Green Teacher Gathering: Full Schedule

9:00am CDT

Registration + Breakfast

Saturday April 5, 2025 9:00am - 9:45am CDT

Saturday April 5, 2025 9:00am - 9:45am CDT
Community Hall, 1st Floor Academy for Global Citizenship, 4942 W 44th St, Chicago, IL 60638

Gatherings for All

9:45am CDT

Opening Session: Exploring Ancient Traditions: Danza Azteca Huehuecoyotl

Saturday April 5, 2025 9:45am - 10:30am CDT

Gym, 1st Floor

In lieu of a keynote, for this gathering we would like to open the day with dance and celebration.

Danza Azteca group Huehuecoyotl practices every Thursday at 6:30pm in Harrison Park in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood. Huehuecoyotl’s weekly practices are free and open to the entire family. Danza Azteca is an ancient tradition, a prayer in motion, which helps people live a more balanced life - physically, mentally and emotionally. Danza Azteca is the cultural inheritance of the descendents of mesoamerica’s first peoples, which they continue to teach today.

Speakers

Huehuecoyotl Danza Azteca

Danza Azteca group Huehuecoyotl practices every Thursday at 6:30pm in Harrison Park in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood. Huehuecoyotl’s weekly practices are free and open to the entire family. Danza Azteca is an ancient tradition, a prayer in motion, which helps people live a more... Read More →

Saturday April 5, 2025 9:45am - 10:30am CDT
Gym, 1st Floor Academy for Global Citizenship, 4942 W 44th St, Chicago, IL 60638

Gatherings for All, All levels: for everyone

Host Organization Danza Azteca Huehuecoyotl

10:30am CDT

The 8 Ingredient Showdown

Saturday April 5, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CDT

Community Hall, 1st Floor

Participants will explore the importance of teamwork, with the hope that it motivates and creates connectedness, empathy, understanding, and support for one another. Participants will begin by reflecting on this question: What is difficult about making a choice? Participants will then be provided 8 random ingredients. They will then be asked to taste each of those ingredients in its raw form. They will then be formed into teams and asked to create and execute the dish they created using all 8 of the ingredients provided and will have to present dish to “judges”. We believe through this form of experiential engagement these concepts will translate to other areas of their lives.

Speakers

Sebastian White

Founder, Executive Director, Chef, The Evolved Network

Sebastian White (he/him) is a trained psychotherapist and self-taught chef who worked with youth who were gang-involved, labeled “at-risk”, and struggling with the complexities of life. His work took a personal turn after the unexpected deaths of his aunt, Gwen Barjon, and his... Read More →

Saturday April 5, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am CDT
Community Hall, 1st Floor Academy for Global Citizenship, 4942 W 44th St, Chicago, IL 60638

Food + Dance, All levels: for everyone

Host Organization The Evolved Network

10:30am CDT

Out In Nature: Creating Safe Spaces in Nature for the Queer Community

Saturday April 5, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am CDT

Pre-K Classroom, 1st Floor

Out In Nature is a local community affinity group that creates an accessible, positive environment for all LGBTQIA+ individuals to connect, explore, and experience nature and the outdoors, and it has been doing so since 2019. Our goal is to share how to best make nature spaces safe, welcoming, and accessible for the queer community. We will talk about past events, our community engagement and outreach strategies and events, and our history as queer naturalists and an organization. Out In Nature has partnered with organizations like The Nature Conservancy, Lincoln Park Zoo, Indiana Dunes National Park, Cook and Lake County Forest Preserves, and many more local conservation organizations.

Speakers

CJ Greco

Teen Programs Manager, Lincoln Park Zoo / Out In Nature

CJ Greco (they/she) is a nonbinary transwoman, activist, and naturalist from Chicago, Illinois. They have been working in informal conservation education for most of their life starting as a youth volunteer 17 years ago. CJ has worked and volunteered for a wide array of conservation... Read More →

Henry Adams

Urban Wildlife Institute, Lincoln Park Zoo

Henry (he/they) is a wildlife ecologist, educator, and illustrator from Atlanta, Georgia. They studied wildlife disease ecology under Dr. Sonia Hernandez at the University of Georgia. Henry has researched urbanization's impact on white ibis in South Florida and amphibian pathogens... Read More →

