Project Partners
a5
SGA and a5 have teamed up to create a comprehensive sustainability plan for a5, including operations, procurement, transportation policy, product development, office renovation, supply chain, and client strategy development. a5 and SGA are working on the incorporation of Cradle to Cradle principles into business product and community development initiatives.
Archdiocese of Chicago Food Service Professionals
SGA is working with Food Service Professionals of the Archdiocese of Chicago Schools to incorporate healthy, local, and sustainably raised food into school meals programs. This three year initiative (2005-2008) is funded by a USDA Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program Award
Chicago Public Schools
SGA’s Fresh from the Farm program is being implemented in three Chicago Public Schools (Lozano, McAuliffe, Whittier), providing curriculum and program activities that promote healthy eating and link children and parents to local farms and farmers. Fresh from the Farm is also working in these schools to create greater access to healthy food through Growing Power’s Market Basket Program and to improve school meals.
Healthy Schools Campaign
SGA is collaborating on the development of a project with the Healthy Schools Campaign and the Food Alliance Midwest that would publicize and market food curriculum and healthy eating programs targeting Chicago public schools while promoting linkages between certified sustainable farms and CPS food vendors.
Growing Power
SGA is collaborating with Growing Power on two USDA-funded initiatives, Closing the Loop and Fresh from the Farm, which are working to link low-income students and parents to affordable food raised by sustainable family farms while providing access to educational programming, school garden development, and Growing Power’s Market Basket Program.
Logan Square Neighborhood Association
SGA is part of a multi-organizational partnership developed by the Logan Square Neighborhood Association, including Chicago Public Schools Central Office, McAuliffe Elementary, Illinois Healthy Education Consortium, UIC College of Nursing, UIC Chicago Partnership for Health Promotion, Openlands Project, and AmeriCorp. The project, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, provides healthy snacks, nutrition education, family garden development, farm tours and farmer classroom visits, and parent and student education about healthy eating.
McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry
SGA’s work with MBDC includes the promotion of Cradle to Cradle principles into Chicago area businesses and municipal planning and development. MBDC co-founder Bill McDonough, co-author of Cradle to Cradle with Michael Braungart and recipient of three presidential awards for sustainable design and Times Magazine “Hero of the Planet” in 1999, is a leading sustainability visionary and architect whose community and building designs have earned him numerous awards and whose principles are being implemented internationally and across the U.S.
Northwest Earth Institute
SGA is a Chicago area resource and link for promoting the Northwest Earth Institute’s Sustainability Discussion Courses. The Discussion Courses are 8-week, small group, self-facilitated sessions for businesses, congregations, or any group of individuals that incorporate discussion course workbook readings on the following themes: Exploring Deep Ecology, Voluntary Simplicity, Discovering a Sense of Place, Choices for Sustainable Living, Globalization and Its Critics, and Healthy Children-Healthy Planet. Contact SGA for more information.
Oak Park Elementary School District 97
SGA is implementing Fresh from the Farm, a school-based healthy eating program, within Oak Park District 97 schools, and has provided educational forums and advocacy to transform the district's school lunch program to a healthy lunch model.
Oak Park River Forest High School District 200 Food Service
SGA works with D200 Food Service to support D97 healthy lunches, and to create procurement links between D200 Food Service and local farms. SGA is collaborating with District 200 Food Service to create its Fresh from the Farm PTO Fundraiser Healthy Lunches serving Oak Park District 97 and River Forest District 90 elementary schools.
Occidental College National Farm to School Program
Occidental College’s National Farm to School Program is leading a comprehensive evaluation of SGA’s Fresh from the Farm program, which will include a targeted evaluation of the program’s impact on the knowledge, attitudes, and behavior changes resulting from implementation of the program at Lozano Bilingual and International Center.
The Land Connection
Seven Generations Ahead and The Land Connection work collaboratively to link sustainable farms operating in central Illinois to consumers in the Chicago area. SGA and The Land Connection organize annual Sustainable Farm Tours for individuals interested in meeting local farmers, learning about organic practices, and seeing first hand some of Illinois’ premier local organic farms.
Village of Oak Park
Seven Generations ahead has been working with the Village of Oak Park for the past three years to educate and advocate for sustainable practices, initiatives, and policies within municipal operations, building development, and the community at-large. Visit Renewable Oak Park for more information.
Wisconsin Homegrown Lunch
Wisconsin Homegrown Lunch is a project of the REAP (Research Education Action and Policy on) Food Group, and is partnering with Seven Generations Ahead in a learning collaboration that supports the development of each organization’s farm-to-school programs.
Wonder Works, A Children’s Museum in Oak Park
Seven Generations Ahead and Wonder Works collaborate annually on Wonder Works’ Earth Day Celebration, featuring local farmers and earth friendly activities and information.
