Category: Ecosystems

  • Daydreaming

    Two days ago, Dr. Ruth Simmons spoke at an event I attended on her memoir, Up Home. I read this book in the Fall of 2023 while I was in the Council on Foundations’ Career Pathways fellowship program. I later listened to it on an audible format in early 2024 because I was excited that […]

  • Beyond Planting Trees

    I was invited to share information about an upcoming Openlands Spanish TreeKeepers’ Course at the 18th Street Casa de Cultura (2057 W 18th St) ChiVes Open House, answer questions, and talked about what I love most about being a TreeKeeper. I am by no means an expert or ISA certified, but I do know enough […]

  • Urban Canopy Maps

    The things being connected are called nodes and the connections are called links. The process and patterns are highlighted through streams, while the end goal may never be achieved. When I first realized I was part of the northeast end of Little Village, I had always assumed my home was within the boundaries of West […]

  • Farewell Honey Locust

    Today our honey locust tree in our front yard came down. It had been struggling, but I didn’t know much about trees until I took a TreeKeeper course with a non-profit organization called Openlands early this year. Founded in 1963, Openlands protects the natural and open spaces of northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region to ensure cleaner […]