Lunch and Learn

Piping Plovers

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The Environmental Case for the Fair Tax

https://youtu.be/uJR77BBut8I This year, amidst a respiratory health pandemic and urgent calls for racial justice, we have seen the importance of government agencies charged with combating threats to our health and lifting up communities that have been harmed most by pollution, economic inequality, and racism. We’ve also seen how our broken tax system has badly eroded …

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Endangered Species Act

For this session, IEC will be joined by NRDC to discuss the Endangered Species Act and the way that it is used to protect wildlife in Illinois and all over the United States. Presenters: Lucas Rhoads, Attorney at NRDC

Energy Efficiency Policy: How laws can save you energy and money

https://youtu.be/ZAi60EpzbCs For energy companies, the goal is to always sell more product – more energy – which usually means more dangerous emissions. Anne McKibbin of Elevate Energy will talk about the laws that incentivize utility companies to use less energy, particularly for low income customers. Resources: Elevate Energy

Our Food System and COVID: How to Improve Security and Resilience

This webinar will explore how the Covid-19 pandemic exposed fractures within our food chain, and how shifting towards a decentralized food system that strengthens local food infrastructure and increases accessibility can create a much more resilient agricultural system. Presenters: Liz Stelk of Illinois Stewardship Alliance Rodger Cooley of Chicago Food Policy Action Council Sean Ruane …

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The Role of the Attorney General in Environmental Protection

The Illinois Attorney General’s Environmental Enforcement Division plays a critical role in the enforcement of our civil environmental laws. Assistant Attorney General Daniel Rottenberg from the Office of Attorney General Kwame Raoul will review the role of the Environmental Division.

Illinois Youth Leading on Climate Action

For this session, we are excited to hear from Illinois youth climate activists working to deal with the climate-based anxieties of today while fighting to protect their futures. Presenters: Ella Barry, Illinois Youth Climate Movement Claire Rychlewski, Sunrise Movement Xavier Colon, International Indigenous Youth Council Resources: Illinois Youth Climate Movement Sunrise Movement International Indigenous Youth …

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Waters of the United States Protections and Rollbacks

https://youtu.be/IEXySaRZUCw In the 30th installment of our Lunch and Learn Series, IEC is joined by Molly Kordas of Openlands to discuss the Water of the United States Protections and rollbacks by the Trump Administration. Resources: Openlands

Safe Disposal of Pharmaceuticals

https://youtu.be/oceU09Q_JZo In the 29th installment of our Lunch and Learn Series, IEC is joined by James Jennings of IEPA to discuss safe disposal of pharmaceuticals.  

The Illinois Commerce Commission

In the 29th installment of our Lunch and Learn Series, IEC is joined by Nikhil Vijaykar of ELPC and Christie Hicks of Environmental Defense Fund to discuss the Illinois Commerce Commission and electricity rate making. Resources: ELPC Environmental Defense Fund

Cities and the Local Circular Economy

In the 27th installment of our Lunch and Learn Series, IEC is joined by Jonathan Perreira of Plant Chicago to discuss cities and local, circular economices. Resources: Plant Chicago

Biking and Walking in the COVID Era

In the 26th installment of our Lunch and Learn Series, IEC is joined by Audrey Wennink of Metropolitan Planning Council and Lynda Lopez of Active Transportation Alliance to discuss biking and walking in the COVID era. Resources: Metropolitan Planning Council Active Transportation Alliance

How Local Governments can Protect the Planet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFJQ-zNkLf8&list=PLMGeEea_3FDSvmV1-CsYax8-Um7FLNdF5&index=26&t=0s In the 25th installment of our Lunch and Learn Series, IEC is joined by Sandy Hart Chari of the Lake County Board, Joy Hinz of DuPage County, and Chris Wheat of NRDC to discuss how local governments can help protect the planet.

Urban Stormwater

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S774fmdYa3I In the 24th installment of IEC’s Lunch and Learn Series, IEC is joined by Marcella Bondie Keenan of the Center for Neighborhood Technology and Olga Bautista of Alliance for the Great Lakes to discuss urban stormwater. Find links and resources from the session below: Center for Neighborhood Technology Alliance for the Great Lakes

Transit in the time of COVID-19

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Mh25USsCVE In the 23rd installment of the IEC Lunch and Learn Series, IEC is joined by Jacky Grimshaw from the Center for Neighborhood Technology and Julia Gerasiminko from the Active Transportation Alliance to discuss transit in the time of COVID-19, with a focus on how Illinois’s transit agencies are responding. Find links and resources from …

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Investing in New Clean Energy Technologies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn4-P7u8-OI In the 22nd installment of the IEC Lunch and Learn Series, IEC is joined by Ian Adams from the Clean Energy Trust to discuss investing in clean energy technologies and business. Find links and resources from the session below: Clean Energy Trust

