Enjoy a shared love of reading and birds as we discuss this book by Priyanka Kumar.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Call Sagawau at 630-257-2045
This class will introduce you to the fundamentals of kayaking in a comfortable setting and at a relaxed pace. You will learn about proper strokes and paddling techniques, and get the chance to practice these new skills on a beautiful, local waterway. REI’s expert guides will also teach the basics of water safety, trip planning and how to have an enjoyable time on the water. This is a great way to build a new skill set or improve upon what you already know about kayaking. Ages 14 & up. Presented by REI. Kayaks, paddles and all necessary safety equipment provided.
From Oak Park Public Library:
Explore the curiosities and complexities of nature, environmentalism, and sustainability through fiction and nonfiction literature in the Earth Lounge Environmental Book Discussion Group, held on Wednesdays in the later half of the month every other month beginning in January 2024.
In The Overstory by Richard Powers, an air force loadmaster in the Vietnam War is shot out of the sky, then saved by falling into a banyan. An artist inherits a hundred years of photographic portraits, all of the same doomed American chestnut. A hard-partying undergraduate in the late 1980s electrocutes herself, dies, and is sent back to life by creatures of air and light. A hearing-and speech-impaired scientist discovers that trees are communicating with one another. These four, and five other strangers—each summoned in different ways by trees—are brought together in a last and violent stand to save the continent's few remaining acres of virgin forest.
Wrap up Earth Month with our junky jamboree at Gallagher Way featuring artisans who transform reclaimed materials into one-of-a-kind goods and promote zero-waste activities. Shop for home goods, art, planters, fashion, body care, stuff you've never seen before and more.
From One Earth Film Fest:
One Earth is proud to partner with Kehrein Center for the Arts in Chicago's Austin community for a special International Women's Day presentation and series. This three-event series begins on Friday, March 8. Each event will highlight the work of women of color, both locally and globally, as we illuminate the ways that women work intersectionally and across a range of contexts to support one another in our collective fight for equity, liberation, and economic participation in ways that preserve land, promote economic accessibility, and cause ecological flourishing. Join us for this exciting series to take place between March 8, April 18, and April 19.
April 18: The Kehrein Center presents the second event in our series, "Sustaining Women, Sustaining The World". Fleye, Free, and Forward: An ILAVA Function, is a fashion showcase merging wearable art with social consciousness. Owners Rahel & Mawasi Mwitula present ILAVA’s socially responsible fashion, promoting sustainable living for Tanzanian women. Kelley D. Moseley of K~Fleye jewelry joins to highlight her collections of one-of-one jewelry, accessories and handbags, and share her entrepreneurial journey. Both brands celebrate African & African American styles.
The event culminates in a conversation on the 'glocal' intersections led by Reesheda Graham Washington and the owners of ILAVA and K~FLEYE.
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sustaining-women-sustaining-the-world-a-three-part-series-tickets-852668022007
From Oak Park Public Library:
Cindy Crosby is the author, compiler or contributor to more than 20 books. Her most recent book is “Chasing Dragonflies: A Natural, Cultural, and Personal History”. Listen to stories of the history of the tallgrass prairie and its amazing plants and creatures – from blooms to butterflies to bison. Discover plants that work well in the home garden as you enjoy learning about Illinois’ “landscape of home.”
Join us for this Earth Month Community Kickoff event for all ages and learn about a wide variety of community sustainability groups and opportunities right here in Oak Park.
Get inspired to do some spring cleaning at home, and we’ll help keep the things you no longer need out of the landfill! Enjoy green giveaways and learn about other ways to get involved with volunteering in the Forest Preserves as well as how to live more sustainably. T-shirt giveaway for the first 50 participants.
From Oak Park Public Library:
Explore the curiosities and complexities of nature, environmentalism, and sustainability through fiction and nonfiction literature in the Earth Lounge Environmental Book Discussion Group, held the last Wednesday of the month every other month beginning in January 2024.
Islands of Abandonment: nature rebounding in the post-human landscape by Cal Flyn explores the places where nature is flourishing in our absence. Flyn visits the eeriest and most desolate places on Earth that due to war, disaster, disease, or economic decay, have been abandoned by humans. What she finds every time is an "island" of teeming new life: nature has rushed in to fill the void faster and more thoroughly than even the most hopeful projections of scientists. The book is a tour through these new ecosystems, in all their glory, as sites of unexpected environmental significance, where the natural world has reasserted its wild power and promise.
