Meet our Summer Interns
Eric Epstein Communications Intern Eric is a rising senior at Northwestern University studying journalism, psychology, and integrated marketing communications. Eric co-founded the Northwestern Surf Club, with the mission of establishing a diverse and welcoming community of students who love to surf on Lake Michigan and are passionate about conserving its aquatic ecosystems. As the communications…
Read MoreCelebrating Net Zero Buildings Week
It’s our mission to make net zero buildings feasible, affordable, and commonplace in Illinois. To support this goal, we’re joining the New Buildings Institute in celebrating Net Zero Buildings Week! In celebration, we’re introducing new resources, case studies, and a state of net zero in Illinois survey to advance the building industry. Join us by…
Read MoreCelebrating the Illinois Green Schools Project Mentors
This past school year, nearly 50 volunteers from Illinois’ green building community mentored a school in designing and implementing a sustainability project as part of the Illinois Green Schools Project. We want to extend a huge thank you to these Green Schools Mentors, who lent their expertise and time to educating students and supporting schools…
Read MoreMeet our Spring Communications Intern: Clare Zhang
Clare is a sophomore at Northwestern University studying journalism and data science. She is serving as the Communications Intern for Illinois Green Alliance for the spring. She works on a variety of projects, primarily providing narrative storytelling for the Illinois Green Schools Project. At Northwestern, she has been involved with the Knight Lab, Supplies for…
Read MoreNeighborhood Power Project Testimonial: Ann Hinterman, Family Matters
Family Matters is a youth development and community leadership organization based in the North of Howard area of Rogers Park. The organization supports more than 130 youth in daily programming and their families, with an additional 300+ people participating in community collaborations. Family Matters’ programming is divided into three primary initiatives: Youth Development, including school…
Read MoreUrban Prairie Waldorf School: Early Childhood Water Pump
Students: 8 Staff: 8 Mentor: Katy Glynn Project type: Stormwater Management Location: Chicago, IL Grade levels: Early Childhood The Urban Prairie Waldorf School early childhood and woodworking teachers collaborated to create a water pump using a wine barrel and a hand pump, used to store water for outdoor gardening. Since the preschoolers spend much of their school day…
Read MoreWilliam Beye Elementary School: Understanding Our Impact on the Environment
Students: 397 Staff: 11 Mentor: Brianna Galvan Project type: Waste Reduction Location: Oak Park, IL Grade levels: K-5 William Beye Elementary School’s project won the first place award in the elementary school category for the 21-22 cohort of the Illinois Green Schools Project. Beye students focused on reducing waste in the lunchroom through sorting recycling, composting…
Read MoreJohn Barry Elementary School: Recycling & Gardening
Students: 18 Staff: 3 Mentor: Francisco Sobral Project type: Waste Reduction Location: Chicago, IL Grade levels: K-6 Barry’s project encouraged students to reuse and recycle in creative ways, including building bird feeders, toy marble rollercoasters, lava lamps and miniature cars using recyclable items, collected from around the neighborhood. They also created posters educating the entire school on…
Read MoreWhitney Young Magnet High School: Green Team’s Earth Week
Students: 15 Staff: 2 Mentor: Kitty Knauz & Emily Lanyon Project type: Various Location: Chicago, IL Grade levels: 7-12 Whitney Young worked on a multi-part plan to create sustainable change in the school while educating students and staff about being more environmentally friendly. Students formed a school Green Team to raise awareness among their peers through…
Read MoreAcademy for Global Citizenship: Waste and Energy Vermi Challenge
Students: 27Staff: 3Mentor: Ajit NaikProject type: Energy & Justice at SchoolLocation: Chicago, ILGrade levels: 8 Academy for Global Citizenship won the Theme of the Year award for the 21-22 cohort of the Illinois Green Schools Project. Eighth grade students in AGC’s Sustainability Design class conducted a school-wide waste audit and identified ways to improve. Using…
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