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House Warming Podcast, Episode 011: Hell No To Hilco - Our Bodies Are Not Dollar Signs with Edith Tovar from the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization     In this episode, Sarah talks with Edith Tovar about the impact of Hilco's implosion of the coal plant smokestacks and the Hell No To Hilco campaign, which fights the installation of polluting industry and works for regenerative community-based land use in the community. Edith Tovar is the Community Organizer at the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO) focusing on Just Transition* visions and efforts in the Little Village community. They focus on the "Hell No Hilco" campaign, informing residents about the new Target warehouse facility at the former Crawford Coal Plant -- Exchange 55 -- and connecting ongoing EJ efforts across the community and city. #FueraHilco #HellNoHilco #Exchange55 #LaVillitaRespira Edith is a life-long resident of La Villita community. As a first generation college student and youngest of four, she was the second in her family to graduate with a university degree. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish-Economics with a minor in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). Edith also obtained her Master’s in Urban Planning and Policy from the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at UIC with a concentration in Environmental Planning and Policy. Edith is a sister, tía, prima, a bestie to many, she has three fur babies; Xico & Mango (cats) and Kapi (dog), and enjoys creating habitats for pollinators like the Monarch butterfly. *Just Transition is a principle, a process and a practice. The principle of just transition is that a healthy economy and a clean environment can and should co-exist. The process for achieving this vision should be a fair one that should not cost workers or community residents their health, environment, jobs, or economic assets. Any losses should be fairly compensated. And the practice of just transition means that the people who are most affected by pollution – the frontline workers and the fenceline communities – should be in the leadership of crafting policy solutions. - Just Transition Alliance, http://jtalliance.org/  Here is the link to their second website focusing on Just Transition in the Little Village community: https://lavillitarespira.com/ Follow LVEJO on Facebook (Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO)), Twitter (@lvejo) and Instagram (@lvejo20). Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.   Support the show

This episode provides updates on podcast episode releases (every other Monday!) and an announcement naming the first three guests of the season (and a couple of flashbacks to previous seasons)! Support the show

House Warming Podcast, Episode 009: Lead Pipes Belong Only in History Books with Justin Keller from the Metropolitan Planning Council and Jeremy Orr with the Natural Resources Defense Council     In this episode, Sarah talks with Justin Keller and Jeremy Orr about lead service lines and state legislation that could put an end to this public health threat. Justin Keller, AICP,  joined the Metropolitan Planning Council as a member of the Water Resources program in 2018. He manages various aspects of MPC's water supply and stormwater work, including the Drinking Water 1-2-3 Academy, municipal Technical Assistance program, and the Calumet Stormwater Collaborative. He is an urban planner with a degree from the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago and is Treasurer of the American Planning Association's Chicago Metro Section. Jeremy Orr is a Senior Attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council where he focuses on drinking water and source water protection issues, working to ensure that everyone has access to safe, sufficient, and affordable drinking water. With a background in grassroots community organizing and public interest law, Orr most recently served as the national state program director for the Peoples Climate Movement and as an environmental justice coordinator for the Transnational Environmental Law Clinic. Read MPC's summary of the Illinois Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification bill here:  https://www.metroplanning.org/uploads/cms/documents/illinois_lead_service_line_replacement_and_notification_act.pdf Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.   Support the show (http://patreon.com/housewarmingpod)

House Warming Podcast, Episode 008: Hungry for Change - General Iron and Chicago's Southeast Side   with Gina Ramirez, Co-chair of the Southeast Coalition to Ban Petcoke     In this episode, Sarah talks with the Co-chair of the Southeast Coalition to Ban Petcoke, Gina Ramirez, about her community's fight for clean air generally and the battle against General Iron in particular.   Read Gina's op-ed in the Chicago Tribune here: https://bit.ly/2Sqc8iM.   Join and/or donate to the Southeast Environmental Task Force, which is the fiscal sponsor of the Southeast Coalition to Ban Petcoke, here:  http://setaskforce.org/get-involved-2/ Not sure who your alderperson is?  Go here: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/mayor/iframe/lookup_ward_and_alderman.html You can find contact information for your alderperson here: https://chicago.legistar.com/People.aspx Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.   Support the show (http://patreon.com/housewarmingpod)

