The Calumet Stewardship Initiative
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At the Gibson Woods Nature Center, the Wildlife Habitat Council's Daniel Goldfarb and Central District Organization's Lori Peterson describe conservation programs being offered in local schools.
At Hoosier Prairie the group met with Tom Post (regional ecologist with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources), and toured a section of the site.
Food is nice, but celebrating together makes it more than just a meal.
Articles from the CSI Fall 2008 Newsletter:
Urban and Community Gardening in the Calumet Region
By Laura Perna, Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Residents in the Calumet region have been growing vegetable and flower gardens for generations. The availability of fresh fruit and vegetables is not taken for granted in this part of the city. For many residents, a trip to the grocery store can be a half day endeavor. Cost and quality are an issue for many, especially for senior citizens and others on a fixed income. The increasing cost of gasoline and rising transportation costs for food in general makes the availability of wholesome food in the neighborhood an even more desirable amenity.
“Community gardens are helping to address the lack of choice and availability of food for residents throughout Chicago and right here in the Calumet region,” said Greg Bratton, Community Garden Coordinator for the Healthy Southeast Chicago and Stay Focusd’ Foundation who manages several gardens in the 10th Ward in the region (Greg is highlighted in the “Tribute” section of the CSI calendar). Greg points out that the gardens use no pesticides, and that his methods for growing food stem from his simple, Arkansas country know how. The gardens grow food used by a diverse group of residents, and take into account cultural and age appropriate tastes. “There is the “hot dog” garden for kids at one location, and a senior citizen garden that grows food products that takes into account their prefere
nces”. It becomes apparent that the hot dog garden is appropriately named when the kids in the neighborhood stop by on Saturdays to help out. After weeding and tilling, they are fed dogs hot from the grill set up nearby.
The gardens help to establish pride in residents of all ages, and “greens up” the neighborhood at the same time. “If given a choice of an empty lot versus a food producing community garden plot, I think it’s a safe bet that folks would opt for that lot to be a help to the community, rather than an eyesore”, said Bratton.
Greg’s legacy is already “growing,” but the idea of having food available year round would further ensure that the urban gardens he manages are reaching their full potential.
For more information:
Healthy South Chicago & Stay Focus Foundation
Neighborspace Sites
CSI Tribute
Tribute to Gregory Bratton
Gregory Bratton has volunteered and been employed by several not for profit entities in the Calumet region for many years. He currently works for the Stay Focusd’ Foundation. He possesses a myriad of skill sets. He is a community organizer, master gardener, computer expert and trainer, and a one man employment agency. He works with residents and community groups from children to senior citizens. He hails from Arkansas and has brought his simple, earth-friendly agricultural practices to good use in the many community gardens in the 10th ward he manages, with assistance from a very involved citizenry. Congratulations to Greg on his many accomplishments in the Calumet region.
Written by Laura Perna, Illinois Department of Natural Resources
10th Ward Green Summit
by Kevin Murphy & Joann Podkul
Area residents who missed the 10th Ward Green Summit on Saturday, May 31, this year, will have an opportunity to view some of the 20 sites on the bus tour by way of a slide presentation, available free of charge to small groups and organizations.
Sites include 7 community gardens, 2 recreational stewardship areas, 5 locations of existing buildings with green features, 2 proposed sites for green buildings and 2 parks. Thirty-seven organizations participated in the event spearheaded by Claretian Associates. About half of them were members of CSI. It is hoped that the event will be repeated next year, to continue to provide the community with information on green, eco-friendly developments on the Southeast side of what is, perhaps, the world's greenest city. For more information about the slide presentation, contact Kevin Murphy, CSI Secretary, at kevinmruphy1@earthlink.net, or call 773-375-2231.
Bird watching Group led by bird expert, Walter Marcisz, during the Southeast
Environmental Task Force’s Biodiversity Day of Exploration in June, 2008.
Photo credit: Beatriz Cañas
CSI WEBSITE GALLERY SECTION:
Included below is a photographic and videographic sampling of recent activities performed by CSI Member Organizations who work at cleaning up, restoring and maintaining Calumet Region environmental treasures, preserving, recording and transmitting the culture of the region, and developing its economy in environmentally responsible ways.
The Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative (AWLI) held its Third Annual Autumn Reception & Art Show on October 25 and 26, at the Environmental Education Center, 2405 Calumet Avenue, Hammond. AWLI added a live band and an artists' forum as new features this year.
The event honors volunteers and donors who made AWLI’s three festivals in 2008 such successes.
The Art Show, free to the public, began at 10 a.m. Saturday and continued through 4 p.m. Sunday, featuring artists who use recycled products, or who focus on nature and the environment.
A special additional feature was the appearance by Illinois State Representative, Marlow Colvin (33rd District), at the event. Rep. Colvin commended supporters of AWLI and the Southeast Environmental Task Force for their important contribution to Calumet Region environmental efforts, and credited both with guiding his environmental decisions--decisions which led Sierra Club to award Rep. Colvin a 100% "green" rating. (Videos by Kevin Murphy)
On Saturday, October 18, 2008, the Calumet Heritage Partnership (CHP) presented its 9th ANNUAL CALUMET HERITAGE CONFERENCE, "Calumet Crossroads: Changes and Challenges In Regional Transportation." Co-sponsored by Indiana University Northwest (IUN), the conference was held at IUN's delightful Savannah Center, in Gary, Indiana, from 8:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M., with a Bus Tour of the historic Lincoln Highway across northwest Indiana led by local author Cynthia Ogorek, from 1:00-5:00 P.M.
Featured speakers were Mark Bouman, CHP President; Steve McShane, Curator, Calumet Regional Archives at IUN; Bob Harris, Electric Rail Historian and Preservationist; John Hankey, Historian and Museum Consultant, City of Michigan City; Craig Phillips, City Planning Director, Department of City Planning, Valparaiso; and Thomas Murtha, Chicago Metropolitan Planning Agency (CMAP). (Photos by Kevin Murphy, except where otherwise indicated.)
CHP President, Dr. Mark Bouman, provides the context for the day's presentations and events. (Video by Kevin Murphy)
Mark Bouman directs audience’s attention to unusual terminology on slide
Electric Rail Historian and
Preservationist Bob Harris spoke about the “Network of Rail & Wire: Placing the South Shore Line in the Historical Context of Electric Railroad Networks.”
John Hankey, Historian and Museum Consultant, City of Michigan City spoke about “Michigan City’s South Shore Line Museum Project.”
Partial view of CHP audience.
CHP Conference attendees visit information booths of participating organizations between presentations.
On Saturday, October 25, 2008, AWLI guests were treated to a wine and cheese reception that featured intelligent food selections provided under the guidance of Healthy Southeast Chicago’s Executive Director, Dinah Ramirez. (Photos by Kevin Murphy)
Rep. Colvin chats with AWLI Executive Director, Michael Boos.
Earlier that day, at the James Fitzgibbons Museum of the Southeast Chicago Historical Society, Chicago Artists Month was also being celebrated with the display of work by local artists who have contributed to the preservation and enhancement of community history and architectural treasures. (Photos by Kevin Murphy)
A narrow, but busy, aisle. ↑
↓
The wall that displays all the artists’ work through the end of 2008.
On October 1 and 8, 2008, staff from The Field Museum presented a Grant Proposal Writing Workshop for Educators at the James Vodak/East Side Library. Teachers from the Calumet region were instructed in grant application procedures, researching what grants are available, their deadlines, and how to write the proposal necessary to receive funding. During the first session teachers were guided in the creation of a grant proposal, and in the second session (photographs below), they were guided in revising their initial drafts and preparing a final proposal to submit for funding. (Photos by Kevin Murphy)
Calumet Environmental Education Program (CEEP) staff members KirkAnne Taylor (l) and Christy Page (r), working with teachers from Southeast Chicago schools.
Hammond, IN--October 4, 2008: Presentations on healthy aging, family fitness and healthy eating were featured at the 5th Annual Active Living Faire (ALF) held at Wolf Lake, at Shelter 1, William Powers Conservation Area in the morning, and during the afternoon at the Environmental Education Center, 2405 Calumet Avenue, Hammond.
