The Evanston Public Library’s “Climate Resilient Communities” series, continues through Earth Month 2021, with a broad selection of climate activism programming. Events in the series outline the global and local impact of climate change and motivate members of the community to work against the climate crisis however they can. The series is focused on bringing the climate crisis home to the community, making it something that Evanstonians can identify with and take action.
The upcoming events in the series are as follows:
- On Thursday, April 8 at 12 pm., learn more about native plants with Leslie Shad of Natural Habitat Evanston with Lunch and Learn: Why Native Plants?
- For the Spanish-speaking community, Reciclaje y Composta: ¿Qué debo saber? will be held on Thursday, April 8 at 7 pm. Also, Spanish-speaking patrons can pick up a KIT de preparación ante clima extremo: Frío, Calor e Inundaciones on Friday, April 30.
- On Thursday, April 22 at 12 pm., learn about practical and creative methods for waste reduction and management with Mary Allen, Recycling and Education Director at the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County in Resources Matter: Ways to Prevent Waste and Recycle Right.
- On Thursday, April 22 at 1 pm., learn about deconstruction, the selective dismantling of building components, and how it can benefit the community and planet in Lunch & Learn: Deconstruction, The Sustainable Choice.
The full series lineup is available here.
FEMA’s Resilient Nation Partnership Network, which encourages collective action among organizations and individuals on issues of the natural world, recently spotlighted this EPL climate series in its Resilient Nation Roundup Newsletter. Bradley Dean, the lead of FEMA’s Resilient Nation Partnership Network, said Climate Resilient Communities set an example for confronting environmental issues on the local level.
“Resilience is a shared responsibility,” Mr. Dean said. “We all have a stake in creating a more resilient nation and local action is an essential piece. The Resilient Nation Partnership Network team commends Evanston, Illinois, for addressing the complex issues of resilience and equity. All organizations can look to the Climate Resilient Communities Series for inspiration on how to create accessible, community-based, and collaborative content. We look forward to seeing what Evanston does next.”
EPL Branch Assistant Beatriz Echeverria, leader of Beyond Waste and organizer of the series, said she was surprised that the series was recognized by FEMA. Her work focuses in part on creating programming that is better at engaging underrepresented and underserved local communities. The success of the Climate Resilient Communities series inspired her to explore new methods of achieving that goal.
“It has sparked my interest on how we can work to be more effective in trying to reach people that are not library users to make the library an asset to them, a third place that meets their cultural and recreational needs, as well as a space where the community builds trust and resilience,” Ms. Echeverria said.
Events are co-sponsored with the City of Evanston Office of Sustainability, Citizens’ Greener Evanston, Natural Habitat Evanston, D65 EvanSTEM, SWANCC, Comité Asesor Latino de ETHS, and ARISE Chicago. The Climate Resilient Communities Series is funded by the Resilient Communities: Libraries Respond to Climate Change grant provided by the American Libraries Association.