48th Ward Green Council: Shared Values
During our first Green Council meeting on Saturday, September 21, we listed out shared values, ideas, and priorities around environmentalism and sustainability in the 48th ward. From this list emerged the following six primary values:
1. EMPOWERING EACH PERSON TO ACT: We will strive to provide our community with the information they need to participate in sustainable action and to ensure that action opportunities are accessible to everyone.
2. CENTERING ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY: We understand that the consequences of environmental degradation are unfairly distributed with marginalized communities shouldering the greatest burden. This is especially true in Chicago where the south and west sides of the city are disproportionately impacted by pollution from industry.We will prioritize equal environmental protection and distribution of resources in our work, especially as it pertains to city-wide policy, looking to environmental justice organizations such as the Chicago Environmental Justice Network (CEJN) for guidance and expertise.
3. ENGAGING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY: We will continuously seek new and creative ways to engage our community through neighborhood-based events and projects, giving careful consideration to the way city, state, federal, and global issues affect us at the most local level.
4. CONSERVING NATURAL RESOURCES: We will strive to protect natural resources—including the lakefront, green spaces, clean air, pollinator plants, and other wildlife—through policy and stewardship.
5. BUILDING SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE: We will prioritize building out sustainable infrastructure that will support our community over generations with specific goals of building decarbonization and weatherization; disaster preparedness; and pedestrian, cyclist, and transit-friendly streets
6. COMBATTING ANXIETY WITH JOY: Understanding that environmental and sustainability work can cause anxiety and burnout, we will seek and share opportunities for joy, connection, and pride in our achievements at every turn.
