Auburn Gresham's Earth Day 2010
Linda Johnson
Published: April 24, 2010
A landscape portrait gives testimony to the incredible participation of several local high school students at Auburn Gresham's 3rd Annual Earth Day.
Gaia Movement, USE
In association with the White House Administration’s celebration of the 40th Annual Earth Day, Vice President Joe Biden announced $452 million in Recovery Act “Retrofit Ramp-Up” awards. These awards will help make energy efficiency affordable for hundreds of thousands of homeowners and businesses, and are expected to create tens of thousands of jobs in the process.
No stranger to improving the quality of life of it residents, the Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation (GADC) and partnering organizations and institutions came together under a sun-drenched, Chicago Park District-Auburn Park, with nearly 200 students arriving on foot and by bus to volunteer at GADC's 3rd Annual Earth Day and Recycle Fair, in the historic Winneconna Park area.
Simeon Career Academy High Schools students and an administrator graciously pose for a photo at the 3rd Annual Earth Day celebration.
Norma Sanders
Eagerly greeted by GADC’s Earth Day partner, The Gaia Movement, U.S.A, and volunteers from AmeriCorps, Marquette Bank, 006th District C.A.P.S., and local supporters, students received a warm, exciting welcome from Executive Director Carlos Nelson before an awe inspiring appeal to ‘keep their communities clean’ from 17th Ward Alderman Latasha Thomas.
Armed with rakes, shovels, and brooms, students from Betty Shabazz International Charter School, Perspectives-Calumet and Simeon High Schools and Westcott Elementary, were given vests and garden gloves after a brief safety seminar from Cleanslate’s Crew Chief, Sonya Caldwell, before descending on the vacant lot and meandering lagoon.
The Mt. Hermon MB Church parking lot, 79th & Normal, was the staging area for the recycle fair where local residents participated in the solar panel, rain barrel, bio-diesel fuel and compost demonstrations facilitated by the Gaia staff.
Perspectives Charter School-Calumet High School students and an administrator collectively pick up litter near the Winneconna lagoon.
Norma Sanders
Participants made their own eco-friendly green cleaning solution during an interactive demonstration facilitated by GADC’s Aurora Cruz.
Free raffle drawings were performed throughout the day with winnings such as CFL bulbs, low-flow faucet aerators, reusable canvas bags, low-flow shower heads, and blue bags, provided by the Chicago Conversation Corp.
Following this massive clean up, students feasted on donated food items such as burgers (White Castle), chicken wings (Soul Food Unlimited), Biscuits (Church’s Chicken), chicken wings and cookies (Shark’s and Subway), sandwich’s (Pot Belly’s), hot dogs (Moo & Oink), water, ice, and snacks (Walgreen’s), donuts (Dunkin’ Donuts), coffee (Starbucks), water (Pete’s Produce), chicken (Popeye’s) and food from Jewel and ALDI. The Yoninah Café set up a colorful display of fresh fruits and vegetables, donating sweet and juicy navel oranges for the students.
AmeriCorps members help to distribute Gaia Movement, USA green materials at the Auburn Gresham 3rd Annual Earth Day event.
Gaia Movement, USA
Winneconna resident, Connie Daniels, said “It warms my heart to see students actively engaged in such a positive event as Earth Day.
[Our] Teen-agers in the community receive negative press so often; I hope to see a good story about how these students are contributing to the earth in Auburn Gresham.”
Click here to view more heartfelt moments of this celebratory and green reinvestment in the Auburn Gresham community.
Posted in Community Highlights