Chatter From the Chair

 

By Connie Schmidt, Executive Chair, River Prairie Group

As the year ends, I feel some hope for our future.  (Yes, I know that Climate Change is still bearing down on us with disastrous consequences looming, but stay with me here.) After three years of lobbying, phone banking, text storms, town halls, rallies, letter and e-mail writing, Illinois now has the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. Governor Pritzker signed it into law on a beautiful sunny day at the Shedd Aquarium. Because equity and justice and the needs of marginalized communities are front and center with this bold legislation, it is a groundbreaking model for other states in the country.  As I write this, the governor, State Senate Chair Harmon, and Speaker of IL House Welch are all in Glasgow, Scotland, for the Climate Summit, representing this historic Illinois effort. Hope is on the horizon. 

In addition, I keep close tabs on the Forest Preserve of DuPage and attend their Tuesday meetings, writing a blog that is shared with various organizations across the county. In this newsletter you will read about the expansion plans for Willowbrook Wildlife Center, which is another national model, hosted here in DuPage. Another inspirational action of the Forest Preserve Commission is that each commission meeting begins with an invocation presented by Jeff Gahris. Jeff chooses from a myriad of sources and provides inspiration for the commissioners as decisions are being forged. Recently I learned that in December, the Forest Preserve Commission will present a Land Acknowledgment at the Churchill Woods Forest Preserve. A Land Acknowledgment recognizes the original people from a region where European settlers pushed them out, in an effort to heal past transgressions. Watch your news sources for this, and we will try to send a blast to your emails to share the event details. In addition, our Forest Preserves under the leadership of President Hebreard are expanding the use of solar panels for clean energy as they renovate and update their facilities. This will save taxpayer dollars as well as lessen the carbon footprint of the District. Hope is on the horizon.

Lastly, many of us have read of the Bell Bowl Prairie situation in Rockford. The Rockford Airport Authority expansion plans threatened to destroy a remnant prairie. With considerable public outcry, the plans are on hold until March, so watch for future actions you can take, but for now, hope is on the horizon.

As you can see from the photo, I have a new baby granddaughter. Her name is Žemyna, a Lithuanian name translating to “goddess of the earth.” When her three-year-old brother first saw her on FaceTime, he exclaimed, “Oh, Žemyna Bird” adding the second part without hesitation. The next generations inherit our world. The River Prairie Group will continue to work for you to have … Hope on our horizon.