Register here: https://oakpark.librarycalendar.com/event/earth-lounge-environmental-book-club-islands-abandonment-60941
From First United Church of Oak Park:
First United Church of Oak Park invites the public to hear Chicago area environmental leaders such as Naomi Davis of Blacks in Green and Pamela Tate of Climate Reality Project at “Environmental Stewardship/Environmental Justice.” This series will take place in person from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. over the next five Sundays beginning March 3 (and excluding March 31), at 848 Lake St., in Oak Park. Topics include biodiversity, environmental justice, waste, plus local Chicago and Oak Park-vicinity conditions and initiatives. No advance registration is needed. Simply show up each Sunday at First United Church of Oak Park.
Speakers March 17
The Sustainable Square Mile and Black Community Development
Naomi Davis, Founder/CEO, Blacks in Green
Climate Change and Community-Based Environmental Justice
Juanpablo Ramirez-Franco, Climate change, energy, and environment Journalist for WBEZ and Grist
From One Earth Film Fest:
One Earth is proud to partner with Kehrein Center for the Arts in Chicago's Austin community for a special International Women's Day presentation and series. This three-event series begins on Friday, March 8. Each event will highlight the work of women of color, both locally and globally, as we illuminate the ways that women work intersectionally and across a range of contexts to support one another in our collective fight for equity, liberation, and economic participation in ways that preserve land, promote economic accessibility, and cause ecological flourishing. Join us for this exciting series to take place between March 8, April 18, and April 19.
Join us as Ana Garcia-Doyle, executive director of One Earth Collective points us toward the screening of “Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai,” a film that stoically captures the inspiring work of Wangari Maathai and the Kimuka women of Kenya, and the legacy of tree planting toward viability and sustainability in Kenya.
After the film, Reesheda Graham Washington, Executive Director of Kehrein Center for the Arts Foundation, will lead a discussion with Toni Anderson, CEO of Mindful Rant. Anderson, a Southside Chicago native, promotes mindfulness and emergent leadership, fostering clarity and supporting interpersonal connections. She integrates cultural, ecological, and participatory design approaches to empower communities of color towards proactive social change. Anderson is a practitioner of wholeness, a healer, urban ecologist, and spiritualist, planting seeds of freedom through eco-social practices.
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sustaining-women-sustaining-the-world-a-three-part-series-tickets-852668022007
From First United Church of Oak Park:
First United Church of Oak Park invites the public to hear Chicago area environmental leaders such as Naomi Davis of Blacks in Green and Pamela Tate of Climate Reality Project at “Environmental Stewardship/Environmental Justice.” This series will take place in person from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. over the next five Sundays beginning March 3 (and excluding March 31), at 848 Lake St., in Oak Park. Topics include biodiversity, environmental justice, waste, plus local Chicago and Oak Park-vicinity conditions and initiatives. No advance registration is needed. Simply show up each Sunday at First United Church of Oak Park.
Speakers March 3
Engaging Communities for Urban Stewardship
Trinity Pierce, Stewardship Manager, Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Wolf Road Prairie
Wild City; Human Ecosystem
Wyatt Widmer, Steward, Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Wolf Road Prairie
Do you seek to understand the impacts of climate change on our community? Do you worry about your family's or community's health in the face of increased flooding, heat, air pollution, etc.?
We invite you to a free presentation on February 27 (6-7:30 pm via Zoom) "Climate Change on Chicago's Greater West Side: Floods, Air Pollution, Extreme Heat & More."
Our presenter is University of Michigan-based climatologist, Omar Gates, who will help us understand how climate change is already impacting us, how it will impact us in the future, and how we can adapt to our new reality.
LEARN MORE & REGISTER HERE: bit.ly/gws-climatechange
From Oak Park Public Library:
The documentary The Biggest Little Farm will be the feature for the theme of Earth. (92 minutes) (2019)
Filmmaker and novice farmer John Chester chronicles the eight-year quest he and Molly Chester went on when they traded city living for 200 acres of barren farmland in the foothills of Ventura County and a dream to harvest in harmony with nature in this heartwarming film. Through dogged perseverance and embracing the opportunity provided by nature's conflicts, the Chester's unlock and uncover a biodiverse design for living that exists far beyond their farm, its seasons, and our wildest imagination.
From One Earth Film Fest:
Renew your support of One Earth Collective today and receive an invite to our special, pre-Valentine's Day Preview Party. Tickets are available to Contributing level sponsors ($500+) and above, along with Director level members ($250+) and up.
