All around us, in every community from Chicago’s South Side to rural Illinois to coastal Michigan, there are local heroes who have devoted themselves to promoting sustainability in their communities; advancing environmental justice; and fighting climate change.
Wondering how you can take action in your own home or community? Join us for an Earth Day Celebration on April 22 to hear inspiring stories about how others have stepped up to serve their communities, learn new tips and tricks for addressing your own carbon footprint, and to explore some of the many environmental and economic issues impacting Midwesterners.
There is no cost to attend, though voluntary contributions are welcome. Delta Institute is a 501c3 nonprofit with a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar; charitable contributions to Delta Institute are tax-deductible.
Date: April 22, 2022
Time: 2pm-3pm Central
Join us to hear from these local environmental leaders:
Chicago Tool Library’s Tessa Vierk
Tessa founded Chicago Tool Library as a way to provide equitable access to tools, equipment, and information to allow all Chicagoans to learn, share, and create. Her nonprofit helps divert unwanted tools from landfills and instead puts them into the hands of thousands of community members.
Emerald South’s Ghian Foreman
Ghian is the President and CEO of Emerald South, a group that works to develop and support South Side communities through a focus on commercial-corridor expansion, including through their Terra Firma initiative to “beautify, maintain, and activate over 205 acres of vacant land on Chicago’s mid-South Side.”
Emerald South’s Demetri Alexakos
Demetri is the Director of Research and Data at Emerald South Economic Development Collaborative. He joined Emerald South in 2019 to identify policy & business related opportunities that align with the South Side organization’s footprint.
Zumwalt Acres’ Remi Welbel
Remi Welbel co-founded Zumwalt Acres to transition their family farm to adopting climate-smart regenerative agriculture practices focused on agroforestry. She studies neuroscience and dance at Middlebury College.
Delta Institute’s Bill Schlezier
As CEO of Delta Institute, Bill oversees programmatic strategy, operations, engagement, and development efforts. He also serves on the Cook County Commission for Social Innovation and has been named as one of Crain’s Chicago Business’s Notable LGBTQ+ Executives.
What do we celebrate this Earth Day?
Looking forward to celebrating Earth Day with you!
Interested in supporting our work?
Your support helps advance Delta Institute’s work in resilient agriculture, nature-based climate solutions, and sustainability and support services. Donate below or click here to learn more about other ways you can support our work.