By Blair Mishleau
"It's not a bunch of greeny hippies," explains Chicago Conservations Corps (C3) Project Coordinator Kristen Pratt. She is talking about C3's Leadership Training Program, which is for anyone interested in making a difference in their own communities. The program will teach Chicago residents how to pursue conservation initiatives at a local level that could impact their neighborhoods.
"I think a lot of times people look at conservation issues as being very overwhelming, and our program offers people a chance to get a better understanding and then take action," says Pratt.
The projects don't have to be massive. Some of the local efforts former attendees launched included educating others in their apartment building about recycling, distributing CFL lightbulbs in their neighborhood, and organizing a beach clean-up day.
The C3 program offers five weekly four-hour sessions, which cover Land and Waste, Air and Energy, Water, Community Organizing and an onsite field trip. The goal of the program is to create a widespread conservation effect throughout Chicago by giving residents the tools to initiate new projects where they live, notes Pratt.
To become a certified leader, participants must complete a conservation project within their community. This can range from a demonstration on worm composting to simply promoting reusable water bottles. Since the program's inception in 2006, more than 250 people have completed the program, says Pratt. This means that over 250 community projects have been launched around Chicago because of this program, she says.
"[My wife and I] were members of the very first C3 training class," says Kevin Murphy, a freelance writer and Chicago resident. "Our community project was to reclaim a stretch of our community's entry road (100th Street) which also was the entry to Calumet Park. It attracted heavy traffic during several months of the year and we hoped creating an atmosphere of beauty would discourage dumping, especially of beer bottles and fast-food-residue."
Those interested in participating are required to attend one hour-long orientation session. C3 offers orientation sessions on September 10, 12 and 14 at various times and locations. Classes begin September 26 and continue every Saturday until October 17, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. In addition, there is a mandatory field trip on Saturday, October 24. The fee to attend is $75, and financial aid is available.
"What's really exciting is that the program isn't done after they've done that initial project," says Pratt. "We have people coming back to do their second and third projects now. We think that's another sign of how sustainable this program is long-term."
What local project ideas do you have for making your community a little greener?
