Blog » Needs

A FOREST FOR EARTH DAY

Terrence S. — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 15:51:15 +0000

A Forest For Earth Day

You can help protect one of the worlds most beautiful and diverse rainforest habitats when you participate and recycle with public schools in Chicago just in time for the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. Recycle Tech Solutions (RTS), a local cell phone & electronics recycler, is working with individual Chicago public schools through RTS’s Dream Green collection program. Our program goal is to collect 25,000 cell phones among the 600 Chicago public schools before Earth Day on April 22nd of this year. Please speak to your schools environmental leader about ways you can participate.

Brazil’s Atlantic Forest – Planting a Billion Trees Campaign

Centuries ago, the Atlantic Forest covered nearly 330 million acres, an area roughly the size of the eastern seaboard of the United States. Today only 7 percent remains, much of which is in isolated fragments. Home to 130 million people, the Atlantic Forest has taken heavy hits from urban expansion, coastal and industrial development, agriculture, ranching and illegal logging. Despite the forest’s diminished state, 70 percent of Brazil’s population relies on it for its drinking water.

How Can You Participate in A Forest For Earth Day?

One qualified cellular phone, Smart Phone, PDA device or MP3 Player plants one tree. It’s that simple. When you collect and recycle with Dream Green, you’ll contribute to the goal of planting a billion trees and help the Nature Conservancy protect and restore Brazil’s Atlantic Forest.

1-2-3 Easy Steps to Rewarding Recycling

1) Recruit your green team and set an initial collection goal of 200 cellular phones

2) Promote your program in newsletters, websites, letters, posters to local business’ and encourage students, parents, staff, teachers, PTA, community leaders to bring your school used cell phones, smart phones, PDA devices and Mp3 players to be recycled – I have 5 old cell phones at home!!!

3) Contact Dream Green (http://www.recycletech.org/dreamgreen.html) through the web at DreamGreen@recycletech.org and request shipping guidelines & postage – paid shipping materials after 50 phones / devices have been collected. We also provide postage paid envelopes for smaller shipments to be passed out to offsite locations.

RTS will donate $1.00 to the Nature Conservancy’s Plant a Billion Trees campaign in your schools name for every qualified phone collected. For more information on the Plant a Billion Trees Campaign go to www.plantabillion.org

As a bonus, for every location, when 50 or more qualified phones are recycled in a single shipment, you will receive from the Nature Conservatory:

· Personalized certificate with signature photo of the Atlantic Forest commemorating your generosity

· Colorful fact sheet about the Atlantic Forest

· Plant a Billion Trees magnet set

· World map

· Four issues of Nature Conservancy magazine to keep you informed all year about the many places the Conservancy is working to protect. (Plus, we’ll rush the current magazine issue along with your personalized certificate!)

· Great Places E-Newsletter subscription to our monthly e-communication with local conservation updates, enviro-tips you can use and stunning nature photography downloads.

Best of all, you’ll get the satisfaction of knowing you’re helping to protect this extraordinary wild habitat now and for future generations. Please help plant trees today!

Volunteers needed for the 2008 Air and Water Show

Samantha — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:04:26 +0000

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS FOR the Chicago Air & Water Show – August 15-17, 2008
1600 N. Lake Shore Drive Chicago, IL 60610

This year we are having our Second Annual Water Bottle Awareness for the 50th Annual Chicago Air and Water Show which shakes up the lake front on August 15-17, 2008 which is the “LARGEST” free show of it’s kind in the United States. It is the city’s second most popular festival. Last year, 2,200,000 people watched the show. Imagine, about 2 million plastic water bottles will be discarded on the beach this year in a two days period.

Worldwide sale of bottled water a year is estimated to be between $50 and $100 billion (US) and increasing approximately 7 to 10 percent annually. In 2004, the US bottled water industry surpassed 6.8 billion gallons of water for that year, an increase of 8.6% over the previous year (Beverage Marketing Corporation, 2005) 22.6 Gallons of bottled water each person in the U.S. consumed in 2006, up 8.4 percent from the previous year.

