Melanie Eckner from Uptown Coastal Initiative started the presentations by sharing a historical perspective of Uptown’s coast. Fawn Pochel from the American Indian Center shared an indigenous perspective on eco-justice to revise their human-centered approach to environmental justice. Starting with the context that North America and Chicago are stolen lands, Fawn connected the colonialist mindset of owning and commodifying land to laws that prioritize profit over nature. To re-think eco-justice, attendees were encouraged to recognize humans as part of nature and responsible for ensuring that human activity does not interfere with nature’s right to thrive. Youth leaders from the Chi Nations Youth Council led a walk to the coast, highlighting native plants and the connections to their own stories as indigenous people. One key discussion was around the park district’s acknowledgement and protection of native plants that erases the influence of and connection to native people. The Chi Nations Youth Council walk was filmed as part of the Garden for a Changing Climateproject. See the full video here (Chi Nations Youth Council starts at 5:38). With Expertise from our Partners: |
About Out and About Uptown's Coast
Out & About Uptown's Coast partnered with the Uptown Coastal Initiative to raise awareness of Uptown's lakefront and parks through nine experiential, educational sessions that offer attendees rich opportunity for meaningful engagement with the ecology and culture of this Great Lakes coastal community.
The project connected residents, workers, and visitors, and strengthen links between the well-being of the coastal ecosystem and the health and well-being of those who live, work, and visit Uptown’s coast.
Highlighting local expertise and creating a space for diverse attendees to learn about and explore the area together, each session’s unique lens targeted different subjects and circle back to universal accessibility to and stewardship of Uptown’s coast across a spectrum of disciplines.
At the close of Out & About Uptown's Coast, the Uptown Coastal Initiative team created a toolkit highlighting the different approaches taken and lessons learned to help inform future programming as well as participant stewardship and engagement around sustainability in the coast.
For more information about Out and About Uptown's Coast, contact [email protected].
The project connected residents, workers, and visitors, and strengthen links between the well-being of the coastal ecosystem and the health and well-being of those who live, work, and visit Uptown’s coast.
Highlighting local expertise and creating a space for diverse attendees to learn about and explore the area together, each session’s unique lens targeted different subjects and circle back to universal accessibility to and stewardship of Uptown’s coast across a spectrum of disciplines.
At the close of Out & About Uptown's Coast, the Uptown Coastal Initiative team created a toolkit highlighting the different approaches taken and lessons learned to help inform future programming as well as participant stewardship and engagement around sustainability in the coast.
For more information about Out and About Uptown's Coast, contact [email protected].
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