What We Do
The EEA works on initiatives that have the potential to provide significant educational value to Evanston residents on environmental issues. Almost all of the efforts taken on by the EEA are done in conjunction with the dedicated staff of the Ecology Center.A list of current and recent EEA initiatives are listed below to provide a better understanding of the work that the association undertakes for the community.
Ongoing Financial Support for the Ecology Center's Operations. The EEA is continually working in partnership with the City, applying for grants, administering endowments, and fund-raising to ensure that the Ecology Center has the funds to operate successfully and provide outstanding environmental programs to the community.
The Evanston Green Living Festival. The EEA co-presents with the city of Evanston this fun and educational one-day annual event that attracts almost 2000 visitors and 75 exhibitors. The festival is held to provide a venue where businesses and non-profit organizations can educate community residents on products and services that can help them reduce their personal carbon footprint.
The "Ready, Set, Recycle!" electronics recycling event. The EEA and the city of Evanston partnered to hold the first "Ready, Set, Recycle!" electronics recycling event in 2010. The free event was part of the Evanston Green Living Festival and resulted in literally tons of computers, monitors, printers and other used electronics being recycled. The EEA and City are planning to hold this event on an annual basis.
Promotion of ComEd's RRTP Program. The EEA, in partnership with CNT Energy, promoted ComEd's RRTP (Residential Real-Time Pricing) to Evanston Residents in 2010. The RRTP program is a pricing program that rewards ComEd customers for shifting their consumption of electricity to off-hours with lower prices and a reduction in power generating emissions (resulting in a cleaner environment).
The Green Mama Cafe. The EEA sponsored this 12-week course facilitated by Amanda Aufochs Gillespie. The course covered "green parenting" and how to create a green home for your children for new and soon-to-be parents.
Grady Bird Sanctuary. The EEA has been a supporter and endowment administrator of the Grady Bird Sanctuary, a memorial for the Grady family that was donated by Pat and Jerry Frank.
Earth Day / Arbor Day Celebration. The EEA helps supports this annual event, which celebrates two important days in the modern environmental movement, through both promotional and volunteer efforts.
Ecology Center Summer Camp Scholarship Program. The EEA awards $1,000 in camp scholarships each year to children and teens based on need.
Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center's Recycling Program. Funding of $500 was provided by the EEA to support the After-School Recycling Group's "composting food waste program" at the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center.
Duck Race and Pluck. The EEA sponsors this annual fund raiser that is designed to generate support for Ecology Center programs and provide dollars to care for the animals that reside at the Center.
Annual Eco Garage Sale. The EEA plays a supportive role in this annual event which is designed to encourage residents to implement the "reuse" part of the "reduce, recycle, and reuse" mantra of the modern green movement.
Summer Environmental Research Project. The EEA supported a District 65 project where middle school students were taught environmental science research and field study along the banks of the North Shore Channel.
Carbon Footprint Curriculum. The EEA secured a grant for this District 65 curriculum development project which was implemented by the Ecology Center staff in partnership with the EEA. This curriculum was developed in the Center's summer camp programs, and then rolled out to District 65 classes. This curriculum was then presented at the 2009 Conference of the Midwest Environmental Education Association.
Membership and Technology projects. The EEA has created new web sites for both the EEA and the Evanston Green Living Festival to enhance communications with EEA members, interested local residents, and partner organizations. Additionally, a new automated email capability has been developed by the EEA to keep EEA members and Ecology Center supporters up to date on what the EEA and Ecology Center are doing.