Saturday April 5, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am CDT
Pre-K Classroom, 1st Floor Academy for Global Citizenship, 4942 W 44th St, Chicago, IL 60638

Community Building + Knowledge Sharing, All levels: for everyone

Host Organization Out In Nature, Lincoln Park Zoo

10:30am CDT

Environmental Pathways: NGSS Curriculum for Illinois Classrooms

Saturday April 5, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am CDT

Ecotone North, 2nd Floor

This workshop presents the Environmental Pathways NGSS Curriculum. Developed by the Illinois EPA in partnership with the University of Illinois, Environmental Pathways is a free resource for educators to integrate environmental education into their classroom teaching with hands-on activities. Four units have been developed, covering Recycling and Waste Diversion; Food Waste; Renewable Energy; and Water Quality. The units are free to use and come with loanable activity kits. Each unit has been customized with real world case studies applicable to Illinois classrooms and emphasize problem-solving, civic engagement, and the importance of environmental stewardship. Geared towards middle school, the units are adaptable to a wide range of ages.

In this workshop, participants will be given an overview of all four units. We will get hands-on and complete activities from two of the units. We are currently developing a fifth unit on Environmental Justice. Workshop participants will get to trial an activity from this unit as well and discuss how to integrate justice concepts into standards-aligned classroom instruction.

Curriculum units are available for free download online: https://pathways.mste.illinois.edu/

Speakers

Eli Dollarhide

Environmental Education Coordinator, Illinois EPA

Eli Dollarhide (he/him) is the Environmental Education Coordinator in Illinois EPA’s Chicago Office. Since joining IEPA last year, he has expanded the reach and scope of the agency’s educational programing in Chicago and northern Illinois by partnering with museums, non-profits... Read More →

Saturday April 5, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am CDT
Ecotone North, 2nd Floor Academy for Global Citizenship, 4942 W 44th St, Chicago, IL 60638

Environmental Stewardship + Climate Change, All levels: for everyone

Host Organization Illinois EPA

10:30am CDT

Composting 101 with Urban Growers Collective

Saturday April 5, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am CDT

Greenhouse, 1st Floor

Healthy soil is the foundation of life for all beings.

Join Urban Growers Collective for an informative workshop on the topics of building healthy soil, the importance of composting, and a hands-on demonstration of how to build your own vermicompost bin. Pose questions to UGC’s team regarding the implementation of composting lessons for participants of all ages, with special attention to teen and adult participants.

Participants in this session will learn critical information regarding the principles of composting, receive guidance on ways to incorporate curricular material in an outdoor classroom, and practice the hands-on application of their skills through the construction of a vermicomposting bin (scalable to the individual or community level), and understanding the care required to maintain it. Participants are encouraged to critically engage with the material and will have time to ask questions at the end of the experience to generate connectivity around the science and application of composting in urban spaces.

When we learn collectively, we hold a mirror up to the relationships that already exist among our mentors in the Soil Web. Collaborate with us on ways we can benefit our local soil systems through composting, and find out how to be engaged with UGC!

Speakers

Darion Crawford

Urban Farmer & Compost Coordinator, Urban Growers Collective

Darion Crawford (he/him) has been farming since he was 16 years old. He began his journey with agriculture at Marshall High School in Chicago, where he studied farming, and was chosen to be one of the first 15 year-round students of the Growing Power Chicago Youth Corps in 2006... Read More →

Paige Tobin

Assistant Manager of Education, Urban Growers Collective

Paige Tobin (she/her) received her BA in Anthropology/Sociology and Critical Ethnic Studies from Kalamazoo College. Paige is originally from Battle Creek, MI and has lived and worked in Chicago since 2019.Paige enters this work with reverence for community, storytelling, and our shared... Read More →

Saturday April 5, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am CDT
Greenhouse, 1st Floor Academy for Global Citizenship, 4942 W 44th St, Chicago, IL 60638

Gardening + Growing, All levels: for everyone

Host Organization Urban Growers Collective

10:30am CDT

School Building Sustainability Tour

Saturday April 5, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am CDT

TBD Meeting Spot

The Academy for Global Citizenship is Chicago’s first Living Building Challenge compliant, PHIUS-certified building and a milestone for the Midwest. Learn about the unique building features including:

