Thursday, October 3, 2013

Great Lakes Bioneers Chicago - Celebrating Community Resilience



If you are planning on attending this year’s Bioneers event at Roosevelt University on November 1-3, now is the best time to buy your early bird tickets (Oct 3rd).  For information and tickets go to www.bioneerschicago.org.  This is an event that strongly reflects the environmental committees values!

Elizabeth Wenscott (head of our Environmental Committee) has been hard at work with the Bioneers core team putting together a program that we think will strongly resonate with the folks living within the borders of NNA and beyond. For three full days we will be bringing together leading innovators from all walks of life to exchange ideas, build networks and inspire a shift to live on the Earth in ways that honor the web of life, each other and future generations.  This is a fun, action-oriented gathering for people of all ages and experience levels who want to learn more about taking care of our planet. 

The program will include:

• A main stage with 7 nationally recognized keynotes speaking on topics ranging from hydraulic fracking for natural gas to saving honey bees and stopping violence in our city.

• Over 30 workshops, interactive panel discussions and skill-shares on topics including time-banking, workplace democracy, renewable energy and healthy food.

• Six world cafe sessions on FOOD, WATER, WASTE, ENERGY, SHELTER and COMMUNITY RESILIENCE hosted by our keynotes and Chicago area environmental leaders.

• Organizing sessions on tar sands, hydraulic fracking and coal extraction in Illinois

• An interactive discussion on creative methods for non-violent direct action, featuring: Kathy Kelly of Voices for Creative Non-Violence; Savitri D of the Church of Stop Shopping; Greenpeace activist Kelly Mitchell; and Debbie Southorn of AFSC.

• Friday evening reception with ecologist, cancer survivor and activist Dr. Sandra Steingraber and music by our own Rhapsody Snyder

• Performances by Capoeira Angola; Alex Yoffe on the Javanese gamelan; the women’s African drumming ensemble Sheboom; and our own Wellington Avenue UCC choir, leading the audience in “Sing for the Climate”.

• Sunday closing celebration that includes Nathaniel Braddock and members of his Occidental Brothers Dance Band International.

Please join us for this exciting weekend and pass this message on to anyone whom you think might like to attend!

White lined sphinx moth

If you have been to Montrose Green community garden after dusk, you have probably seen this moth. It is often misstaken for a hummingbird.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Earth Day - 5 Tips

Hello NNA members,

By Michael Askenasi

In anticipation of Earth Day on April 20th, we offer you these 5 easy tips to help the environment through the spring/summer months:

1) NO IDLING – Idling is a huge waste of gas and studies have shown that even in winter, cars only need up to 20 seconds to warm up. So for example, the next you’re waiting to pick up you child from school, turn the engine off while you wait.

2) PROGRAM YOUR THERMOSTAT – Programming your thermostat is one of the easiest ways to save on your electric bills in the summer and your gas bills in the winter. Let’s say you normally like the house at 70 degrees when you’re home in the summer, but work from 9:00-5:30. You can program your thermostat to let the temperature rise up to 80 degrees while you’re gone, and at 5:00 the program can start to bring the temperature back down before you get home at 6:00.

3) DROP THE SHADES – Sunlight coming through your windows heats up your apartment or house quicker, making you use more A/C through the summer. When you’re not at home (or even when you ARE at home), draw your shades or blinds to limit the heat streaming into your home.

4) A.M. GARDENING – Morning is the best time for watering your lawn and plants. If you water in the afternoon or even early-evening, the ground will still be hot and water will evaporate quicker. Do your part to conserve water by scheduling your watering in the mornings.

5) PUT OFF LAUNDRY ANOTHER DAY – The average washing machine uses 41 gallons of water per load. Doing a small load uses extra water AND electricity, so wait until you have enough laundry for a full load. And if it might be time to replace that old washing machine and/or dryer, consider getting a more energy-efficient replacement."

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

February 6th and March 6th (NEW INITIATIVES DAY)



Environmental Committee meetings take place on the first Wednesday of the month (unless otherwise noted), 7 pm at Paul Revere Fieldhouse.


February 6th and March 6th  (NEW INITIATIVES DAY) 

Have you been wanting to join NNA's exciting Environmental Committee? Then all that is required is that you first become a member of the Northcenter Neighborhood Association. http://www.northcenterneighborhood.org  Once you are a member then you can attend any of the upcoming Environmental Committee meetings and participate!

Do you have an idea you would like to share or want to lead your own initiative? Would you like to help other already established initiatives grow? Then we need YOU! 

Ongoing Active Initiative Include:
  • Parkway Corner Initiative
  • Community Garden Initiative
  • Green Lawn Initiative
  • Tree Initiative
  • 6th Annual Garden Walk 
  • Lectures and Field Trips
  • and more...
Join us on February 6th and/or March 6th and present your ideas!