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For nearly 35 years, the Resource Center, a non-profit environmental education organization,
has led the way in demonstrating innovative techniques for recycling and
reusing materials. Too often in the urban setting, abundant and
important resources are wasted. In our recovery work we aim to reverse waste
and to improve the quality of life for urban dwellers. We have
been devoted from the beginning to the economic and educational
revitalization of city neighborhoods through recycling, urban gardening, composting,
and other programs that reclaim and reuse resources. |
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LATEST HAPPENINGS & UPCOMING EVENTS
Support the Resource Center!
Start 2010 off right with a donation to the Resource Center! Visit our Donations Page.
Join us for a screening of Garbage Dreams and panel January 16th
Chicago Community Cinema Presents:
Garbage Dreams (79 Minutes)
Directed By Mai Iskander
Shortlisted for the 2009 Academy Award, Best Feature Documentary
Presented by ITVS, Working Films and Global Alliance For Incinerator Alternatives
Welcome to the world's largest garbage village located on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt. The Zaballeen
(Arabic for garbage people) recycle 80 percent of the trash they collect-far more than other recycling initiatives.
But now a multi-national corporation threatens their livelihood. Follow three teenage boys born into the business
who are forced to make choices that will impact the survival of their community.
Saturday, January 16th at 2:00 p.m.
Chicago Cultural Center
78 E. Washington St.
In the Claudia Cassidy Theater
Following the film, join cross-generational trash talk on innovative ways that some Chicagoans are working to
change our habits and save the environment.
Guests:
Ken Dunn, Founder and President, Resource Center
Alanna Hurley, 7th grader, Clissold Elementary School
Erin Kennedy, Educator, SCARCE
Moderator: Elise Zelechowski, Founder and Director, ReBuilding Exchange
Presented by Resource Center, The ReBuilding Exchange (a project of The Delta Institute), SCARCE, Chicago Public Schools Environmental Outreach, The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, ITVS and WTTW Channel 11.
More Information
Ken Dunn to receive 5th Annual Elizabeth I. Benson Award January 27th
Our founder and president, Ken Dunn, is going to be honored with the 5th Annual Elizabeth I. Benson Award!
We hope you'll join us for an evening of inspiration and fun! After all, where else can you go to see and interact
with WCPT's Mike Nowak from WCPT's "Mike Nowak Show", and not only hear, but sing along with The Bullfrogs Community
Choir? And...there will be testimonials from fans and friends whose lives have been changed by Ken over the years,
hors d'oeuvres provided by Frontera Grill and North Pond Café, and wine by Bodega Ramos. Details are below.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ
615 W. Wellington Avenue (Lakeview)
6:00 p.m. Reception with hors d'oeuvres and wine
7:00 p.m. Program
Flyer (pdf)
Registration Information
Ken Dunn to present "Composting for a Sustainable Future" February 8th
Ken Dunn will be giving a keynote presentation at the Illinois Stewardship Alliance 7th Annual Composting Symposium:
Backyard, Business, and Beyond. The lecture topic will be "Composting for a Sustainable Future."
February 8, 2010
12:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
University of Illinois Extension Sangamon-Menard Unit, Springfield, IL
The symposium will provide an excellent opportunity to learn about composting organic materials from national and
local experts, and will cover topics ranging from backyard composting for beginners to large scale projects
for municipalities or farms. The symposium is open to the public. Educators, farmers, gardeners, and entrepreneurs
are all encouraged to attend, as there will be something for everyone.
For more information on the symposium and registration information, visit http://www.ilstewards.org/calendar/8808.
Check out our Fall 2009 Newsletter!
Hot off the (digital) presses, it's the
Fall 2009 Resource Center newsletter! Take a few minutes and find out what's
new at the Resource Center.
Get on the mailing list!
To sign up for our electronic mailing list, please send an email to mailingprefs@resourcecenterchicago.org.
You may also request to be added to our paper mailing list or removed from either our paper or our electronic mailing lists.
Please specify the nature of your request in your email.
Looking for new Perishable Food Recovery Van
Do you or your company have a working, full-sized van that you could donate to the Resource Center? The van we currently
use in our Perishable Food Recovery program has seen better days, and we're looking to make a replacement. We are searching for a vehicle
with relatively low miles, either a cargo van or a conversion van. A refrigerated vehicle would be a plus but is not required.
This program serves the neediest Chicago residents, delivering healthy, fresh food donated by grocery stores to organizations like
Vital Bridges and
Chicago Uptown Ministry that operate food pantries and offer other services to low-income residents. We run this program with
very little direct outside support, and we hope to be able to support the program's future operations by acquiring a reliable vehicle.
Your donation would be tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Green Boxes
Thanks to super-volunteer Merrill Smith, the Resource Center began our Green Box project this summer through our
City Farm program. City Farm’s Green Box provides an easy, portable way to grow fresh salad greens, spinach, chard, herbs,
and other
shallow-rooted vegetables on a terrace, backyard, roof or other limited space. Your new garden is constructed of recycled
and repurposed materials** from the Chicago area and constructed by volunteers. And best of all the Green Box comes with
100% sustainable City Farm compost, and City Farm lettuce seeds. It will provide a full garden-to-table experience in as
little as a 2’x3’ space. Salad greens can be grown throughout the fall in Chicago, so there is still time to try your hand
at urban farming this season. Or sign up to be notified next spring when boxes are available. For more details, contact
greenbox@resourcecenterchicago.org.
Proceeds go directly to City Farm and Resource Center and are tax-deductible.
** Lumber for the project comes from by The Rebuilding Exchange
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