The Calumet  Stewardship Initiative

Archive Page 4-122109

Prof. Mark Bouman at Pullman CLock Tower-Part 1 of 2 parts.  (Video by kevin Murphy)

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.   [Please note that the newest entries are closest to the bottom of this page.]

Articles from the CSI Fall 2009 Newsletter:

Thismia americana – celebrating a Botanical Rarity

By Chris Hodak, Playwright

The Lake Calumet region means different things to different people, but for scientists, one reason the area is esteemed is because it is home to a botanical rarity--Thismia americana.  Found in 1912 by Norma Pfeiffer near 119th and Torrence, "Thismia americana" is truly a Lake Calumet one-of-a-kind; its closest relatives occur in Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand.  The plant's disappearance in 1917 only adds to its mysteriousness.

In late September 2009, at the Pullman Clock Tower, 11057 S. Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago, a new one-act play will have its world premiere.  The seventy-minute play is a multi-disciplinary exploration of identity, trust and loss told through traditional narrative, video, puppetry and dance.  In addition to three performances of Thismia americana, the weekend celebration (Sept. 24, 26 & 27) includes talks given by Lake Calumet experts attesting to the region's richness, plus a guided hike at Beaubien Woods.

Event details

Thursday, September 24, at 7:30 p.m., Pullman Clock Tower.  "Thismia americana" premieres followed by a Question and Answer session with Thismia hunt organizer and restoration ecologist, Linda Masters.

Saturday, September 26, at 2:00 p.m., Pullman Clock Tower.  Performance followed by an interactive overview of the Calumet region's fascinating geologic and cultural history by Mark Bouman, Geography Professor at Chicago State University and President of the Calumet Heritage Partnership.

Sunday, September 27 at 11:30 a.m.   Starts with a guided hike at Beaubien Woods in the Forest Preserve District of Cook County with the site's steward, Laurel Ross of the Field Museum, and a brief note about Hegewisch Marsh by Nicole Kamins of Chicago Department of Environment.  A 12:30 p.m. potluck picnic follows right after at Beaubien Woods.   The performance will begin at the Pullman Clock Tower at 2:00 p.m.

The weekend celebration is sponsored by Calumet Heritage Partnership, Chicago Department of Environment, The Field Museum, and Pullman State Historic Site.  The weekend's performances have received a Community Arts Assistance Program grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

Attended free parking will be available at the first gate north of 111th Street on South Cottage Grove Ave. (www.pullman-museum.org)

The performances are free and open to the public.  Limited seating, come early.  No reservations will be taken.  A free will donation will be taken at the door.   Proceeds will benefit the Pullman State Historic Site.  For further information please visit: myspace.com/ThismiaPlay or write ThismiaPlay@gmail.com.

(For a discussion of the play, see "Thismia americana review.")

Indiana-to-Illinois Bus Tour of Ecologically Significant Natural Areas

By Jerry Attere, Chicago Department of Environment

On October 22, 2009, the  Calumet Stewardship Initiative (CSI) will be hosting a one day tour of significant natural areas in southeast Chicago.  This tour will promote a bi-state understanding and knowledge of ecological resources in the Illinois portion of the Calumet region.  The tour is a reversal of last year's tour, in which Illinois partners visited Indiana sites.

Southeast Chicago is rich in  bio-diverse natural areas that are worthy of a visit, but not all can be visited in just one trip.  Therefore, we will highlight just three specific sites through guided hikes, including Hegewisch Marsh, Powderhorn Prairie, and Wolf Lake.   In addition, there will be CSI partners on board serving as tour guides to briefly point out other notable sites along the tour and some quick stops will be made at some of these sites.

Bi-state collaboration is essential for long-term restoration and stewardship of natural areas in the Calumet region.  Over the past decade, the region has established many remarkable coalitions of private and public partners, such as CSI, that continue to make progress in protecting and preserving natural areas.  LIke the trip before, this one will provide another platform for collaboration and prioritizing the best management practices for the entire region.  Land managers, stewards,and environmental educators from both sides of the state line are crucial to our continued success.

If you are interested in participating, please RSVP to Jerry Attere at 312-744-9136, or jerry.attere@cityiofchicago.org.