The consumption of over 150 billion liters of bottled water per year necessitates the use of billions of plastic and glass bottles. Though the materials used are generally recyclable, many of these bottles, particularly those used in developing countries without recycling infrastructure, are discarded rather than recycled, with this trash having a negative effect on the environment. More than a billion Water bottles end up in the state’s landfills each year. (The Associated Press)

The plastic used to package the 6 billion gallons of bottled water sold in the United States somehow end-up clogging landfills and littering the landscape and spreading toxins into ground water. Nine out of 10 plastic bottles end up as litter. That’s 30 million discarded bottles a day. (According to Yes! A Journal of Positive Futures 2004)

Please email us at grace@mgracedesigns.com

Help save the environment. Your help is very much appreciated!
M. Grace Sielaff, C3 Leader

Spread the word about West Nile Virus

Samantha — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:20:10 +0000

2008 Chicago West Nile Virus Public Education and Community Outreach Campaign

West Nile Virus infection (WNV) is an illness conveyed to humans primarily by mosquitoes. In most cases, people infected with WNV either show no symptoms or have very mild flu-like symptoms, called West Nile fever. WNV is an urgent issue that needs to be taken seriously in the Chicagoland area every summer.

In a collaborative effort to assist the Chicago Department of Public Health in its 2008 Public Education and Community Outreach Campaign, the Chicago Department of Environment (DOE) will be distributing brochures and magnets to the public at DOE outreach events this summer. Examples include rain barrel distribution and blue cart recycling events. To ensure that information gets to as many people as possible, DOE welcomes the assistance of interested C3 leaders and trainees that can help distribute information to members of their community or neighborhoods.

If you are interested in assisting, please contact Jerry Attere at 312-744-9136 or jerry.attere@cityofchicago.org to receive brochures and magnets for distribution.

For more information on WNV, go to the Chicago Department of Public Health’s webpage that can be found under the City Departments link at www.cityofchicago.org and look for the West Nile Virus information under the Infectious Disease link.

C3 Events and Opportunities – March 2008

Samantha — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:46:25 +0000

Call for volunteers
- March 27: Resource Center Fundraiser
- April 22: Logan Square Earth Day

Events and opportunities
- March 15: Chicago Green Homes Fair
- March 17: Rogers Park Green Corps ‘Greening Your Home’ Workshop
- March 29: Earth Hour
________________________________________________________________________

Resource Center Fundraiser
- Thursday, March 27 6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
- Caro d’Offay Gallery, 2204 W. North Avenue

The Resource Center is looking for volunteers for its March 27th Fundraiser. The fundraiser will be a cocktail hour/art installation and mingling event. Volunteers are needed for various tasks including front door check-in, food/bar, runner, set-up, and tear-down. If you are interested in lending a hand, email C3 Leader, Emily Rothenberg at recyclingpledge@gmail.com or call (312) 404-0716.

Logan Square Earth Day
- Tuesday, April 22

C3 Teacher, Jaime Yuhas of Kelvyn Park High School is organizing an Earth Day Festival in Logan Square and needs your help advertising (through English and/or Spanish outlets); brainstorming and reaching out to get booths for the festival; and participating on the day of the event (i.e. staffing a table for C3). Please email Jaime at jaime.yuhas@gmail.com if you would like to help or get more information.
________________________________________________________________________

Chicago Green Homes Fair
- Saturday, March 15, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Chicago Center for Green Technology, 445 N. Sacramento Blvd.

Come explore how you can create a more environmentally-friendly home for you and your family. Whether you’re planning to remodel or just want to learn what’s new on the green building scene, spend some time meeting vendors and retailers with sustainable products to help you make a greener home. To learn more about green remodeling, attend one of our free classes offered that day:

Historic Chicago Greystone Initiative: 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Learn to make your historic greystone more energy efficient, address indoor air quality and other health issues, and how to incorporate sustainable building materials into home improvement projects.