Energy efficiency: Highly efficient building envelope, geothermal loop, and photovoltaic panels
Water efficiency: Water collection, conservation, reuse, and treatment strategies
Sustainability: Low carbon and non-toxic materials, rainwater gardens, and on-site urban agriculture
Open spaces: Flexible spaces that encourage collaboration
Daylight: Skylights to reduce energy consumption and create a more efficient learning environment

Saturday April 5, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am CDT
TBD Meeting Spot

School Tour

NEW FIELD 1 https://agcchicago.org/about-us

10:30am CDT

EJ-ucation and the Arts: Teaching the Next Generation of Activists through Art and Music

Saturday April 5, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am CDT

Ecotone South, 2nd Floor

Environmental justice is not a new fight, but environmental curriculum focused on justice is still growing, and can be daunting to teach-- especially when students and educators experiencing the burden of environmental racism first-hand. Join us for a presentation of how Brushwood Center is leveraging the power of art, music, and performance to transform our bilingual EJ curriculum into engaging materials that breakdown tough topics, shine a spotlight on community-led solutions, and inform about local issues through a trauma-informed approach.

Speakers

Dani Abboud

Senior Program Director, Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods

Dani Abboud (they/them) manages Brushwood Center’s collective strategy for community art and nature programs, and oversees the It’s A W.I.N., At Ease, and Health, Equity, and Nature Accelerator Initiatives. They cultivate strategic, long-term partnerships across the region, working... Read More →

Saturday April 5, 2025 10:30am - 11:45am CDT
Ecotone South, 2nd Floor Academy for Global Citizenship, 4942 W 44th St, Chicago, IL 60638

Science Tech Engineering Arts Math (STEAM), All levels: for everyone

Host Organization The Brushwood Center

11:45am CDT

Lunch Block 1: Assigned at registration

Saturday April 5, 2025 11:45am - 12:15pm CDT

Community Hall, 1st Floor

You will be assigned a lunch block at registration.

Saturday April 5, 2025 11:45am - 12:15pm CDT
Community Hall, 1st Floor Academy for Global Citizenship, 4942 W 44th St, Chicago, IL 60638

Lunch Break (select one time)

Host Organization TBD

11:45am CDT

DROP IN SESSION: Sticks and Stones: Nature Play 101

Saturday April 5, 2025 11:45am - 12:45pm CDT

TBD Outdoor Space

Nature Play is, perhaps the oldest way to play, with myriad benefits for children many that last into adulthood. It is stacking sticks, making forts, cooking mud pies and anything else kids can concoct. It is probably how you played as a child when no one was looking and why you value nature as a grown up. Learn more about Nature Play, the benefits of "risky" play as well as how to bring it to your park, classroom, garden and curriculum. We will play with loose parts, make scale model Nature Play Spaces, and explore ways to bring nature inside as well as to bring the classroom outside with simple activities that require no new material or planning.

Speakers

Sean Schaffer

Nature Engagement Specialist, Chicago Park District

Sean (he/him) has been doing informal early childhood and environmental education for over 30 years from KohlChildren's Museum, The Chicago Academy of Sciences, the Shedd Aquarium and The Chicago ParkDistrict. In his latest role, he helps create Nature Play Spaces in Parks, designed... Read More →

Saturday April 5, 2025 11:45am - 12:45pm CDT
TBD Outdoor Space

Nature Play, Level 1: for those who are new to the topic

11:45am CDT

School Building Sustainability Tour

Saturday April 5, 2025 11:45am - 12:45pm CDT

TBD Meeting Spot

Energy efficiency: Highly efficient building envelope, geothermal loop, and photovoltaic panels
Water efficiency: Water collection, conservation, reuse, and treatment strategies
Sustainability: Low carbon and non-toxic materials, rainwater gardens, and on-site urban agriculture
Open spaces: Flexible spaces that encourage collaboration
Daylight: Skylights to reduce energy consumption and create a more efficient learning environment

Saturday April 5, 2025 11:45am - 12:45pm CDT
TBD Meeting Spot

School Tour

NEW FIELD 1 https://agcchicago.org/about-us

12:15pm CDT

Lunch Block 2: Assigned at registration

Saturday April 5, 2025 12:15pm - 12:45pm CDT

Community Hall, 1st Floor

Saturday April 5, 2025 12:15pm - 12:45pm CDT
Community Hall, 1st Floor Academy for Global Citizenship, 4942 W 44th St, Chicago, IL 60638