2009 Ford Environmental Leadership Internship interns visiting Hegewisch Marsh.  (Photo by Jerry Attere)

Fishin’ Buddies Youth conservation conference fosters the next generation of nature champions

By Emily Chase, Chicago Wilderness/Leave No Child Inside Summer Intern

On Monday, June 22, twenty-four high school students gathered at Chicago State University to kick off Fishin' Buddies first annual Youth Conservation Conference (YCC).  While some of the students had previously experienced the natural world, many said that they had never spent much time outdoors, let alone electroshock fishing or hacking away at invasive buckthorn in the nearby forest preserves.   By Friday, this would all change.  These twenty-four urban youth, who underwent a rigorous interview process, would now endure a week of "conservation boot camp" to introduce them to concepts and methods of environmental conservation.

Fishin' Buddies, Inc., was founded in 1991 by John Kidd, Jr., as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to introducing urban children to the outdoors.  While it originally focused on competitive fishing derbies, a 1994 grant from the U.S, Fish and Wildlife Service prompted Kidd to introduce conservation and environmental education programming to the Fishin' Buddies curriculum. This year, the program was bigger than ever.  During the week-long YCC, students split into groups of four to work on special projects, in which each group researched a contemporary environmental issue.  The students made poster boards, prepared speeches, and presented their final projects to their families and to conservation professionals at the YCC Awards Banquet on Friday night.  Throughout the week, the groups also attended field trips to Camp Sagawu, Beaubien Woods,and Tampier Lake to experience conservation in action.  The students were not afraid to get their hands dirty while conducting forest plot surveys, performing water tests, and even holding freshwater fish with their bare hands.  Although the work was hard, it was rewarding. The high school juniors who completed the work were awarded six-week paid environmental internships with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County.   The sophomores were offered three-week paid internships with Fishin' Buddies, culminating in the Kids' FEst Conservation Expo on July 18-19 at Monroe harbor.

The YCC was sponsored by Chicago Wilderness, The Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, Arcelor Mittal, National Fish and Wildlife Service, Illinois Department of Natural Resources,Chicago State University, the Field Museum, the Chicago Park District, and Argonne National Laboratory.  This powerful coalition of support was drawn to Fishin' Buddies by its goal of introducing urban students to nature and conservation, with the hope that some will become dedicated environmentalists.  "Young people who live in big cities often don't have a chance to experience the fun of outdoor recreation," said guest speaker Marc Miller, Director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, at the YCC Award Banquet.  He continued, "We sincerely believe that young people who fish, hunt, hike, camp and simply spend time in our parks and in the outdoors are the people who will make our world a better place." 

Hopefully, Fishin Buddies will give more young people the opportunity to do just that.

Community Markets--Right Idea at the Right Time

by Kevin P. Murphy, Secretary, CSI

The movie, "Field of Dreams," popularized the expression, "Build it and they will come."   One of the themes of that movie is the need to restore dreams/fantasies to lives that have become overly materialistic and pragmatic.  Following a similar theory, Master Gardener, Gregory Bratton has initiated a new "Communities Markets" project at 82nd and Buffalo, in South Chicago.

On Saturday, September 5, 2009, at that location, Bratton and a group of his co-workers--associates, students, friends--held their first market sale in which freshly picked watermelon and sweet corn were the featured sale items.  

The "communities market" concept that Bratton invokes is of a fruit and vegetable marketplace that is (1) based, not on distant farm producers but, rather, on local neighborhood gardens, and (2) located within easy walking distance of its clientele--or, in the case of the 82nd and Buffalo site, within a block's distance of a South Chicago Trolley stop. 

It is Bratton's plan that the Communities Market idea will spread to other key community sites throughout the southeast Chicago region and, ultimately, serve as the prototype for community gardening and marketing throughout the Chicago metropolitan area.

Among the peripheral benefits that he anticipates are (1) the creation of new jobs (the staff to man the marketplaces, among others), (2) the removal of eyesore lots from the community landscape and their replacement with community gardens that will enable the community to (a) make fresh, healthy food products available to a community that presently cannot afford such options from existing commercial outlets, (b) feed the people who work the gardens, (c) make the excess available to other community members at a reasonable cost, (d) provide alternative  engagement to young people who are currently too frequently absorbed into less productive activity, (e) add economic stimulus to the neighborhood served by the community marketplace, by providing employment, and saving residents' limited resources through reduction of travel requirements, and offering affordable products.