You will enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the festival lineup, meet the 2024 One Earth team, and learn how to reserve your early-access tickets to our April 2024 Festival (out-of-towners can receive a recording of this event afterwards).
Snacks, sweets, and sips will be served.
Want to play a larger role?
If interested in hosting a 2024 film fest event, email ana@oneearthcollective.org
If you’d like to renew or sign up as a One Earth sponsor or member, and help us launch our 13th festival season, please consider making your gift here.
Please consider asking your employer or professional colleagues to become a sponsor or member to snag additional tickets to the event.
We hope to have your continued presence as a part of our One Earth community, and look forward to seeing you on the 13th!
From Oak Park Public Library:
Explore the curiosities and complexities of nature, environmentalism, and sustainability through fiction and nonfiction literature in the Earth Lounge Environmental Book Discussion Group, held the last Wednesday of the month every other month beginning in January 2024.
The Nature Fix: why Nature makes us happier, healthier, and more creative by Florence Williams is an investigation into the restorative benefits of nature. The book draws on cutting-edge research and the author's explorations with international nature therapy programs to examine the relationship between nature and human cognition, mood, and creativity.
Register here: https://oakpark.librarycalendar.com/event/earth-lounge-environmental-book-club-islands-abandonment-60941
From Oak Park Public Library:
The Earth Lounge Environmental Book Discussion Series will meet on the last Wednesdays from August through November to explore the curiosities and complexities of nature, environmentalism, and sustainability through fiction and nonfiction literature. Register for any or all of the discussions in the series:
August 30: We Are the Weather: Saving the Planet Begins at Breakfast by Jonathan Safran Foer
September 27: New Suns: Original Speculative Fiction by People of Color edited by Nisi Shawl
October 25: The Darkness Manifesto: On Light Pollution, Night Ecology, and the Ancient Rhythms That Sustain Life by Johan Eklöf
November 29: How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue
New Suns: Original Speculative Fiction by People of Color showcases emerging and seasoned writers of many races telling stories filled with shocking delights, powerful visions of the familiar made strange. Between this book's covers burn tales of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and their indefinable overlappings.
Includes stories by Kathleen Alcala, Minsoo Kang, Anil Menon, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Alex Jennings, Alberto Yanez, Steven Barnes, Jaymee Goh, Karin Lowachee, E. Lily Yu, Andrea Hairston, Tobias Buckell, Hiromi Goto, Rebecca Roanhorse, Indrapramit Das, Chinelo Onwualu and Darcie Little Badger.
From Oak Park Public Library:
The Earth Lounge Environmental Book Discussion Series will meet on the last Wednesdays from August through November to explore the curiosities and complexities of nature, environmentalism, and sustainability through fiction and nonfiction literature. Register for any or all of the discussions in the series:
August 30: We Are the Weather: Saving the Planet Begins at Breakfast by Jonathan Safran Foer
September 27: New Suns: Original Speculative Fiction by People of Color edited by Nisi Shawl
October 25: The Darkness Manifesto: On Light Pollution, Night Ecology, and the Ancient Rhythms That Sustain Life by Johan Eklöf
November 29: How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue
New Suns: Original Speculative Fiction by People of Color showcases emerging and seasoned writers of many races telling stories filled with shocking delights, powerful visions of the familiar made strange. Between this book's covers burn tales of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and their indefinable overlappings.
Includes stories by Kathleen Alcala, Minsoo Kang, Anil Menon, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Alex Jennings, Alberto Yanez, Steven Barnes, Jaymee Goh, Karin Lowachee, E. Lily Yu, Andrea Hairston, Tobias Buckell, Hiromi Goto, Rebecca Roanhorse, Indrapramit Das, Chinelo Onwualu and Darcie Little Badger.
From Climate Action Network:
A Celebration of emissions free driving and
Check out EV models, talk to owners, & ask questions about battery range & longevity, charging access & cost, long-distance EV driving, & more Meet local vendors & owners with cargo bikes, adult trikes, e-bikes Food trucks!
If you can't walk or bike to this event, park free at OPRFHS garage at Lake/Scoville For more information, email wgreenhouse@gmail.com.