Lunch Break (select one time)

Host Organization TBD

1:00pm CDT

Cultivating Growth: The Benefits of Nature for Neurodiverse Students

Saturday April 5, 2025 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT

Pre-K Classroom, 1st Floor

You already know that nature experiences can have a profound impact on all students. This workshop will dive deeper into research around nature and executive functioning, sensory regulation, social-emotional development, and attention restoration. You will leave equipped with tools to advocate for equitable access to the outdoors, use nature as a mechanism to work toward IEP goals, harness the strengths of neurodiverse students in green spaces, and incorporate nature-based learning experiences without a dedicated 'green space'. Educators of all levels of background knowledge are invited to share in discussions around common barriers faced by neurodiverse students to accessing nature-based experiences and practical strategies for removing these barriers. Time will be provided to brainstorm ideas and outline a concrete plan for implementing accessible nature-based experiences as a tool for growth for students of all abilities.

Saturday April 5, 2025 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT
Pre-K Classroom, 1st Floor Academy for Global Citizenship, 4942 W 44th St, Chicago, IL 60638

Community Building + Knowledge Sharing, All levels: for everyone

1:00pm CDT

A Community-Driven Strategy for Community Resiliency

Saturday April 5, 2025 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT

Ecotone North, 2nd Floor

Environmental injustice can be extremely localized in the urban landscape. Within a single Chicago ward, the health risks associated with climate change are greater in under-resourced areas than they are in more prosperous areas a few blocks away.
Network49’s Environmental Justice Committee's Vine Trellis Project is designed to benefit residents of blocks with high heat disparities and deficit tree canopy. These blocks generally have lower-rent apartments, and the residents of these apartments are relatively less able to afford AC as a way to reduce their heat vulnerability.
Attendees will:
-operate thermal recorders to investigate how much cooler building surfaces become when shaded by vine trellises.
-use maps to correlate heat disparity, tree cover, and demographics.
-discuss and interpret 2023 and 2024 temperature data from the Network49 Vine Trellis Project.
-receive references and links to tree canopy maps, Heat Vulnerability Index findings, related projects in Chicago, and studies showing physical and mental health benefits of increased greenspace.
Topics:
Fostering student/resident stewards and climate activists
Strategies to raise public awareness of and support for improved climate resiliency
Generating specific, measurable environmental justice demands
Building a database building engineers and architects can use to reduce heat vulnerability
Collaborating with schools, parks, and non-profits

Speakers

James Kern

Chair of Environmental Justice Committee, Network49

James Kern (he/him) chairs Network49’s Environmental Justice Committee. He has designed and implemented climate-resiliency projects in Chicago. One, in the Back of the Yards, demonstrated the strength of community-driven projects for addressing climate change. Volunteer work at... Read More →

Carrie Breitbach

LSC Member, Jordan Community Elementary School

Carrie Breitbach (she/her) is an LSC member of the Jordan Community Elementary School. She has been instrumental in establishing the environmental justice project at Jordan.Breitbach received her doctorate in cultural geography from Syracuse University.She taught at Chicago State... Read More →

Saturday April 5, 2025 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT
Ecotone North, 2nd Floor Academy for Global Citizenship, 4942 W 44th St, Chicago, IL 60638

Environmental Stewardship + Climate Change, All levels: for everyone

Host Organization Network49, Jordan Community Elementary School

1:00pm CDT

Bacteria is my Gut's BFF

Saturday April 5, 2025 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT

Community Hall, 1st Floor

In this workshop teachers will learn about the function of the gut microbiome and what foods they can grow in their gardens and turn them into tasty prebiotics and probiotics.

There will be taste examples of homemade kombucha, and fermented goods a combination of cabbage, carrots, and hot peppers made by me, Chef BB from Roosevelt HS.

We will help teachers design one meal using aromatics: like garden herbs and
Bitters: like arugula, asparragus, dill, radishes and kale

Teachers will walk away with a recipe and methods to make their own kombucha, their own fermented veggies and we will talk about different fermented foods among different cultures and indigenous practices.
There will be a game - like check your knowledge to see how much teachers know about their digestice track.

Last but not least- How can we help our students achieve a good gut bacteria, and how to integrate this topic in our lessons.