Starting on a small scale to test the viability of the concept, the group stocked their market with 50 watermelons and about an equivalent number of dozens of ears of sweet corn.  When we arrived at the site, about an hour after it opened, there were only 5 watermelons left, and an equivalent quantity of corn.   During the time we photographed the event, the watermelon supply dropped to 3, with the corn supply dwindling accordingly.   The premiere of the "Communities Market" was a clear success. 

The next scheduled date for this new Community Market is Saturday, September 12, 2009, with the expectation that this will become a weekly event.   

Bratton and his team having built it, "they" did come.

Watermelons remaining, from a starting batch of 50.   Approximately 1 hour after market opened.   (Photo by Kevin Murphy)

Labor Day Historical Presentation at "The Zone"

A group of approximately 60 cyclists, making an annual Labor Day pilgrimage between the 19th century company towns of Pullman, in Chicago, and Marktown, in Indiana, stopped at one of the region's labor-history significant sites, "The Zone," near 118th Street and Avenue O, in Chicago, Labor Day morning. 

The Zone was originally the home of Local 1033, the union local that emerged from the ashes of the 1937 Memorial Day Massacre at Republic Steel's South Chicago plant. 

CSi Secretary, Kevin Murphy, spoke to the group about that historical event. 

CSI Secretary, Kevin Murphy, addresses group of Labor Day bicyclists at "The Zone"--former home of United Steelworkers Local 1033.  (Video by Joann Podkul)

Fishin' Buddies students  learn about prairie ecology and restoration (Photo by Robert Lott)

Participants present their final projects at

the Youth Conservation Conference Awards

Banquet.   (Photo by Robert Lott)

Remaining sweet corn, approximately 1 hour after market opened.   (Photo by Kevin Murphy)

Approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes after market opened.   (Photo by Kevin Murphy)

On Saturday September 26, 2009, visitors to the Pullman Clock Tower Administration Building were treated to the Wold Premiere performance of "Thismia americana," a play inspired by the 1912 discovery of the rare plant of the same name, in the vicinity of 119th Street and Torrence Avenue, in Chicago.  

Written by Chris Hodak, the play had three performances that weekend, starting on Thursday, when it was followed by a Question and Answer session with Thismia hunt organizer and restoration ecologist, Linda Masters.  

Saturday's performance (covered by CSI staff) was followed by an interactive overview of the Calumet region's fascinating geologic and cultural history by Mark Bouman, Geography Professor at Chicago State University, and President of the Calumet Heritage Partnership.  

The final performance was held on Sunday, September 27, starting with a guided hike at Beaubien Woods in the Forest Preserve District of Cook County with the site's steward, Laurel Ross of the Field Museum, and a brief note about Hegewisch Marsh by Jerry Attere of Chicago Department of Environment.

The weekend celebration was sponsored by Calumet Heritage Partnership, Chicago Department of Environment, The Field Museum, and Pullman State Historic Site.  The weekend's performances received a Community Arts Assistance Program grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

The following videos and photos are from the September 26, 2009, event.

(For a discussion of the play, see "Thismia americana review."

Audience gathering at Pullman Clock Tower auditorium space, Saturday, September 26, 2009.  (Photo by Kevin Murphy)

An important "player" in the production was this puppet head representation of Dr. Norma Pfeifer, who discovered the plant in 1912 (it was last seen in 1916).  (Photo by Kevin Murphy)

Prof. Mark Bouman at Pullman CLock Tower-Part 2 of 2 parts.  (Video by kevin Murphy)

Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative held its 6th Annual (Bi-State) Active Living Faire at the William Powers Conservation Area, in Chicago, Illinois, and at the Environmental Education Center, in Hammond, Indiana, on October 2 and 3, 2009.  The following photos and videos are of the October 2, afternoon events at the Hammond Environmental Education Center.  (Videos by Kevin Murphy)

SETF's Danielle Diaz speaks to AWLI participants about No Child Left Inside program.

CSI Chairperson, Joann Podkul, updates AWLI group on CSI's activities-part 1 of 3

CSI Chairperson, Joann Podkul, updates AWLI group on CSI's activities-part 2 of 3.

CSI Chairperson, Joann Podkul, updates AWLI group on CSI's activities-part 3 of 3.

