Sustainable Lake CountY
Sustainable Lake County (2023-2024)
Sustainable Lake County is an exploration of environmentalism and sustainability in Lake County, Illinois through the lens of the arts and humanities. We collaborated across the college and with the Lake County community to explore how we, as Lake County residents, can live more sustainable, just, and socially conscious lives that preserve our environment while cultivating the diverse communities within our region.
Highlights from our 2023-2024 academic year workshops and events are below.
Japanese Garden Flyer May 6 2024.pdfJapanese Garden Meditation &
Mindful Movement
Mindful Movement
Monday, May 6 from 3:30-4:45
Japanese Garden at CLC's Grayslake Campus
Participants learned about the history of the gardens, participated in a meditation/yoga activity, and enjoyed traditional Japanese tea. Led by Shannon Bassi and Lamaiya Lancaster.
Community Reading & Living Gallery Art Display
Thursday, May 2, 2024, 7-8:30 p.m.
Eleanor Murkey Community Center
34 N. Sheridan Rd., Waukegan, IL 60085
Bud to Blossom was a celebration of nature writing, climate fiction, and sustainability-themed art in the beautiful Eleanor Murkey Community Center overlooking Lake Michigan at College of Lake County’s Lakeshore Campus. Open to all CLC faculty, staff, students, and members of the community.
During fall 2023, the Voices of Lake County committee collected seeds from College of Lake County's Living Lab Trail, a 1.5 outdoor loop around CLC's Grayslake campus. The trail serves as a living laboratory, demonstrating sustainability (placing equal value on the environment, economy and human equity), promoting health and wellness, honoring cultural diversity and encouraging global outreach.
The seeds were incorporated into homemade seeded paper made out of recycled paper bags. The seeded paper leaves were used for classroom projects, poetry writing activities, and reflection opportunities following some of our sustainability events. Participants wrote short reflections and poems on the leaves cut from the seeded paper. The leaves were on display at CLC during our spring 2024 Sustainability Fair on April 22.Â
In May 2024, the leaves were planted on campus and the seeded paper leaves will be planted on the Living Lab Trail, and the words of our participants returned to the soil to bear fruit to another generation of native plants.
Visit this link to learn how to make your own seeded paper!
Sustainable Lake County Fair
MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2024 • 3-6 P.M.
MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2024 • 3-6 P.M.
Student Street & Multipurpose Room (C106)
College of Lake County's Grayslake Campus
The Sustainable Lake County Fair was a celebration of sustainability in Lake County, Illinois. The fair featured tables from College of Lake County organizations, student groups, and community organizations. The fair also featured animation and video production screenings by CLC students, dance performances, and a sustainability-themed art gallery.
For more information, check out the Sustainable Lake County Fair Program and watch the video highlights!
Common Ground Screening
April 21 at 1:30 p.m.
Voices of Lake County partnered with Three Brothers Theatre for a film screening of "Common Ground"
THREE BROTHERS THEATRE
221 N. Genesee Street, Waukegan, IL 60085
There will be a discussion after the film is shownÂ
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FREE viewing of "Common Ground." This 2023 Tribeca Film Festival winner explores how REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE can help heal the soil, our health and the planet. Featuring Laura Dern, Jason Momoa, Woody Harrelson, Ian Somerhalder, Donald Glover, Rosario Dawson, Mark Hyman, Gabe Brown, and others.
Film trailer: https://www.oneearthfilmfest.org/films-az-2024/common-ground
Information about One Earth Film Festival: https://www.oneearthfilmfest.org/
LIVING LAB TRAIL WALK
April 15
Voices of Lake County and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) led a walk along the Living Lab Trail with guided mindfulness activities and nature journaling.Â
SUSTAINABILITY RAPPER A.Y. YOUNG'S BATTERY TOUR
Thursday, April 4
Thursday, April 4
The Battery Tour is a renewable-energy powered grass-roots concert series that raises money through donations to promote, develop and deploy sustainable solutions & solar powered boxes for villages that do not have reliable access to electricity. A.Y. is one of the first artists to power his concerts with 100% renewable energy. Learn more about AY Young and check out "Goals," the title track from his forthcoming EP, and check out some of the photos from his classroom visits and high-impact performance at CLC!
SUSTAINABLE ART WORKSHOP
March 21
March 21
Sustainable Art: Make Precious Objects from Discarded Items
Participants learned how to turn trash into beautiful treasures at this Community Engagement Through the Arts Workshop with Katrina Salazar and Cristen Leifheit.
Date & Time: Thursday, March 21, 6-9 p.m.
Location: Room N015, at CLC's Lakeshore CampusÂ
SEEDED PAPER WORKSHOP
Feb. 7
Feb. 7
Participants learned how to make handmade, seeded paper from recycled paper bags. Attendees created paper using seeds collected from CLC's Living Lab Trail as part of the Poet-Tree Project or made paper to plant in their home gardens using a variety of seeds and flower petals.
JOEY FINE RHYME "BE THE CHANGE"
Nov. 18
Nov. 18
This interactive show educated attendees on climate and waste while drawing inspiration through raptivism (activism through original rap music) and emphasized what people can do to make a difference. Featured Joey FineRhyme (birth name Joey Feinstein), an educator, public speaker, raptivist (rap activist) and freestyle rhyme extraordinaire. Held at the Three Brothers Theatre in Waukegan.
LET'S CELEBRATE FALL - RECYCLING & UPCYCLING!
Nov. 17
Nov. 17
College of Lake County's Sustainability Club and SWALCO sponsored a book collection drive and Upcycled Fall/Thanksgiving Sustainable Craft Night on Friday, November 17 from 5-7 p.m. in Room B222 at CLC. Participants made a beautiful upcycled fall crafts made out of recycled books. All leftover books were donated. Learn more about the event.
JAPANESE GARDENS EVENT
Oct. 25
Oct. 25
Serenity, Symmetry & the Balance of Nature
An enriching event that explored the essence of Japanese gardens, focusing on serenity, symmetry, and the balance of nature. Attendees learned how traditional Japanese values and the garden's physical aesthetics connect to and promote sustainability and engaged in a creative reflection activity with seeded paper, inspired by Haiku poetry. Led by Shannon Bassi and held in the Japanese Gardens at CLC's Grayslake campus.
HIDDEN IN PLAIN BITE
Oct. 10
Oct. 10
Featuring the New Roots Institute
Eemon Ghasemiyeh from the New Roots Institute led a discussion that explored the conditions animals are raised in, its environmental and human impacts, and actions to create a more just food system. Sponsored by CLC's philosophy department.