Hello EEC friends, community members, and environmental stewards! This newsletter includes our October meeting summary as well as upcoming events; be sure to check out our events page to RSVP for our remaining 2022 happenings and express interest in volunteer opportunities! In our October meeting, we invited all to our annual Pumpkin Smash, brainstormed for EEC's Alder Green Legacy requests and sustainability-specific town halls, considered the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition's recent letter to Mayor Lightfoot, and shared updates on the Openlands Tree Planting grant, Community Air Research Experience project, and Catalpa Plaza plans. Following the meeting, be sure to check out our newly posted seed collection resource for tips, instructions by common native species, and a seed library sharing site! Stay tuned for updates on our collaboration with the Edgewater public library branch for a spring seed library launch. We look forward to seeing you soon! Our monthly meetings take place at 6:30 PM every second Thursday of the month, and they are all posted under upcoming events. Join us at our next meeting on 11/10. Conference Information Meeting ID: 829 1770 2982 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82917702982 +13126266799,,82917702982# US
Meeting Highlights
Alder candidates welcome! Join our monthly meetings to participate as a community member (not a lobbying space!) in our thought-exchanges. See meeting summary, listed above, for full guidelines
Hiring now for the next intern; apply for the Jan-July position by sending your resume and a cover letter to sustainedgewater@gmail.com
Check out our new seed collection resource for tips, instructions by common native species, and a local seed library site!
Sign up here to join the annual EEC group orientation!
Calling for volunteers! EEC is planning our 3rd annual Pumpkin Smash composting event on Saturday, November 5th, and we need volunteers for greeting, coordinating, and pumpkin smashing! Contact Nina at nnewhouser@gmail.com if interested
Pumpkin Smash
Join us at our third annual Edgewater Pumpkin Smash!
Don’t trash it, smash it! On Saturday, November 5th from 12pm to 4pm, green your Halloween at the Pumpkin Smash presented by the Edgewater Environmental Coalition and the Andersonville & Edgewater Chambers of Commerce. Join us in the parking lot at 6040 N. Clark Street, north of the Fire Station, to have some free, Halloween-related fun while reducing waste and educating residents about advantages of composting food waste!
All are welcome to drop pumpkins off without getting out of your cars or to join in the smashing fun by tossing their pumpkins in the giant compost container. We request that all pumpkins dropped off are free of non-biodegradable materials such as candles, plastic or metal decorations.
In the last two years, the Edgewater Pumpkin Smash has diverted 8.1 tons of pumpkin waste, dropped off by hundreds of area residents, from area landfills. Join our efforts by composting your festive pumpkins, and contact Nina Newhouser at nnewhouser@gmail.com if interested in volunteering!
Please share this within your other newsletters, social media, offices, and clubs; we look forward to a wonderful event!
Our Upcoming Events
Chicago Sustainability Forum: 10/25
EEC Annual Group Orientation: 10/27
Put Your Bed to Bed Workshop: 10/29
Hollywood Beach Stewardship: 10/30
Pumpkin Smash: 11/5
West Ridge Nature Park Stewardship Days: 11/19, 12/17
Litter Free Edgewater Clean Up: Last Saturday of the month
Vedgewater Volunteer Days: assorted Saturdays and weekdays
Community Connections
Chicago's Proposed 2023 Budget In mid October, Mayor Lightfoot announced her proposed 2023 city budget. Though it expands the city's capacities for sustainable investments with establishment of an Office of Climate and Environmental Equity, it fails to deliver on a permanent Department of Environment, which was dissolved over a decade ago. Click here to read more about this $640,056 budget allocation for the new Office of Climate and Environmental Equity and what it means for environmental goals, and here to tell your alder to #BringDOEBack.
ICJC Clean Buildings Campaign Help launch the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition's #CleanBuildings campaign! Use their new social guidance to celebrate the City of Chicago's decision to release the Chicago Building Decarbonization Working Group report, and click here to add your name to the new ICJC action page, thereby sending an email supporting this decision to your alderman. Check out ICJC's fact sheet and Building Decarbonization training session recording (password: v?0vD#T*) to learn more about this campaign!
Beach Stewardship Restore beach dunes with us! On Sunday, October 30th from 10:30-12:30pm, EEC is hosting our final beach stewardship workday of 2022 at the Kathy Osterman Beach dunes. Join us for the planting of native species, litter pickup, trail mulching, invasive plant removal, and plan identification with other community members! RSVP here to help us in the restoration of these dunes!
Democratize ComEd 101 Participate in Democratize ComEd 101! On October 23rd at 1pm, either in-person at the CDSA Office or via Zoom, the Democratize ComEd coalition will be hosting an informational session to help community members learn more about the energy system and how energy democratization enhances public power. RSVP here to join their informational meeting and add your voice to the coalition's!
Chicago Sustainability Forum
Attend the Chicago Sustainability Forum! On Tuesday, October 25 from 12-1pm, members of the public are invited to this open forum to share their insights and exchange ideas in the face of insufficient city adaptation measures. Public forums lead by neighborhood organizations create opportunity for productive discussion and visibility of sustainability issues for those in office.
Join the Chicago Sustainability Forum Google Group to join the event and stay updated!
In Case You Missed It
In our September monthly meeting, discussed the Save Your Ash coalition budget item amendment, brainstormed strategies for the Parkway for Pollinators and WEAR pollinator gardens, and invited members to the upcoming Community Air Research Experience presentation on project findings for which current updates can be found here. Be sure to check out our new Topics page on the website where information on air, water, green buildings, green schools, and sustainable development are available to use and share as resources.