House Warming Podcast, Episode 007: Election Edition - Meet MWRD Candidate Eira Corral Sepúlveda, In this episode, Sarah talks with Eira Corral Sepúlveda about her plan for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, her experience as a government servant, and the race. Eira currently serves as the Village Clerk of Hanover Park, ran for office for the first time at age 23, and has been endorsed by the Democratic Party, three major newspapers, the Sierra Club, various public officials and many more for the position of Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. Cook County residents looking to learn more about Eira can visit her website at https://www.eira4water.com/. To learn more about the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, visit its website here: https://mwrd.org/. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.  If you like the work we're doing, we can support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/housewarmingpod. Support the show (http://patreon.com/housewarmingpod)

House Warming Podcast, Episode 006: The Case for Declaring a Climate Emergency   with Matt Martin, 47th Ward Alderperson     This episode is sponsored by Bike Home Chicago, a residential real estate group with @properties, led by Jordan Rothschild. Bike Home Chicago offers a carbon-neutral way of touring real estate by bicycle. Whether you are in the market for a single-family home, condo, co-op, or apartment, Jordan can help you navigate the complicated process of buying, selling, or renting a home. Learn more online at bikehomechicago.com or on Instagram at instagram.com/bikehomechicago. In this episode, Anni talks with 47th Ward Alderperson Matt Martin about his motivation to declare a climate emergency in Chicago, what this declaration means for our city, and what he envisions a massive climate mobilization will look like here. 47th Ward residents can join the 47th Ward Green Council at https://www.facebook.com/groups/greencouncil47/, or you can get involved with local climate organizations at Extinction Rebellion, Center for Neighborhood Technology, National Resource Defence Council, Illinois Environmental Council, or Blacks in Green.  Matt Martin is serving his first term as alderperson of the 47th Ward. He lives in Lincoln Square with his wife and two children. Prior to being elected alderman, Matt worked as a civil rights lawyer at the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, where he worked on issues including police reform, immigration, healthcare, and worker’s rights. Find ward info online at aldermanmartin.com, and follow along on social media at https://www.facebook.com/aldermanmartin and https://twitter.com/aldmattmartin.  Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you like the work we’re doing, you can support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/housewarmingpod.  We’d like to thank our sound editor, Ilana Marder-Epstein, our research assistant, Amelia Diehl, and our graphic designer, Reagan Carey, for their help with this episode, and Collective Resource Compost, for sponsoring our work.  Support the show (http://patreon.com/housewarmingpod)

House Warming Podcast, Episode 005: Preserving Chicago’s Urban Tree Canopy  with Andre Vasquez, 40th Ward Alderperson     This episode is sponsored by Collective Resource Compost, a company working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by diverting food scraps from landfills and hauling them to a commercial composting facility. Learn more about Chicago area pick-up services at collectiveresource.us. In this episode, co-hosts Sarah Bury and Anni Metz talk with Andre Vasquez about the “Save the Trees” ordinance he introduced shortly after taking office last year, why it’s important to protect Chicago’s tree canopy, and the ins & outs (literally!) of water infrastructure.    Andre Vasquez is currently serving as Alderperson of the 40th Ward on Chicago’s North Side. The son of immigrants, father of two, and former rapper and utility company employee is invested in the fight for better schools, city services, and the right allocation of resources in Chicago’s city government. Find ward info online at 40thward.org, and follow along on social media at instagram.com/40thward, twitter.com/andrefor40th, or twitter.com/40thforward. Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you like the work we’re doing, you can support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/housewarmingpod.  We’d like to thank our sound editor, Ilana Marder-Epstein, our research assistant, Amelia Diehl, and our graphic designer, Reagan Carey, for their help with this episode, and Collective Resource Compost, for sponsoring our work.  Support the show

House Warming Podcast, Episode 004: Reducing Congestion in the Loop    with W. Robert Schultz III, from the Active Transportation Alliance    This episode is sponsored by Chicago Market. Chicago Market is a community-owned grocery co-op on a mission to rebuild the connection between food producers and consumers. Powered by its individual owners, each of whom own a stake in the store, the co-op will feature local, sustainable foods from producers right here in the Midwest. Learn more about Chicago Market at chicagomarket.coop. In this episode, host Sarah Bury chats with W. Robert Schultz III from the Active Transportation Alliance, about ways the city of Chicago can reduce traffic congestion in the Loop, what cities worldwide are doing to create multi-modal transportation systems, how to make access to public transit and active transportation options more equitable, and why all of this is so important if Chicago is serious about reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.   The Active Transportation Alliance is a non-profit advocacy organization that works to improve conditions for bicycling, walking, and public transit, and engage people in healthy and active ways to get around. Find them online at activetrans.org on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/activetrans/, and on Twitter and Instagram at https://twitter.com/activetrans and https://www.instagram.com/activetrans/.  If you’d like to support the Active Transportation Alliance’s work, please visit https://activetrans.org/about-us/get-involved.  Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you like the work we’re doing, you can support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/housewarmingpod. (Thanks to our first patron, Sarah R., for supporting our work!)  We’d like to thank our sound editor, Ilana Marder-Epstein, our research assistant, Amelia Diehl, and our graphic designer, Reagan Carey, for their help with this episode, and Chicago Market, for sponsoring our work. Support the show (http://patreon.com/housewarmingpod)

