Our Work
Below are some of the programs we’ve implemented in partnership with schools and school districts. We will work in collaboration with your organization to develop and implement practices and programs that fit your organization's needs.
01
William Beye Elementary
We developed a lunchroom sustainability program to help the school meet their environmental impact goals for 2024.
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Guidance with training, signage, set-up and ongoing support
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370 students participated in composting, recycling and food recovery
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100% of lunch trays composted per day (if reusable trays were unavailable)
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30 pounds of food scraps, napkins, and food soiled paper products composted per day (.225 kg of methane avoided each week)
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Collected hundreds of pounds of recoverable food, program operated 180/180 school days, served nine separate organizations
02
Food Recovery Program and Community Collaboration
There is an abundance of resources that can be captured through food recovery in schools and other institutions. Our vision of bridging the gap between too much and not enough is the heartbeat of these efforts. We can help identify partners in need, coordinate collection, delivery logistics, and provide ongoing support to ensure success. Thousands of food items were collected over the course of a year reaching hundreds of individuals and families in the area through our partnerships with Community Fridge locations, faith-based organizations, and nonprofits as part of our Food Recovery efforts.
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Euclid Methodist Church
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Boulevard Presbyterian Church
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Howard Mohr Forest Park Community Center
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Housing Forward
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Beyond Hunger
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Human Needs Center
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Center for Svedhyaya
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03
School Community Pantry
After the pilot year of the Food Recovery Program, it was clear that the abundance of food provided from one lunchroom could support an on-site Community Pantry and allow for a seamless flow of diverting uneaten, unused food from the landfill and compost directly to a pantry located outside the school’s doors. Beye Elementary School is the first District 97 school to establish an on-site Community Pantry which is available and accessible to all neighbors 24/7/365.
Modeled after Mutual Aid, Beye School engages a large team of supporters -including student groups, families, staff and other community members and groups- to stock, maintain, and clean the Pantry.
04
School Garden
Making connections about food waste through experiential learning opportunities outside the lunchroom and in the school garden. A great deal of the education around the impact of food waste is focused on two central issues-the impact of wasted resources (from farming, harvesting, transporting, preparing, etc.) as well as the missed opportunity to get good food to those who need it. Help the earth and help our neighbors. The garden is a way for students to learn through their stewardship of planting, tending and harvesting, the amount of time, energy and resources that go into growing food. The next time they are served cherry tomatoes, they may be more inclined to try them. If they try them and don't like them, they may consider donating them instead of throwing them in the landfill or compost because they better understand the resources that went into making them. In the garden, we hope not only to grow delicious produce, but to plant the seeds in students' minds that food is a valuable resource.
05
Student Leadership and Action
We developed a model for youth involvement and leadership to ensure students were at the center of the Waste Reduction efforts and other “green” initiatives at school.
The Student Green Team Program was created to give young people a chance to work together, learn about, and address environmental issues in their school and community. The program was special because it took place during the school day to encourage maximum student participation and was the only social/enrichment club open to all students from kindergarten through 5th grade.
This student group served as lunchroom monitors, helped track and report waste reduction efforts and shared their successes. They hosted site visits to model their lunchroom program for other schools who were interested in implementing a similar program.
Student leadership is essential for the success of any youth program. When students are given the opportunity to lead, they develop important skills such as communication, problem-solving, and decision-making. They also learn how to work together as a team and build relationships with their peers.
In addition, student leaders can help to create a positive and supportive environment for all youth involved in the program. They can mentor younger students, provide guidance and support, and help to create a sense of community.
Benefits of student leadership:
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Increased engagement: Students who are involved in leadership roles are more likely to be engaged in their program and to have a positive experience.
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Improved skills: Student leaders develop important skills such as communication, problem-solving, and decision-making.
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Increased confidence: Student leaders gain confidence in their abilities and learn to believe in themselves.
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Stronger relationships: Student leaders build strong relationships with their peers and mentors.
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Positive role models: Student leaders serve as positive role models for younger students.
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Sense of community: Student leaders help to create a positive and supportive environment for all youth involved in the program.
06
Environmental Education
We believe that environmental education goes far beyond increasing awareness of the climate crisis and sustainability initiatives to address it. We have worked to develop programs and activities that empower students to foster a sense of autonomy by activating their imagination, taking direct action to make an impact in their schools, homes and communities and spreading the word about the important role each student plays in creating the future they deserve.
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Learning about the 5 Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recover (food), Rot (composting), Recycling.
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All-school Assemblies.
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Advocacy Efforts: Led Student Green Team youth group in state advocacy efforts in support of IL Climate Education Bill.
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Collaboration with Middle Schools and High Schools: Meeting with students in upper grades helps inspire elementary school students to continue to pursue work towards climate justice in their schools and communities.
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Waste Reduction Activities.
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Student-led cafeteria waste sorting station.
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Sneaker recycling.
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All- School Campaign Days: Earth Month/Day, Plastic Free Lunch Day, Green Locker Clean Out, Arbor Day, Shoe Recycling, “Green” Movie Nights.
Impact and Achievements
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Served as Green Team (Sustainability) leaders at William Beye Elementary School 2018-current
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Received First Place award in the 2021-2022- Illinois Green School Project for our waste reduction and environmental education programs including:
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Piloted the following Environmental Programs:
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Food Recovery Program Model
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First School Based Community Pantry (Proven developers of School based Community Pantry model)
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First Student Green Team in the District with 25% of the student population enrolled as members
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Founded the first District 97 student environmental club at Beye Elementary, ensuring equitable and inclusive participation by offering programming during the school day to all grade levels K-5.
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Collaborated with It’s Our Future, to help inspire elementary school students to continue to pursue work towards climate justice in their schools and communities.
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Led Student Green Team youth group in state advocacy efforts in support of IL Climate Education Bill.
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Collaborated on a multi-school grant initiative to provide environmental education assemblies to public and private elementary schools in Suburban Cook County.
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Worked with C4 members to help model a waste reduction and food recovery model, which was then successfully launched at Lincoln Elementary in Bellwood School District 88.
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Served as Members of the Oak Park School District 97 Sustainability Task Force to develop a food waste reduction model and plan to implement throughout the District
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Served as members of the Climate Ready Community Outreach Oak Park (COOP) to bring diverse community groups together to promote the Climate Ready Plan to Oak Park’s 55,000 residents.
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Collaborated with over a dozen local organizations at the Oak Park Eco-Extravaganza to share ideas for everyday sustainable action steps in the community.
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Collaborated with One Earth Film Festival to engage students in the Young Filmmakers Contest in which students produce films that educate and inspire environmental awareness.