Connecting Communities to the Environment
The Field Museum’s art workshop at a Roots & Routes gathering space in the Burnham Wildlife Corridor. Photo credit: J. Campbell
Inspiring and educating the public about nature and its benefits during COVID-19
Thriving natural areas and a healthy environment are essential for the well-being and resilience of our communities. Yet safe access to nature and a lack of green space disproportionately occurs in communities of color and in low-income communities, which has a significant impact on public health.
COVID-19 has placed an added health crisis on communities where residents may have underlying health issues caused and magnified by environmental factors such as poor air quality, making them more susceptible to respiratory illnesses. Addressing the acute needs that COVID-19 has placed on our communities is the first step towards recovery, but we must also address the chronic environmental issues that continue to afflict our underserved communities and can increase the severity of the disease.
In early May 2020, the Walder Foundation invited proposals from environmental organizations based in the Chicago region to develop innovative and equitable approaches to connect people with the environment during COVID-19. Through public engagement efforts, we hope to give voice to community advocates for nature and ensure that the environment is protected and prominently positioned in our COVID-19 recovery efforts.
The following projects represent a $1.2 million investment in environmental programs focused on youth development, community engagement, and citizen science:
Youth development
Wild Indigo Nature Explorations for Healthy Community Resilience
The Wild Indigo program aims to introduce underserved communities of color to their local natural environment. Funding will support an independent evaluation of the Wild Indigo program to date, and provide support for the initiative in Lake County.
Engaging Chicago Region Communities of Color during COVID-19 to Advance Grassroots Environmental Connections and Leadership
Connect Chicago region communities of color to the environment through a year-round expansion of the Eco-Ambassadors summer youth program.
A Nature-Centered Recovery From COVID-19 in Chicago Communities
Programming through the Keller Science Action Center and community partners will connect marginalized Chicago communities to the environment through a year-round expansion of their Chicago Green Ambassadors program, citizen science efforts, and culturally-relevant nature experiences in the Burnham Wildlife Corridor.
Developing a Vegetative Buffer Toolkit for Schools
A citizen science and education project that seeks to understand the impact of trees on mitigating pollution and improving air quality in schools located near expressways.
Shedd Academy and Teen Programming
Support to expand the pilot of Shedd Academy in schools, where students will learn about aquatic science and environmental issues. The program will primarily serve Latinx and African American youth, as well as low-income youth.
Community Engagement
Public Health and Environmental Justice in Southeast Chicago
This project supports the Calumet Connect Partnership of groups representing communities neighboring the Calumet Industrial Corridor. The partnership will facilitate and organize community partners to provide input on the City of Chicago’s process for developing a new plan for the Calumet Industrial Corridor.
Chicago Academy of Sciences - Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Educational Outreach and Engagement
To develop workbooks and other educational materials to schools and community groups in underserved neighborhoods and enhance virtual content while the museum remains closed.
Nature Belongs to You
An outreach campaign in response to the COVID-19 crisis that will primarily focus on youth and adults in Black and Brown communities to promote environmental leaders of color, inspire better understanding of the value of natural areas in our neighborhoods, encourage the use and stewardship of these spaces, and increase knowledge of the many public health and wellness benefits that access to nature provides.
Pandemic Park Promotion Project
Community residents can discover the value of parks and nature for personal and community health through activities such as walking clubs. The project will support small grants to Park Advisory Councils representing specific Chicago parks to develop activities that engage and educate residents about the value of their local parks.
Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance
Growing Connections to Nature in Garfield Park
The project will enable Conservatory leadership to participate in a 12-month equity training program by a nationally accredited organization and hire an external consultant to conduct a thorough evaluation of GPCA’s current community engagement strategies, and implement a new plan. In addition, funds will enable GPCA to further develop community conversations and outreach in Garfield Park.
Illinois Environmental Council Education Fund
Developing Chicago's Conservation Leadership
The project will seek to provide environmental education for lawmakers who represent communities of color and engage community-based organizations through environmental civics education workshops to educate and empower Black and Brown communities to advocate for safe access to nature in their neighborhoods.
Advancing Openlands’ Community Conservation Programs during COVID-19
Support for Openlands’ community engagement programs including: Birds in My Neighborhood, Building School Gardens and the Urban Forestry program.
Citizen Science
Enhancing Budburst to Better Serve Diverse Audiences
Working with community partners to expand the reach of Budburst, Chicago Botanic Garden’s flagship citizen science program, to Latinx communities in the Chicago region, including in Waukegan and the West side of Chicago. Budburst aims to bring researchers, conservationists, and community scientists together to better understand how humans impact the environment, with a particular focus on climate change. Translation of the Budburst app and materials into Spanish will also enable this program to better engage Latinx communities across the United States through national partners in New York, Miami, and San Diego.
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