Hello EEC friends, community members, and environmental stewards! Thank you to everyone who came to the March 9th meeting! We are so excited for spring to arrive and we have been planning many evets that we are excited to share! In our last meeting, we discussed the Friends of the Park Seed Grant and how we would incorporate other outside groups and use the money awarded in the grant if received, Great Lakes Coastal Resiliency shoreline flooding project/study and how this ties into the Seed Grant and Stewardship days, divestment and plastic reduction happenings and how to stay involved through recent and up and coming protests and sign-ons, and the 2023 Stewardship Days for Vedgewater, Parkway for Pollinators, and Beach Clean-up days!
If you were unable to come to the meeting do not worry! We have meeting summary as well as the recording available for viewing below!
Passcode for Recording: {.865&sWG}
Meeting Highlights
We have a new Co-Chair!!!
We joined the Coalition for Plastic Reduction!
We joined 350 Chicago's Pension Divestment Campaign!
We finalized all of our 2023 Stewardship Days!
CARE Air Quality Meeting
Happening THIS Saturday, March 18th! EEC's meeting the the Community Research Air Experience (CARE) team. Last year the two had a similar meeting that helped students to learn more about Edgewater and its air quality. This year the team is returning with a new cohort of students to jumpstart their thoughts and ideas for their research question that they will be investigating and studying in the summer. To RSVP for the event click below:
Our Upcoming Events
Community Connections
TH!RD ACT
Stop Dirty Banks in Chicago
March 21 at 11AM
Chase Bank Plaza
ONLY 2 WEEKS until our National Day of Action to #StopDirtyBanks We’re banding together with organizations and individuals across the country to tell @Chase that if they don’t move out of fossil fuels, we’ll move our money out of their banks. Sign up for our Chicago event (and plan to bring a stroller if possible!): Stop Dirty Banking in Chicago · Third Act Initiative, Inc.
Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition
RALLY: Say NO to the Peoples Gas Rate Hike Mon, March 27, 2023, 11:00 AM – 11:30 AM CDT Peoples Gas HQ (Aon Center, 200 East Randolph) Join Sierra Club, PIRG, SETF, PCR, CUB, FiP, and others to organize a protest outside of Peoples Gas!
After breaking profit records year after year, Peoples Gas is pushing the biggest rate hike in Illinois history. The $400 million increase would raise our bills by more than $140 per year. Rather than wasting money on failing fossil fuel infrastructure, we're calling on elected leaders to start the transition to clean, affordable, all-electric homes. We're using this as a time to highlight the importance of passing a building decarb ordinance here in Chicago, as well as elevate this issue statewide. If anyone is interested in participating, our planning meetings are Fridays at 11 am and we welcome everyone to join!
RSVP for the rally here.
Social Ecologies
Come out to the land for this in-person workshop on making and using biochar
Sunday, April 2nd from 10:00am-4:00pm
Pachamanka (Freeport, IL)
In this day-long, hands-on workshop, we will prepare local waste materials and use an open steel kiln to burn and produce char. We will process char and turn it into biochar using various methods of biological inoculation. Together we will learn and discuss the fundamental concepts behind the uses and applications of biochar for a variety of contexts such as the greenhouse, open outdoor beds, ecological restoration, and bioremediation. .
This workshop will be outside (by a fire) so please dress for the weather by wearing layers. Bring a pair of leather work gloves, water bottle, personal snacks, notebook, and pen. Vegetarian lunch will be included.
Please send an email to info@socialecologies.net to learn more.
Illinois Environmental Council
Action alert to lawmakers
STOP PROPOSED PLASTIC PYROLYSIS PLANT FROM POLLUTING OUR AIR & WATER!
Plastic pyrolysis, a so-called chemical recycling technology, isn’t actually recycling and poses a serious risk to nearby communities. HB1616 would allow a proposed pyrolysis plant to skirt IEPA’s normal permitting process that protects our air and water.
These technologies break down the bonds in plastics and are known to release toxic emissions, harming health and exposing communities to toxic pollution.
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW
Contact your legislators now using the form below urging them to vote NO on HB1616! Available here!
In Case You Missed It In our last monthly meeting, we talked about Democratize ComEd, Vedgewater, and More! Be sure to check out the Vedgewater 2023 lots and sign up by 3/18! The garden opens 4/15 and the signup forum can be found here!
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