PKay Hand demonstrates healthy use of Hula Hoops for diabetes prevention and/or control.

United Urban Network, Inc., held a dinner planning meeting at the Steelyard's Bennigan's Restaurant, in Gary, Indiana, on Saturday, October 3, 2009.

United Urban Network, Inc., Founder and CEO, Cassandra Cannon (standing) welcomes committee members to The Steelyard Bennigan's, in Gary, Indiana.  (See Cassandra's article at Guest Articles.)  (Photo by Kevin Murphy)

The Calumet Stewardship Initiative held its semi-annual General Membership meeting at the CSI/SETF office at 13300 S. Baltimore, on Tuesday, September 29, 2009.   A majority of CSI's General Membership organizations, as well as a few Partner-in-Support organizations, were present at the meeting, in which they planned major activities and events for 2009-2010.  (Photo by Kevin Murphy)

Hegewisch Marsh Tree Planting

On October 21, 2009, CSI member Chicago Department Of Environment, conducted a tree planting at Hegewisch Marsh in Southeast Chicago.  Participants from a number of regional and local organizations planted 75 trees, featuring 3 native species (Burr Oak, Swamp White Oak, and Sycamore), along with 25 Nannyberry Viburnum shrubs.   Volunteers from Treekeepers provided on-site education about trees, the best way(s) to plant them and care for them.

Indiana-to-Illinois Environmental Sites Bus Tour

On October 22, 2009, members of various Indiana-based environmental organizations were guests on a tour of Southeast Chicago's significant natural areas. 

Hosted by CSI member, Chicago Department of Environment (CDOE), the tour was intended to enhance bi-state understanding and increased knowledge of ecological resources in the Southeast Chicago section of the Calumet Region. 

This year's tour was designed to complement the 2008 CSI/CDOE Illinois-Indiana tour that took Illinois members to see the environmental wonders of Northwest Indiana.  (Videos by Kevin Murphy & Joann Podkul)

AWLI's 4th Annual "Greening of the Arts" Reception & Show

On October 24, 2009, Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative hosted its 4th Annual Greening of the Arts Reception & Show at the Hammond Environmental Education Center, 2405 Calumet Avenue, Hammond, Indiana.

The arts show, which ran from 10:00A.M. to 7:30 P.M., featured an Artists' Forum with guest speakers Mary McClelland and Jeffrey Manuszak, an Aerobics session guided by Paula K. Hand, the announcement of the winner(s) of the AWLI student art competition, a wine-and-cheese reception, acknowledgment of 2009 volunteers and donors, and a raffle. 

The works of fifteen artists were displayed in the show, as was the work of student entrants in the AWLi arts for the environment competition.  (Photos by Kevin Murphy)

Art Exhibits at Southeast Chicago Historical Society's James P. Fitzgibbons Museum Highlight Chicago Artists Month

October was Chicago Artists Month.  As part of the celebration, the Southeast Chicago Historical Society featured some of the many artists working in Southeast Chicago, with reproductions of their work being displayed in a special gallery section of the James P. Fitzgibbons Historical Museum, in the Calumet Park Field House, 9801 S. Avenue G, Chicago.  Included in the exhibit were photographs, paintings, photos of mural designs, and reproductions of covers of local authors' books.   (Photos of exhibits were taken by Joann Podkul)

"Reflections," by Rod Sellers

Book cover, by David Garza

"Harmony Hamburgers" by Joe Mulac

Covers of 2 novels by local author, Kevin P. Murphy

United Urban Network, Inc., Plans "Welcome Home" Celebration for Veterans

Representatives of United Urban Network, Inc., member organizations participated in a planning meeting at the Steelyard Bennigan's, in Gary, Indiana, on Sunday, November 8, 2009.    The focus of the meeting was the planning of a "Welcome Home" celebratory event for regional veterans of all American wars. (Photos by Kevin Murphy)

United Urban Network, Inc. Founder and CEO, Cassandra A. Cannon, leads participants in discussion.