H2NOW Chicago: Microbial Water Quality Monitoring

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I58fnQPlI_g In the 21st installment of the IEC Lunch and Learn Series, IEC is joined by Alaina Harkness, Svetlana Taylor and George Brigandi from Current to discuss water quality and monitoring in Chicago. Find links and resources from the session below: Current website

Documenting Pollinators with Photography

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udbAZ5f7BjA In the 20th edition of the IEC Lunch and Learn Series, IEC is joined by Angella Moorehouse of Illinois Department of Natural Resources to discuss pollinator documentation using photography. Find links and resources from this session below: Illinois Department of Natural Resources website

Where & How to Get Outside During COVID-19

In the 19th edition of the IEC Lunch & Learn Series, Andrew Szwak from Openlands joins IEC to share where we can get outside during COVID-19 and the steps we need to take when doing so to stay safe. Find links and resources from the session below: Openlands website

Toxics in the Environment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTdD7i95GQw In the 18th edition of the IEC Lunch & Learn Series, IEC is joined by Meleah Geertsma from the Natural Resources Defense Council to discuss toxics in the environment, environmental justice and public health. Find links and resources from the session below: Natural Resources Defense Council website

History of the Spring Ephemeral Wildflower

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2BTfuuxq3k In the 17th edition of the IEC Lunch & Learn Series, IEC is joined by Plant Ecologist and IEC Board Member Chris Benda (aka the Illinois Botanizer) to discuss wildflowers and prairie habitat in Illinois.

Coal Ash and Groundwater Pollution

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IXd6LjIRRM In the 16th edition of the IEC Lunch & Learn Series, attorney Faith Bugel joins us to discuss coal ash and how it pollutes groundwater.

State Recycling and Composting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7waHS-Q1nOE In the 15th edition of the IEC Lunch & Learn Series, James Jennings from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency discusses recycling, composting and waste management in Illinois. Find links and articles from the session below: Illinois Environmental Protection Agency IEPA’s recycling page IEPA’s composting page  

Organizing for the Environment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdeiQdeqokA In the 14th edition of the IEC Lunch & Learn Series, Caroline Wooten from the Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club discusses how to organizing people, structure campaigns, and win good environmental policies. Find links and resources from the session below: Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club website

How Illinois Gets Renewable Energy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyhLE0JBJhE In the 13th edition of the IEC Lunch & Learn Series, Brian Granahan of the Illinois Power Agency discuss how Illinois procures renewable energy and the Future Energy Jobs Act. Find links and resources from the session below: Illinois Power Agency’s website The Adjustable Block Program was established by the Future Energy Jobs Act …

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Protecting Soil Health in Illinois

In the 11th installment of IEC’s Lunch & Learn Series, IEC will be joined by Kris Reynolds from American Farmland Trust and Bruce Henrikson from the Champaign County Soil and Water Conservation Districts to discuss ways we can protect our soil, prevent nutrient loss and programs that farmers can use to improve soil quality. Find …

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Clean Energy & Utility Bills

In the tenth installment of IEC’s Lunch & Learn Series, Sarah Moskowitz from the Citizens Utility Board joins us to discuss how clean energy policies affects consumers and saves us money! Find links and resources from the session below: Citizens Utility Board website

Make Your Home More Sustainable

In the ninth installment of IEC’s Lunch & Learn Series, Kay McKeen from SCARCE joins us to discuss how we can make our homes more sustainable, reduce waste, and save money! Please find resources and links mentioned in the presentation below: SCARCE’s Website Invasive Species Alert: Jumping Worms Audubon on Jumping Worms List of Illinois …

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Bobcats in Illinois

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNG1vp6txtUIn the eighth installment of IEC’s Lunch & Learn Series, Jennifer Kuroda from the Illinois Bobcat Foundation joins us to discuss bobcats in Illinois, including population levels, state policies affecting them and what you can do.

Pollinators and Backyard Habitat

In the seventh installment of IEC’s Lunch & Learn Series, Chris Young from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources joins us to discuss pollinators, creating habitat in your own backyard, and IDNR programs. Find links and resources from the presentation below: Illinois Native Plant Society Native Plant Sales Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation K-12 Pollinator …

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Lead in Drinking Water

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qYgjYdCPhA In the sixth installment of IEC’s Lunch & Learn Series, Justin Williams from the Metropolitan Planning Council, Caroline Pakenham from Elevate Energy, and IEC’s own Iyana Simba discuss lead in drinking water in Illinois. Below, you can find resources and links from the session: App to see if your home has lead pipes Illinois …

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