Green Home Remodeling Guides – An Overview: 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. This series of guides offers information on how to hire green professionals, paint and remodel kitchens, baths & laundry rooms, and how to salvage and reuse materials. This seminar is for the homeowner looking to create an environmentally-friendly remodel.

For more information on the Fair or other classes offered, call (312) 746-9642 or visit www.cityofchicago.org/Environment. Admission is free and guided tours of the Chicago Center for Green Technology will occur throughout the day.

Rogers Park Green Corps presents Why Green Matters: Simple Things You Can Do to Green Your Home
- Monday, March 17, 6:30 p.m.
- Loyola Park Fieldhouse 2nd Floor, 1230 W. Greenleaf at the Lake

Save money and go green! Affordable do-it-yourself ways to green your home and an introduction to the products available for homeowners and renters alike. This workshop is co-presented by C3 Trainee and Green Corps Action Team member Dane Watkins and Claudia Regojo, owner of Greenmaker Supply.

Earth Hour
- Saturday, March 29, 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
- Chicago and other worldwide cities are participating

On Saturday, March 29, turn out your lights to show your support and commitment toward taking action to combat climate change. Earth Hour started in Sydney, Australia in 2007 and this year cities across the globe, such as Tel Aviv, Bangkok and Copenhagen, are taking action. Join Chicago area residents, businesses, and organizations as they flip the switch. Enjoy the skyline as never before when skyscrapers, landmarks and shops along Michigan Avenue go dark. For more information on Earth Hour, visit www.earthhour.org.

Volunteer at the African Heritage Garden

Samantha — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 20:16:44 +0000

Sherry Williams, Director of the Bronzeville/Black Chicagoan Historical Society, is looking for community garden volunteers to support a proposed African Heritage Garden planned for May 2008. The proposed pilot garden site and project orientation will be on the Southside – near 89th & Cottage Grove Ave.

If you are interested in volunteering or learning more about this . . . → Read More: Volunteer at the African Heritage Garden

Donate your coats, shoes, and more

Samantha — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 20:19:43 +0000

Four homes were involved in the latest fire in South Chicago on the block of 84th & Buffalo in the Bush Community area outside of the old steel mill area; on the same block as our community garden ‘The Bush Community Garden Of Hope.’

Three houses are completely damaged displacing (3) three families. No one was hurt because of the heroic efforts of neighbors who went door to door getting residents out of bed. The fire started in an abandoned building around 5am the morning of 11/15/2007. The Chicago Fire Department saved the fourth house and the whole neighborhood because the wind was carrying the flames throughout neighboring houses and trees. We want to thank all the heroes for a great job in saving lives and our neighborhood. The following individuals are in need of coats and shoes to replace what they lost:

8426 South Buffalo
Rosemary Ramos-Xlarge-Woman
Angelica Ramos-Xlarge-Woman
Maria Ramos-med-large-Woman
Dolores Esparza-med-large woman

8428 South Buffalo
Paul Esparza-X- large-man
Ray Esparza-2x-large-man

8430 South Buffalo
Max Esparza-2x-large- man
Suzy Esparza-large woman
Xavier Esparza 4yrs old-8-10-boys

8432 South Boffalo
Suie Cruz-5x-woman
William Cruz-3x-man
Michell Cruz-2x-woman
Margtra Cruz-4x-woman
Manueal Cruz-2x-man

Dolores lost her husband 2 yrs ago the day of the fire. Paul & Ray’s father house has to be knocked down and Xavier has Down syndrome in need of everything pull up’s size large. His birthday was in the beginning of the month and lost everything he got for his birthday.

The Ramos girls lost their mother a few years ago, Rosemary took the role of the mom and got her youngest sister in college. Most likely they will need other things such as home furniture, appliances, kitchen, bathroom and of course Christmas decorations.