From Oak Park Public Library:
The Earth Lounge Environmental Book Discussion Series will meet on the last Wednesdays from August through November to explore the curiosities and complexities of nature, environmentalism, and sustainability through fiction and nonfiction literature. Register for any or all of the discussions in the series:
August 30: We Are the Weather: Saving the Planet Begins at Breakfast by Jonathan Safran Foer
September 27: New Suns: Original Speculative Fiction by People of Color edited by Nisi Shawl
October 25: The Darkness Manifesto: On Light Pollution, Night Ecology, and the Ancient Rhythms That Sustain Life by Johan Eklöf
November 29: How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue
New Suns: Original Speculative Fiction by People of Color showcases emerging and seasoned writers of many races telling stories filled with shocking delights, powerful visions of the familiar made strange. Between this book's covers burn tales of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and their indefinable overlappings.
Includes stories by Kathleen Alcala, Minsoo Kang, Anil Menon, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Alex Jennings, Alberto Yanez, Steven Barnes, Jaymee Goh, Karin Lowachee, E. Lily Yu, Andrea Hairston, Tobias Buckell, Hiromi Goto, Rebecca Roanhorse, Indrapramit Das, Chinelo Onwualu and Darcie Little Badger.
Register: https://oakpark.librarycalendar.com/event/earth-lounge-environmental-book-discussion-series-new-suns
From Forest Preserves of Cook County:
Celebrate National Public Lands Day with nature-based activities and bike ride. Divvy bikes provided; limited supply.
Contact 312-415-2970.
From Forest Preserves of Cook County:
Ride Illinois will lead a safety talk before we take off for a fun, casual, family-friendly bike. Loaner bikes available.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED: Call 773-758-8899.
From One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest:
The Earth needs a makeover and these young filmmakers will provide their tips on the best ways to improve the health of the planet. Adam Joel of Aggressively Compassionate will host the Global Contest Awards Celebration, where you can meet these young filmmakers in person or online and see their extraordinary films.
Film details forthcoming
Doors open 11 a.m. for check-in/registration
Program begins promptly at 11:30 a.m. Central Daylight Time
Program ends 1 p.m. Central Daylight Time
Free popcorn
Free beverage
Register in person: https://oneearthyfcawardsinperson.eventbrite.com
Register online: https://oneearthyfcawardsvirtual.eventbrite.com
Since 2013, the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest has awarded over 100 prizes to short environmental films from youth age 25 down to 3rd grade. A jury of 31 environmental and film professionals selected the final, top films from among 403 submissions around the world in this first year as a global, rather than national contest. Each film is 1 to 8 minutes long and ranges from animation to live action to documentary.
Thank you to our illustrious jury: Deborah Adelman, Felice Bassuk, Amy Brinkman, Kathleen Brennan, Laurie Casey, Hussain Currimbhoy, Lisa Daleiden-Brugman, Steve Cohen, Layla Dade, Mary Ford, Sophia Fowler, Monica Fox, Paula Froehle, Bill Gee, Jim Gill, Kathryn Hempel, Patrick Thomas Keen, Adrija Kundu, Angelo Lavel, William Kim Lyons, Jennifer Maiotti, Jonathan Moeller, Julie Moller, Elaine Petkovsek, James Rohn, Vicky Solano, Jessie Wahlers, Karen Weigert, Risé Sanders-Weir, Marc Wellin, and Gary Wilson.
From Forest Preserves of Cook County:
Ride Illinois will lead a safety talk before we take off for a fun, casual, family friendly bike ride. Loaner bikes available.
Registration Required: Call 312-533-5751.
From Oak Park Public Library:
The Earth Lounge Environmental Book Discussion Series will meet on the last Wednesdays from August through November to explore the curiosities and complexities of nature, environmentalism, and sustainability through fiction and nonfiction literature. Register for any or all of the discussions in the series:
August 30: We Are the Weather: Saving the Planet Begins at Breakfast by Jonathan Safran Foer
September 27: New Suns: Original Speculative Fiction by People of Color edited by Nisi Shawl
October 25: The Darkness Manifesto: On Light Pollution, Night Ecology, and the Ancient Rhythms That Sustain Life by Johan Eklöf
November 29: How Beautiful We Were by Imbolo Mbue
In We Are the Weather, Jonathan Safran Foer explores the central global dilemma of our time in a deeply personal, and urgent new way. The task of saving the planet will involve a great reckoning with ourselves, he posits―with our all-too-human reluctance to sacrifice immediate comfort for the sake of the future. We have, he reveals, turned our planet into a farm for growing animal products, and the consequences are catastrophic. Only collective action will save our home and way of life.
From Forest Preserves of Cook County:
Join us for a family-friendly biking event! Safety demonstration, techniques, tips and guided ride. Helmets/loaner bikes available. In partnership with Ride Illinois.
