Northeastern Illinois is home to rich cultural traditions and enduring ties to the land. Immigrant families, Indigenous peoples, and communities of color have lived, worked, and cared for this region for generations. Yet these same neighborhoods – places like Cicero, Waukegan, and Kankakee – now face the heaviest burdens of industrial pollution, flood risks, and a changing climate. In response, Together for Nature was founded in 2022 in Ingleside to expand who takes part in shaping the region’s environmental future, specifically, to increase the leadership and participation of young people and residents of historically underserved communities in local sustainability efforts. Through bilingual workshops, hands-on ecology programs, and public engagement campaigns, they connect people to the landscapes around them and to one another. From teaching watershed science to celebrating native species, their programs turn knowledge into action. Together for Nature is helping communities influence environmental decisions that directly affect their health, safety, and future.
Caption: Beaver Ecology Interns gear up to kayak through wetlands through Together for Nature’s paid internship program for College and high school junior and senior students. Source: Together for Nature Facebook page, July 2024
Led by a small but dedicated team, Together for Nature includes a board of three with a wealth of experience in sustainability, conservation, and ecological education. Their programs are sustained by dozens of student and early-career volunteers who act as neighborhood educators and field researchers. From the start, they’ve ensured that people most exposed to pollution, flooding, and ecological degradation have access to knowledge, training, and support. Their Mentorship for Sustainability program matches young people with local experts for hands-on experience in everything from habitat restoration to climate resilience planning. In the Beaver Ecology Internship, interns restore wetlands, monitor wildlife, and explore how nature-based strategies can reduce flood risks. Programs and outreach materials are offered in both English and Spanish, a reflection of the demographics in communities like Cicero and Waukegan, where most households speak Spanish at home. Through these efforts, Together for Nature is reshaping who participates in and leads the conversation about the environment.