Speakers

Sarai Blankenbaker

Teacher, Chicago Public Schools

My name is Sarai Blankenbaker (she/her). I am a proud CPS and CTE graduate from North Grand High School. I have a degree in Culinary Arts.I have worked in the food industry since my sophomore year of high school. This is where I first learned about urban agriculture, seasonal produce... Read More →

Saturday April 5, 2025 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT
Community Hall, 1st Floor Academy for Global Citizenship, 4942 W 44th St, Chicago, IL 60638

Food + Dance, All levels: for everyone

1:00pm CDT

Growing Connections: A Guide to Thriving School Gardens

Saturday April 5, 2025 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT

Greenhouse, 1st Floor

Summer break is something students and educators look forward to,
but what happens to the school garden when school is out? Contemporary
Farmer, Inc. would like to give a seasonal breakdown of how to maintain a
school garden with the help of administration, students, and the PTA. This workshop will help teachers plan school gardens around the academic calendar, provide tools for incorporating harvests into classroom lessons, school programs, and community organizations, and offer solutions for maintaining gardens during summer.

Workshop highlights include:
● Planning a Garden Calendar: CFI will provide visual aids for scheduling
planting, maintenance, and harvesting.
● Summer Solutions: Tips for low-maintenance crops, volunteer networks,
and community involvement.
● Easy-to-Grow Crops: A list of beginner-friendly plants for school
gardens.
● Harvesting & Usage: Ideas for integrating harvests into education and
donations.

Speakers

Daviiid Toledo

Founder & Owner, Contemporary Farmer, Inc.

Davíd Toledo (he/they) is a queer Xicano, ecofeminist, and Illinois native with eleven years of experience in organic food production. He studied Sustainable Community Development with minors in Sociology and Social Justice from Northland College. After being an educator through... Read More →

Saturday April 5, 2025 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT
Greenhouse, 1st Floor Academy for Global Citizenship, 4942 W 44th St, Chicago, IL 60638

Gardening + Growing, All levels: for everyone

Host Organization Contemporary Farmer Inc

1:00pm CDT

Overcoming Math Anxiety by Connecting to Nature: Research and Inspiration for Teaching 0-8 Year Olds

Saturday April 5, 2025 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT

Ecotone South, 2nd Floor

In order for children to care for our environment, they must first have plentiful time to play in and with it. For children to excel in math, it must be taught with joy. Learn how to support child-led, research-based learning of attribute, comparison, pattern, change, sets & sorting, spatial reasoning, quantity, and measurement for ages 0-8 outdoors and with natural tools you can bring inside. Dr. Solarski will draw on her experience as a former PreK-2 classroom teacher, math coach, Tinkergarten Leader, CPS parent, and nature play advocate. Using the Erikson Big Ideas of Early Math and Precursor Math Concepts texts as a guide, each topic will be explained and demonstrated through a presentation containing photographs and videos. There will be ample opportunity to tinker with natural items, reflect on our own experiences, apply new ideas, discuss with colleagues, and consider how to tailor takeaways to fit your classroom.

Speakers

Lauren Solarski

Founder, Erikson Institute

Lauren (she/her) spends most days exploring the wonder and joy of the city and nature with her 2 and 5-year-old. She is a part-time university instructor and founder of @mathWITHmama. Her work focuses on the truth that “math is about relationships.” She has a PhD in Child Development... Read More →

Saturday April 5, 2025 1:00pm - 2:15pm CDT
Ecotone South, 2nd Floor Academy for Global Citizenship, 4942 W 44th St, Chicago, IL 60638

Science Tech Engineering Arts Math (STEAM), All levels: for everyone

Host Organization Math WITH Mama

2:30pm CDT

Creating Sustainability Awareness and Action Through All-School Events

Saturday April 5, 2025 2:30pm - 3:45pm CDT

Pre-K Classroom, 1st Floor

In this interactive session presenters will share lessons learned from their multicultural south side elementary school’s annual Sustainability Fair. A regular part of their school calendar, Sustainability Fair creates a sense of shared responsibility for the Earth and teaches sustainability as a shared value--while still being fun!

Presenters will outline the entire arch of their event as it exists, from selecting a theme, to planning and event execution to post event evaluation. Presenters will highlight important considerations like tying the event into existing programs; creating roles for teachers, community and parent volunteers; and student-led elements.