Registration Required: Call 312-533-5751.
From Seven Generations Ahead:
The Oak Park Microbrew Review is one of the longest-running beer festivals in the Chicagoland area – 16 years!
70+ breweries with 200+ beers, seltzers, ciders and a couple of craft cocktails too!
3 music stages
12 live bands
10 local food vendors
Loads of fun!
We're sustainable too!
Not only that; we’re the largest zero-waste fest in the Midwest.
Micro Brew. Micro Waste.
What is Zero Waste?
Our goal is for the fest to leave minimal impact on the environment.
We eliminate nearly all our landfill waste through reducing, reusing, recycling and composting.
Dispose of your waste at Resource Recovery Stations throughout the fest – staffed by awesome Sustainability Rangers!
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/oak-park-microbrew-review-2023-tickets-543187266737?aff=erelexpmlt
From Austin Eats, One Earth Collective and partners:
FREE food, farm tours, chef demos, smores, and raffle for farm fresh eggs.
Enjoy a summer evening of food, music, film and activities at BUILD Chicago’s beautiful urban farm in Austin! It’s FREE and FOR ALL AGES!
Register here: https://movieatthefarm.eventbrite.com
Doors open at 7 pm for music by DJ Deon inspired by the 50th anniversary of hip hop, smores by the firepit, tours of BUILD’s urban farm (raised garden beds, greenhouses and chicken coop), a raffle of farm fresh eggs, tabling activities by community organizations and chef demonstrations of healthy eating recipes and refreshing beverages to quench your thirst.
Bring a blanket or folding chair…a little after 8 pm, we’ll watch “Follow the Drinking Gourd,” which joyfully and poetically chronicles the urban gardening movement. After the film, a panel of West-Side gardeners of all ages will talk about their love of gardening and answer your questions about how to get started….whether it’s a container on your porch, a full-fledged garden in your yard or plot in a community garden.
Invite friends of all ages!
As part of Austin Eats' efforts to bring healthy food resources and lively discussion around local food access to the Austin community, this event is intended for those who live, work, play, or worship in Austin.
FOLLOW THE DRINKING GOURD (2019) by Shirah Dedman (60 min)
FOLLOW THE DRINKING GOURD is a feature documentary about the Black food justice movement. Family-friendly, funny and moving, this 60-minute film connects the legacy of slavery, capitalism and climate change to our fight for food security. Features: Leah Penniman - author of "Farming While Black,” Naima Penniman - of the award-winning, spoken word duo, Climbing Poetree, recently featured on TED, Wanda Stewart - urban farmer in Berkeley, CA, Will Scott - rural farmer in Fresno, CA, Carl Anthony - environmentalist, founder of Urban Habitat, and Rahanna Bisseret-Martinez - former Top Chef Junior finalist.
Austin Eats is a collaborative working to rewrite the narrative around food in Chicago's Austin community. By synergizing organizations already promoting healthier food choices through grocery access, culinary entrepreneurship, food education, community gardens, and urban farms, Austin Eats will recreate Austin’s food access ecosystem. One Earth Collective is a member of Austin Eats.
From EcoVoice Festival 2023:
The New Earth Ensemble (NEE) performs Nicolas Cline’s Watersheds, which explores the many ways we engage with this shared resource. NEE will be joined by the Chicago Music Collective, who will be performing works by Edie Hill, Rosephanye Powell, and Moira Smiley. Guest speakers will discuss water issues facing the Great Lakes Region and what we can do to help.
$20 General Admission, free for students
Reserve Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-earth-ensemble-watersheds-tickets-653256025357
From EcoVoice Festival 2023:
10 a.m. Soundwalk with Paige Alice Naylor
11 a.m. Family Friendly Concert with Luke Wallace
3 p.m. Eco Songwriting Workshop with Luke Wallace, 737 Custer Ave., Evanston
Free. Register: https://ecovoiceproject.org/ecovoicefestival2023
From EcoVoice Festival 2023:
Music on the Hill Summer Series with Luke Wallace.
Free. Register: https://ecovoiceproject.org/ecovoicefestival2023
From Seven Generations Ahead and a5 Branding and Digital:
The climate crisis is upon us. GreenTown Climate & Equity will address how climate solutions and equity go hand-in-hand to create a healthy, sustainable West Suburban Cook County for all. Join us Thursday, June 22, 2023, for our GreenTown conference at Triton College.
Register here: https://greentownconference.com/gtrf-registrations