We are asking that you please check in your hearts and this weekend for any items you may donate. You can e-mail me Gregory C3 Trainee at gbratton9396@yahoo.com or call me at 773-731-8187 or773-398-4801 and I can make arrangements for pickup

Gregory Bratton
Fall 2007 C3 Trainee

Energy Saving Event

Samantha — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 18:24:48 +0000

ENERGY SAVING EVENT Sponsored by Gregory Bratton

Chicago Conservation Corp Trainee & Healthy South Chicago

Friday, November 2 Friday, November 9 Monday, November 26

5pm—7pm

Ada McKinley 8458 S. Mackinaw Ave Chicago Illinois 60617

Free Energy Saving Light Bulbs Free Weatherization Kits (November 9, 26) And Energy Saving Tips

If you would like to help Gregory with his C3 project, email him . . . → Read More: Energy Saving Event

Volunteer for Christmas tree mulching project 1/12/08

chohenstein — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 17:11:17 +0000

Dear C3 alumni,

I hope you are all having good luck with your projects. I’ve been working with the Bureau of Forestry, Chicago Park District, Wrightwood Neighbors, C3, and Scott Waguespack – 32nd ward Alderman on enhancing the current Christmas tree mulching program.

This year’s tree mulching event takes place January 12, 2008 from 8:45am to 2pm. Please save this date. To accommodate residents who are unable to drop trees off during the scheduled time, the Park District will set up a Christmas tree corral drop off at each location the week prior to the event. I plan to hold an information meeting for all volunteers ahead of time too (date TBD).

My primary goals for the project include:
· Increasing the number of trees recycled by 25%
· Adding 2+ volunteers per park (25 parks located strategically around the city)
· Providing refreshments to city employees and volunteers on the day of the event
· Increasing resident awareness of the program and early drop off option

Volunteer opportunities include:

Prior to event
· Assisting with flyer/sign distribution
· Obtaining a truck to pick up trees (possible donation)
· Obtaining refreshments for volunteers and city employees (possible donation)
· Driving a truck around the city to pick up trees in alley and move to tree corral (week before)

Day of event
· Distribute refreshments to city employees and volunteers
· Greeting & assisting residents with moving trees from their car to mulching machines (Note: Mulching machines must be run by city employees for liability purposes)
· Distributing promotional items to residents (tree saplings, weatherization kits, blue bags, etc)
· Driving a truck around the city to pick up trees in alley and move to tree corral (day of event)

I will send out a follow up email after my next meeting with the Bureau of Forestry planned in early November. The City hosts a press release prior to the event to recognize volunteers and organizations that help with the event. I hope to be able to hang signs and distribute flyers promoting other C3 community events projects and volunteer opportunities on January 12 during the event at each park.

Feel free to contact me with any questions or suggestions about this project. If anyone has contacts at companies/organizations (Whole Foods, Jewel, Home Depot, schools, etc) that could benefit this project by advertising, providing additional volunteers, or donations, please email me at chohenstein@sbcglobal.net or call me at 773.805.8562.

Further details will follow in the next few weeks.

Thanks,
Chris Hohenstein

Cheap Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs

Kristen — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 20:03:23 +0000

The Northern Illinois Energy Project and the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance are teaming up to offer very cheap compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) at Walgreens and Family Dollar stores all over the Chicago region. The bulbs are the equivalent of 60 watt incandescents, and cost $1 each. They are sold in 4-packs costing $4. Click here for more information about this program and for a complete list of participating stores.

Wondering why you should bother replacing your old incandescents with CFLs? According to the online environmental magazine Grist, “if every American household replaced 5 incandescents with high-efficiency fixtures or bulbs, it would keep a trillion pounds of greenhouse gases out of the air.” This is your chance to prevent a trillion pounds of gunk from entering the atmosphere — for only $5.