Multicultural Wellness Network, MOTTEP, and Healthy Southeast Chicago assisted AWLI in planning the event. Free health screenings, tai chi, educational displays, nutrition and healthy cooking, family fitness, a bike tour and nature walks were featured, and winners of the AWLi Wolf Lake Poster Contest were announced in the afternoon.
CSI Secretary, Kevin Murphy, explains CSI website to audience. (Photo by Joann Podkul)
SETF Education Coordinator, Jessica Cañas, explains "No Child Left Inside" program. (Photo by Joann Podkul)
AWLI Executive Director, Michael Boos, answers question from audience member.
(Photo by Joann Podkul)
Morning activities took place on the Illinois side of Wolf Lake, at the William Powers Conservation Area. (Photos by Robert A. Victor)
El Valor "Early Head Start" booth.
Aunt Martha's Healthcare Network booth.
Hammond, IN--October 3, 2008: Surrounded by bow hunters' tree stands, camping gear, tents, and the like, a group of more than 70 people, representing 44 conservation, environmental, and land management organizations, met in conference rooms at the Hammond Cabela's store to discuss ways in which regional and national funding organizations may support local groups in their work.
Co-sponsored by ArcelorMittal, the Calumet Stewardship Initiative (CSI), the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation (GDDF), and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), the event opened with a brief Welcome and Introduction by CSI Chair, Joann Podkul, with USEPA's Karen Rodriguez, as emcee. Featured speakers were NFWF's Senior Advisor, Central Partnership Office, Moira T. McDonald; GDDF's Director-Chicago Program, Paul Botts; ArcelorMittal's Heather Loebner, Manager, Corporate Responsibility, Americas; and Indiana Department of Natural Resources Program Manager, Mike Molnar, each of whom described the availability and types of, and procedures for seeking, funding for regional conservation--and related--projects.
An excellent lunch was served by Cabela's Deli staff. (Photos by Kevin P. Murphy)
Calumet Stewardship Initiative Chairperson, Joann M. Podkul
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Karen Rodriguez
Moira T. McDonald, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Senior Advisor, Central Partnership Office
Paul Botts, Director–Chicago Program, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation
Heather Loebner, ArcelorMittal Manager of Corporate Responsibility, Americas
Final presenter at the meeting, Indiana DNR Program Manager, Mike Molnar
Partial sampling of participants attending the event.
September 29, 2008--Initiated in 1994 by 3 federal agencies and a few hundred volunteers, National Public Lands Day has grown to include 8 federal agencies and many state and local lands, with more than 110,000 people participating in the 2007 event, at more than 1,300 locations, and in every state. The event was begun with the vision of keeping "the promise of the Civilian Conservation Corps, the "tree army" that worked from 1933-42 to preserve and protect America's natural heritage." (http://www.publiclandsday.org/about/index.htm)
Here in our region, several organizations participated in the event. Those that we were able to cover are highlighted in the following section. We welcome photos from other member organizations who participated in this event. (Videos by Kevin Murphy)
Morning
Friends of the Parks (FOTP), in
partnership with the Forest
Preserve District of Cook County and the Blue Island Bicycle Club, conducted a “Save the Oaks” volunteer workday at Whistler Woods, marking the first-ever public brush cutting workday at
that site. In this video, FOTP
representative, Rebecca Blazer, orients the young cyclists to the site and to safety procedures
Afternoon
Member Organization, BIG:Blacks In Green, hosted volunteers from other member organizations who helped BIG to spread the word about the growing need for young people to become involved in green educational, environmental, industrial and scientific careers, providing insights into the types of jobs/careers that will be needing trained and motivated candidates, the kinds of educational paths to follow to prepare for those positions, etc. The following three videos are from that event. (Videos by Kevin Murphy)
BIG:Blacks In Green--Video 2, of 3
BIG:Blacks In Green--Video 1, of 3
BIG:Blacks In Green--Video 3, of 3
On September 22, 2008, Chicago Department of Environment (CDOE) conducted a one-day bus tour of significant natural areas of northwest Indiana in conjunction with The Nature Conservancy, the Wildlife Council, and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. The purpose of the tour was to encourage more bi-state understanding, and enhance participants' knowledge of ecological resources in the Indiana segment of the Calumet region. Videos from portions of that event are presented below. (Videos by Kevin P. Murphy
