HIGHLIGHTS
Launched nature based solutions initiative with a webpage, walking tours, and a documentary video.
Continued community resilience workshops with 7 free educational events.
Continued Parkways for Pollinators program year two with 90+ sites and distributed 1500 native plants to public places.
Planted 26 trees.
Diverted 5.29 tons from landfills with our third annual pumpkin smash composting event.
Joined the Coalition for Plastic Reduction.
Re-started in-person monthly meetings with hybrid option, first since 2020.
First pilot composting site launched at Vedgewater Community Garden.
Advocacy win with the re-establishment of the Department of Environment
NEW RESOURCES
JANUARY
Launched 2023 Campaigns:
Resiliency Workshops
DIG IN (working with the earth)
Outreach and partnerships, making connections
Advocated for Chicago’s Building Decarb Campaign with Alder Osterman
First monthly meeting of the year, started the cadence of receiving regular updates and supporting coalitions: Third Act, Water for All, and Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, Rein in gas utility overspending, Coalition for Plastics Reduction, and the ComEd Franchise & Democratize ComEd.
Started annual focus area discussions on: legislation and policy, housing/buildings/construction/development, stewardship/green space/ecology.
Rein in gas utility overspending campaign victory!
FEBRUARY
Hosted Alder Candidate Election Environment Town Hall
Co-Hosted Seed Swap and Giveaway
Launched shoreline erosion conservation around lakeshore flooding issues
Urban Forestry Board appointments finalized
Shared information on Chicago’s new climate fund
Arrangements finalized for new leadership at Vedgewater Community Garden, with EEC on leadership committee and community partner
MARCH
Hosted Air Quality Meeting with CARE Team
Welcomed Brenden as a co-chair for a six month term.
Posted new website resource: Garden Compost Compliance Tool
Signed on to Chicago's Pension Divestment Campaign
Joined the Coalition for Plastic Reduction
Signed on to support HB2363 - Clean Lighting
Endorsed letter for a Soil Health Week Act
APRIL
Vedgewater Community Garden Workday Season Begins with 1st workday
Osterman Beach Natural Area Stewardship Season Starts with 1st workday
Co-hosted Clean and Green with 48th Ward
Co-hosted Edgewater tree planting with Openlands, planting 11 trees.
Hosted meet & greets with the two run-off alder candidates.
Visited the Edgewater Historical Society for the launch of their Edgewater Trees Exhibition and Heritage Tree Survey
Heard an update and had a moment of silence for Rockford’s Bell Bowl Prairie.
Received Bickerdike Development Sustainability Overview.
Congratulated Alderwoman Maria Hadden on becoming Chicago’s Environment Committee Chair
Heard updates from and participated in North Lake Shore Drive Redefine the Drive Updates & Better Streets Chicago’s Community Visioning Survey
Submitted location-based comments pertaining to the Chicago Shoreline to the US Army Corp
Started monthly Common’s orientations at Vedgewater
Participated in Andersonville’s Neighborhood Community Clean Up
Over 90 sites signed up for Parkways for Pollinators.
MAY
Launched New Free Seed Library at the Edgewater Library Branch
Hosted Plant and Seedling Swap at Vedgewater
Distributed 1500 Native Plants to Public Spaces via Parkways for Pollinators
With CARE, installed new community air sensors in Edgewater bringing our total to 9 in Edgewater (3 of which are indoor sensors)
Welcomed the 48th Ward new alderwomen, Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth.
Co-hosted Edgewater Seed Library Launch Event, How Does Your Garden Grow?
Awarded Friends of the Parks Seed Grant for Nature-Based Solutions efforts
JUNE
Supported EPIC, the Edgewater Park Improvement Coalition.
Hosted first of three Transformative Trash Beach Stewardship Workdays
Hosted Summer Solstice Gathering with a Bioblitz and Heritage Tree Survey
Collaborating with the Edgewater Historical Society and Edgewater Glen Association on How to Carry Out Your Own Heritage Tree Survey
Started the first of recurring monthly meetings with 48th Ward Staff
Started collaborating with Good City Group on the Edgewater Metra Station
Compiled resources and presented our top priorities and asks for the new 48th Ward
JULY
Re-started in-person hybrid monthly meetings, first since 2020.
Launched Shoreline Seed Grant Shoreline Protection project to provide nature based solutions to Chicago’s growing shoreline erosion.
Reached 300+ community members with our support and tabling at the farmers market at Broadway Armory
Hosted wild edible plant walks and herbalism workshops at Vedgewater
Started weekly harvests at Vedgewater for the Edgewater Mutual Aid Network's free food distribution.
AUGUST
Continued outreach for parkways for pollinators initiative by converting 11 parkways into gardens. Volunteers weeded and planted 300+ native species.
Lead first Nature Based Solutions Walking Tour
Hosted Garden Herb Walk at Vedgewater
SEPTEMBER
Friends of the Parks funded Nature Based Solutions Walking Tours.
Sent out Ward-Wide Composting survey, received 500+ responses
First pilot composting site launched at Vedgewater Community Garden
Attended Music on the Beach with 6018North
OCTOBER
Celebrated Indigenous Peoples' Day with the Indigenous People’s Day Coalition of Illinois
Hosted seed workshop and community share at Vedgewater
Collected seeds during the Parkway for Pollinators Bike Ride Garden Tour
Planted 15 trees at Kathy Osterman Beach tree planting of native trees
How Does Your Garden Grow Workshop: Put Your Bed to Bed at Vedgewater
Stewardship Season Ended with 364 logged volunteer hours, Full 2023 Recap
NOVEMBER
Re-establishment of the Department of Environment
Diverted 5.29 tons from landfills with our third annual Pumpkin Smash composting event
Posted new website guide: How to Backyard Compost
Presented at Zero Waste Town Hall meeting.
Advocated for the Third Act and Save Your Ash initiatives.
Led a Parkway for Pollinators Seed Saving event at Loyola’s Institute for Environmental Sustainability.
Vedgewater Season Ended with 440 logged volunteer hours, Full 2023 recap
DECEMBER
Celebrated the groundbreaking of Park 599, West Edgewater Green
Hosted a ‘Community Dye-Pot,” which was an adaptation of a resiliency workshop at 6018 N. The event was led by Monica Dix and supported by EEC members. The event advocated for non toxic, natural dyes from local produce: black walnuts, onions, pomegranate peels.
Third annual Holiday Lights Recycling launched.
Created Nature Based Solutions Walking Tour video for people to listen to as they walk the Hollywood Osterman Beach shoreline.
Received funding from Friends of the Parks FOTP for signage and promotions.
OUTREACH STATS
Mailing List: 818
Facebook Followers: 992
Instagram Followers: 1106
Twitter Followers: 52
FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
Current bank balance: $5,363.53
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