AWLI's Stewards of the Year 2009 Awards

The Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative (AWLI) held its "Banquet of the Decade & Golden Oldies" Dance at Steve's Lounge. 13200 S. Baltimore Avenue, Chicago, on Saturday, November 14, 2009.  During the event, AWLI President, Bob Victor, and Executive Director, Michael Bos, presented Stewards of 2009 Awards to Bob Robertson, of Indiana Department of Natural Resources, and to Kevin Murphy, of the Calumet Stewardship Initiative.   After the dinner and awards presentation, participants danced to music by provided by AWLI member, Ken Czulno's  "Just 4 Fun" band.

AWLI President,  Bob Victor (right), presents award to IDNR's Bob Robertson (left).  (Photo by Joann Podkul)

Ken Czulno's "Just 4 Fun" band, onstage at Steve's Lounge, in Hegewisch (Chicago).  (Photo by Joann Podkul)

AWlI members take advantage of the opportunity to dance.  (Photo by Joan Podkul)

SCCC Annual Thanksgiving Networking Luncheon

The South Chicago Chamber of Commerce (SCCC) held its annual Thanksgiving networking luncheon at the House of Bing.   This annual meeting provides board members with an opportunity to catch up with one another's activities, something that is rarely possible during regular SCCC  work meetings.

Chamber of Commerce members listen as new Olive-Harvey President, Clyde El-Amin, discusses his hopes for strong collaboration with the community. (Photo by Kevin Murphy)

Knowledge Hookup hosted a celebration lunch at the school on Thursday, November 19, 2009.   Special guests included Illinois State Representative, Marlow Colvin, and some of his staff. (Videos by Kevin Murphy)

Communicating Watershed Concerns to an Urban John Q. Public

The Indiana Lakes Management Society and the Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative co-hosted an all-day workshop on Friday, November 20, Communicating Watershed Concerns to an Urban John Q. Public, which discussed reasons for, and solutions to, these concerns. The workshop was held at the Hammond Marina.

Hammond Mayor, Tom McDermott, talks about water-related projects being undertaken by Hammond.

(Photo by Joann Podkul)

10th Ward (Chicago) Alderman, John Pope talks about environmental projects in the ward.   (Photo by Kevin Murphy)

Above 2 photos by Kevin Murphy

South Chicago Chamber's 27th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner

The South Chicago Chamber of Commerce's 27th Annual Thanksgiving Dinner was held at the South Chicago YMCA on Thanksgiving Day, from 11:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.  Some 135 guests--senior residents of the YMCA and community members--were served free meals by members of the Chamber.

South Chicago Chamber of Commerce's members prepare to serve the guests who are about to enter the YMCA cafeteria space.  (Photo by Joann Podkul)

South Chicago Chamber of Commerce's servers in operation.  (Photo by Joann Podkul, Video by Kevin Murphy))

Work Day at Beaubien Woods

On Saturday, December 5, approximately 40 students, about equally divided between Carver Military Academy and Olive-Harvey College, joined Field Museum CEEP staff and community volunteers in a guided walk through the site, in which they learned ways to take care of Calumet Forest Preserves, why preservation practitioners do what they do, and then participated in removing invasive plant species.   A lunch was provided, and s’mores were cooked over a bonfire built from the scraps of cut invasives.    Calumet Environmental Education Program Stewardship Coordinator, Laura Milkert, hosted the event at Beaubien Woods.

The Calumet Ecological Park Association (CEPA) combined its December 1, 2009, business meeting and Christmas party at the Southeast Sportsmen's Club, in Hegewisch.   Featured speaker was CEPA member and Chicago Conservation Corps (C3) Environmental Leader Training Program, Sharon Rolek, who presented information about the C3 Home Weatherization Program.

Victim of a public speaker's nightmare--laryngitis--C3 Leader, Sharon Rolek (center) invites CEPA members to come close so that she may be audible to them.  (Photo by Joann Podkul)

CEPA's officers for 2010 were sworn in during the meeting.  (Photo by Joann Podkul)

This photo was just recently received at the CSI office.   While it is of a November, 2009, event, we have published it now because it is an important record of a CSI event, and because it has been provided by a CSI member organization, rather than CSI photo staff, an all-too-rare occurrence.  That it took so long to reach CSI's website staff is unfortunate, but it speaks for itself.   [Note to member organizations: please send us photos of your events. - kpm]

Calumet Is My Backyard (CIMBY) students celebrate a creative reuse of litter they picked up while participating in a stewardship workday at Dolton Prairie on November 5th, 2009.