During breakout groups, participants will workshop potential event concepts and learn from each other. Presenters will share photographs, videos, and student work samples to help make the prospect tangible.

Though the presenters both work at a school, the concept of a community-wide event has relevance for neighborhood groups as well as nature and art centers.

Speakers

Taye Brown

Ancona School Administrator, The Ancona School

Tayé Brown is an educator and administrator living and working on the South Side of Chicago. She holds a B.A. from the University of New Orleans and M.A. from DePaul University where she focused on Race and Gender Studies. As an educator and citizen the intersection between equity... Read More →

Christopher Weber

Outdoor Educator, Ancona School

As Ancona's outdoor educator, Chris (he/him) creates innovative programs and green spaces that reconnect students of all ages with the natural word. He's also an accredited horticulturist who designs and repair landscapes with children and families in mind. Chris formerly worked as... Read More →

Saturday April 5, 2025 2:30pm - 3:45pm CDT
Pre-K Classroom, 1st Floor Academy for Global Citizenship, 4942 W 44th St, Chicago, IL 60638

Community Building + Knowledge Sharing, All levels: for everyone

Host Organization Ancona School

2:30pm CDT

Encouraging Students to Become Green Stewards and Citizen Scientists

Saturday April 5, 2025 2:30pm - 3:45pm CDT

Ecotone North, 2nd Floor

Learn strategies that will help your students get outdoors to collect data and care for the land. You will leave the workshop with templates and ideas to use to help your school plan a clean up week to collect litter data and track the plants and animals in your neighborhood.

Speakers

Kerrie Rovito

Technology, Chicago Public Schools

Kerrie Rovito (she/her) is a K-8 Environmental Science and Technology teacher at Waters Elementary School. She has a passion for making science hands-on and helping students see the role they play within their environment.

Saturday April 5, 2025 2:30pm - 3:45pm CDT
Ecotone North, 2nd Floor Academy for Global Citizenship, 4942 W 44th St, Chicago, IL 60638

Environmental Stewardship + Climate Change, Level 1: for those who are new to the topic

2:30pm CDT

Kassa: A West African Harvest Dance

Saturday April 5, 2025 2:30pm - 3:45pm CDT

Gym, 1st Floor

In this interactive workshop, participants will learn movement to the Malinke family of rhythms known as Kassa, which is played for farmers as they work. No prior dance experience is needed and movement can be modified for all body types and mobilities. Participants will leave the workshop with greater joy and greater knowledge of how music and movement factor into African diasporic agricultural practices. Learning African dance expands cultural awareness, focuses the mind, activates happiness, boosts cardiovascular health, tones and stretches muscles, enhances respiratory health, increases spatial awareness, promotes collaboration, expands communication skills, and builds camaraderie in the collective. Movement learned during this workshop can be used during movement breaks in educational settings for all ages. Educators and communities will benefit greatly from this fun and enriching workshop!

Speakers

Ayanna London

Co-Light Director of Events and Programs, Light of Loving Kindness

Ayanna London (she/her) is a multi-media artist, performer, educator, and reiki practitioner. She is a Chicago native who, along with her husband, facilitates meditations, teaches herbalism and mycology, leads plant walks, teaches yoga and breathwork, facilitates music circles, teaches... Read More →

Zen Frankie Johnson

Light of Loving Kindness

Zen Frankie (he/him) is a Vegan Chef, Meditation Teacher, Herbalist, and Mycologist who began prepping and cooking vegan food out of desire to heal himself of Crohns disease. Zen Frankie is founder of Zen Vegan Life — a vegan and alkaline food and drink delivery & catering company... Read More →

Saturday April 5, 2025 2:30pm - 3:45pm CDT
Gym, 1st Floor Academy for Global Citizenship, 4942 W 44th St, Chicago, IL 60638

Food + Dance, All levels: for everyone

Host Organization Light of Loving Kindness

2:30pm CDT

Mushroom Workshop with Plant Chicago

Saturday April 5, 2025 2:30pm - 3:45pm CDT

Greenhouse, 1st Floor

TBD

Speakers

Tom Knapp

Education Manager, Plant Chicago

In 2019, Tom (he/him) graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a BS in Environmental Science and a minor in Sustainable Community Development. He then moved to Chicago to pursue an MS in Environmental Science and Sustainability from Loyola University Chicago. Since then... Read More →

