Katie Maxwell
Jul 3, 20195 min
Please join us in welcoming Chicago's Eco-Ambassadors for this summer!
Participants in our Eco-Ambassadors program spend the summer developing awareness, appreciation, and knowledge of the world around us. The program will take place in Chicago and the North & West Suburbs this year.
Lead by Cesar Almeida and Barbara Boockmeier, the Chicago cohort will explore all four of our program areas: Energy & Climate, Sustainable Food & Land Use, Water Preservation, and Advocacy.
Through field trips and activities, the Eco-Ambassadors learn about career opportunities and how to be leaders in raising environmental awareness at their houses of worship and in their communities.
Returning youth who show great leadership potential have the opportunity to take on extra responsibilities as Earth Allies. We have three Earth Allies this summer, each of whom will write a blog to reflect on their experiences. Stay tuned!
For now, get to know the cohort by reading their bios below. You can even meet them in person at the 2019 Rehoboth Blueberry Festival on July 20th!
House of Worship: Haven of Rest Baptist Church
Hobbies: Music, Drawing
Favorite Way to Spend Weekend: Creating Music
What Inspires You to be Environmentally Sustainable? The wellbeing of my environment.
What are you looking forward to about being an Eco-Ambassador? Guiding the next generation of Earth Allies.
House of Worship: LightHouse
Hobbies: Basketball
Favorite Way to Spend Weekend: Being outside or at home doing an activity like video games or basketball.
What Inspires You to be Environmentally Sustainable? To be independent in terms of having my own resources.
What are you looking forward to about being an Eco-
Ambassador? The fun trips and experiences.
House of Worship: Haven of Rest Baptist Church
Hobbies: Basketball, Lacrosse, Reading, Skating
Favorite Way to Spend Weekend: Playing basketball and hanging out with my friends.
What Inspires You to be Environmentally Sustainable? Knowing how many things affect our living space and how we can help our environment succeed.
What are you looking forward to about being an Eco-Ambassador?
I look forward to getting to know everyone and learning from them.
House of Worship: New Life Covenant Church Southeast
Hobbies: Biking, Video Games
Favorite Way to Spend Weekend:
I love to bike, hang out with friends, play video games, and take walks.
What Inspires You to be Environmentally Sustainable? The idea that I will have children and grandchildren who will walk this planet. I want to do my best to treat it well for them and for myself.
What are you looking forward to about being an Eco-Ambassador? I am looking forward to the field trips that will take place and learning from others.
House of Worship: New Deliverance Church
Favorite Summer Activity: Softball, Volleyball, Writing
Favorite Vegetable: Carrot
Favorite Fruit: Mango
What inspires you? When people with disabilities overcome challenges and break expectations.
Favorite Way to Spend Weekend: Walk around a city, festival or going to the movies with friends & family
What Inspires You to be Environmentally Sustainable? The recent shift in weather with the growing population and ocean pollution increasing
What are you looking forward to about being an Eco-Ambassador? I am looking forward to acquiring better recycling habits.
House of Worship: Homewood Flossmoor
Hobbies: Skating, Painting, thrifting
Favorite Way to Spend Weekend:
I like to go skateboarding and paint
What Inspires You to be Environmentally Sustainable? I love nature and the Earth so much that I want to do the best I can to help it.
What are you looking forward to about being an Eco-Ambassador? I want to give out new info and receive new info.
House of Worship: Covenant United Church of Christ
Hobbies: Lacrosse, Listen to Music, Video Games
Favorite Summer Activity: Playing Lacrosse
Favorite Vegetable: Carrots or Squash
Favorite Fruit: Tomatoes
What Inspires You? My Parents inspire me to better myself!
Favorite Way to Spend Weekend: I enjoy playing Lacrosse and video games
What Inspires You to be Environmentally Sustainable? My parents and grandparents have inspired me to be environmentally sustainable.
What are you looking forward to about being an Eco-Ambassador? I am looking forward to learn new things and new ways to be environmentally friendly and sustainable every day.
House of Worship: Christian Life Center
Hobbies: Basketball and Band
Favorite Way to Spend Weekend:
Play basketball with my friends
What Inspires You to be Environmentally Sustainable? My grandparents would have to be my biggest environmental inspiration.
What are you looking forward to about being an Eco-Ambassador?
Learning more and taking back knowledge to my home community.
House of Worship: Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church
Hobbies: Video Games, Going for walks
Favorite Summer Activity: Summer Camp
Favorite Vegetable: Broccoli
Favorite Fruit: Apples
What inspires you?
All the problems in the world today inspire me to be a better person and step up to protect everything.
Favorite Way to Spend Weekend? I like to spend my weekends with my father. We usually go to new places or we also have fun with my grandmother.
What inspires you to be environmentally sustainable? By looking at the world today with all it’s problems, I believe that we should take care of the earth.
What are you looking forward to about being an Eco-Ambassador? I look forward to being able to learn new things and learn different ways I can solve environmental problems.
House of Worship: St. Katharine Drexel Parish
Hobbies: Drawing, Video Games, Sleeping
Favorite Summer Activity: Going to the beach
Favorite Vegetable: Tomatoes
Favorite Fruit: Plum
What inspires you? Knowing that people believe in me and it motivates me to make them proud.
Favorite Way To Spend Weekend: Sleep until 1 p.m, then use the rest of the time in the day to draw, play video games, and exercise. It depends on how I feel.
What inspires you to be environmentally sustainable? Knowing that at the rate the world is going, it is disastrous to the environment. It is at least my duty to do everything that I can in order to improve the quality.
What are you looking forward to about being an Eco-Ambassador? Having fun. I am looking forward to creating new bonds and experiences as well as earning $$$. The opportunities presented by Faith in Place are so much and I look forward to creating new bonds.
House of Worship: Covenant United Church of Christ
Hobbies: Sports, Art, Cooking
Favorite Summer Activity: Bike Riding
Favorite Vegetable: Broccoli
Favorite Fruit: Strawberries & Grapes
What Inspires you? A lot of things. I go with the moment.
Favorite Way to Spend Weekend: Playing with my siblings
What Inspires You to be Environmentally Sustainable? The thought of animals thinking they found a treat (food) and it ends up hurting them.
What are you looking forward to about being an Eco-Ambassador? Meeting new people and trying new things.
Hobbies: Singing, Dancing, Writing, Sleeping
Favorite Summer Activity: Writing
Favorite Vegetable: Cucumber
Favorite Fruit: Peach
What inspires you? My mom, little sister, and family inspires me.
Favorite Way to Spend Weekend:
I like to spend it indoors or going shopping
What Inspires You to be Environmentally Sustainable? My family and animals inspire me to be environmentally sustainable.
What are you looking forward to about being an Eco-Ambassador? I’m looking forward to possibly teach and learn more stuff about the environment.
House of Worship: Family Christian Center
Hobbies: Lacrosse
Favorite Summer Activity: Swimming
Favorite Vegetable: Corn
Favorite Fruit: Watermelon
What inspires you? Family
Favorite Way to Spend Weekend:
Hanging out with friends
What Inspires You to be Environmentally Sustainable?
The growing pollution problem along with water supply contamination
What are you looking forward to about being an Eco-Ambassador?
Learning more about the environment