Bellwood School District 88 has been deeply committed to its sustainability goals, and now it has launched its fourth Zero Waste Schools (ZWS) program. The launch at Grant Elementary in Melrose Park took place on April 16th, and is the last school within the Cross Community Climate Collaborative (C4) to launch this school year. To […]
Continuing the Fight for Local Food in S...
As the saying goes, it isn’t easy being green. But it’s gotten even harder in recent months. Federal funding cuts are hitting environmental programs across the country, and are taking their toll right here in Illinois, as well. Seven Generations Ahead (SGA) has always been committed to building a sustainable, local foodshed, and we remain […]
BLAST Contest Winner Supporting IOF’s Yo
Andrea with Accelerate Climate Solutions’ Executive Director, Cathy Clarkin It’s Our Future (IOF) is planning the first Chicago Youth Climate Justice Summit, set for October 10th at DePaul’s loop campus, and we got a boost from BLAST! The Summit planning team had an initial meeting this spring and it captured the imagination of Neuqua Valley […]
C4 Communities Advance Sustainability wi...
There’s nothing more sustainable than turning waste into a valuable resource, and this spring, the Villages of Broadview and Maywood have committed to doing just that by launching residential composting programs. These communities are both part of the Cross Community Climate Collaborative (C4), an award-winning initiative in west suburban Chicagoland bringing together BIPOC and non-minority […]
Planting the Seeds: How School Climate P...
Students, administrators and board members came together on April 8th for an Intergenerational School Climate Policy Workshop, in which they shared success stories and best practices for advancing climate policy in schools. All agreed that this work is critically important as a way to empower youth, combat disinformation, and make a meaningful difference on climate. […]
Closing the Loop: How CCSD46 is Transfor...
by Abbie Pietruszynski, Resource Conservation Volunteer in CCSD 46 In Illinois, Community Consolidated School District 46 (CCSD46) has a board policy stating the need for reducing waste throughout the district. As CCSD46 began to research composting lunchroom waste to help meet this policy objective, they were able to partner with the Village’s residential program for […]
Plastic-Free Lunch at Solorio Academy
By Joel Sandoval, Senior at Solorio Academy HS, Chicago Public Schools; Zero Waste Ambassador At Eric Solorio Academy High School, part of the Chicago Public School system, the Zero Waste Ambassadors club is interested in learning more about the environment and taking action to make the school more sustainable. This past November, these students rolled […]
The Cross Agency Sustainability Exchange...
An innovative collaborative effort has launched in the Village of Oak Park to build a more sustainable community. The Cross Agency Sustainability Exchange (CASE), a project funded by the Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation’s PlanItGreen initiative, brings together Oak Park River Forest High School District 200 (D200), Oak Park Elementary School District 97 (D97), […]
Youth Explore Their Climate Stories at I...
By Jacquie Linden, SGA Intern As Chicagoland is waking up from a mild winter, IOF youth gathered at the offices of the Illinois Environmental Council to welcome a few new faces, share our joys and fears about the environment with each other, and become more convincing climate communicators. Spinning our hopes or anxieties, like the […]
Everything Local 2025: Fertile Ground fo...
The Illinois Farm to School Network (IFSN), a program of Seven Generations Ahead’s (SGA), has been hard at work making it easier for farmers and schools to connect so they can get sustainable and healthy food in more school cafeterias. This year’s Everything Local Conference proved to be fertile ground for growing farm to school […]