Kiara Balleza

Program Associate, Plant Chicago

I (she/they) began my journey with sustainability by joining Plant Chicago during the COVID-19 pandemic, initially as a volunteer before advancing to an intern role and then a retail employee. I later transferred to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where I graduated in... Read More →

Saturday April 5, 2025 2:30pm - 3:45pm CDT
Greenhouse, 1st Floor Academy for Global Citizenship, 4942 W 44th St, Chicago, IL 60638

Gardening + Growing, All levels: for everyone

Host Organization Plant Chicago

2:30pm CDT

School Building Sustainability Tour

Saturday April 5, 2025 2:30pm - 3:45pm CDT

TBD Meeting Spot

Energy efficiency: Highly efficient building envelope, geothermal loop, and photovoltaic panels
Water efficiency: Water collection, conservation, reuse, and treatment strategies
Sustainability: Low carbon and non-toxic materials, rainwater gardens, and on-site urban agriculture
Open spaces: Flexible spaces that encourage collaboration
Daylight: Skylights to reduce energy consumption and create a more efficient learning environment

Saturday April 5, 2025 2:30pm - 3:45pm CDT
TBD Meeting Spot

School Tour

NEW FIELD 1 https://agcchicago.org/about-us

2:30pm CDT

Ecosystems of Climate Justice + Arts in the Parks

Saturday April 5, 2025 2:30pm - 3:45pm CDT

Ecotone South, 2nd Floor

For this session the facilitators ask that all attendees wear a mask for the duration of the workshop.

Join Young Cultural Stewards to learn about our youth arts and nature based programs within the Chicago Park District. Participants will learn about how we co-create ecosystems that feed us as educators, and sustain quality and relational youth work by being introduced to our community partnerships, program models, and curriculum. We will share how we foster young people's connection to nature through our climate justice and arts youth programming: ArtSeed (in-person) and *small is all* (hybrid) and the ways in which we partner with community farms and neighborhood gardens as well as environmental justice organizers to enrich our programming. We believe that it is important to work with teaching artists and community partners that are hyper-local and deeply embedded in the communities in which our youth reside. Finally, we will demonstrate a lesson plan and facilitate a participatory activity connected to our curriculum. Participants will have access to all of our digital curricula after the workshop.

Speakers

Irina Zadov

Senior Program Specialist, Young Cultural Stewards

Irina Zadov (they/she) is a mama, artist, educator, and cultural organizer. They are a queer post-Soviet Jewish immigrant and settler on the unceeded territories of the Three Fires Confederacy: Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi. Their practice explores themes of diaspora, state violence... Read More →

Gaby Garay

Program Steward, Young Cultural Stewards

Gaby (they/them) is a queer Salvadoran-Mexican born and raised in Illinois – they’re blessed to call these prairies, wetlands, savannas and forests home, but are always yearning for the mountains and volcanoes of elsewhere. They are an educator, crafter/maker and land steward... Read More →

Sarai Bernice

Program Steward, Young Cultural Stewards

Sarai Bernice (they/them) is a Black queer Chicago born Englewood based multidisciplinary artist, educator, land steward and avid learner of practices of freedom. Sarai’s current visual work explores themes of identity in relation to Land and geology. Sarai uses their artistic... Read More →

Saturday April 5, 2025 2:30pm - 3:45pm CDT
Ecotone South, 2nd Floor Academy for Global Citizenship, 4942 W 44th St, Chicago, IL 60638

Science Tech Engineering Arts Math (STEAM), All levels: for everyone

Host Organization Young Cultural Stewards, Chicago Park District

3:45pm CDT

Closing Remarks

Saturday April 5, 2025 3:45pm - 4:00pm CDT

Community Hall, 1st Floor

Saturday April 5, 2025 3:45pm - 4:00pm CDT
Community Hall, 1st Floor Academy for Global Citizenship, 4942 W 44th St, Chicago, IL 60638

Gatherings for All

4:00pm CDT

Gathering Reception

Saturday April 5, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm CDT

Community Hall, 1st Floor

Join us for small bites and drinks to continue connecting with each other! Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks will be available.

Saturday April 5, 2025 4:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
Community Hall, 1st Floor Academy for Global Citizenship, 4942 W 44th St, Chicago, IL 60638

Gatherings for All

Green Teacher Gathering

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