House Warming Podcast, Episode 003: There’s Poop in the River! A conversation about rainy days and combined sewer overflows with co-hosts Anni Metz & Sarah Bury       This episode is sponsored by Collective Resource Compost, a company working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by diverting food scraps from landfills and hauling them to a commercial composting facility. Learn more about Chicago area pick-up services at collectiveresource.us.  Welcome, Sarah Bury, to the podcast! Sarah is acting as guest co-host while Abby takes a break, and we’re so happy to have her.  In today’s episode, Anni and Sarah talk about how Chicago’s sewer system function and explain combined sewer overflows, which can reduce the load on the city’s sewers on rainy days by releasing untreated sewage into the Chicago River. You’ll also learn about Friend’s of the Chicago River’s Overflow Action Days campaign, and what you can do to reduce overflows and flooding when it rains. Sign up for Overflow Action Day alerts here: https://www.chicagoriver.org/get-involved/take-action/overflow-action-days.   If you’d like to learn more about the work Friends of the Chicago River is doing, you can visit their website at https://www.chicagoriver.org/. You can also listen to this recent episode of The Climate Pod, recorded live in Chicago, to hear more about Friends of the Chicago River’s work.  Subscribe to House Warming on iTunes, Spotify, Soundcloud, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you like the work we’re doing, you can support us on Patreon.  We’d like to thank our sound editor, Ilana Marder-Epstein, our research assistant, Amelia Diehl, and our graphic designer, Reagan Carey, for their help with this episode, and Collective Resource Compost, for sponsoring our work.  Support the show (http://patreon.com/housewarmingpod)

Episode 002: CEJA & the Future of Renewable Energy in Illinois    with Jen Walling and Cary Shepherd of the Illinois Environmental Council    This episode is sponsored by Malia Designs, a fair trade handbag and accessories brand that combines lively design, recycled materials, and affordable price points into a beautiful product line. Each piece is handcrafted in Cambodia and every purchase helps to fight human trafficking. Learn more at maliadesigns.com.  In this episode, host Anni Metz chats with Jen Walling and Cary Shepherd, of the Illinois Environmental Council, about the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA) and the future of renewable energy in Illinois.  The Illinois Environmental Council is a membership-based advocacy organization that allows environmental organizations to pool their resources and work together to protect the environment in Illinois, including people, plants, animals, and eco-systems. Founded in 1975 by a small group of activists, IEC’s coalition is currently comprised of more than 90 environmental and community organizations and 300 individual members. Find them online at https://www.ilenviro.org/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ilenviro/, and on Twitter and Instagram at https://twitter.com/ilenviro and https://www.instagram.com/ilenviro. Update: On November 10, Governor JB Pritzker announced that the Clean Energy Jobs Act will be taken up by the IL General Assembly in January. The Chicago City Council also unanimously passed a resolution supporting the passage of CEJA on November 13. If you’d like to learn more or get involved and help pass CEJA, please visit https://ilcleanjobs.org/.  Subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, Soundcloud, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you like the work we’re doing, you can support us on Patreon.  We’d like to thank our sound editor, Ilana Marder-Epstein, our research assistant, Molly Scruta, and our graphic designer, Reagan Carey, for their help with this episode, and Malia Designs, for sponsoring our work.  Support the show (http://patreon.com/housewarmingpod)

This episode is sponsored by Collective Resource Compost, a company working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by diverting food scraps from landfills and hauling them to a commercial composting facility. Learn more about Chicago area pick-up services at collectiveresource.us.  In this episode, hosts Abby Wilson and Anni Metz chat with Liz Moran Stelk, of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance, and Kathy Kaesebier, of Kaesebier Farms, about soil health and regenerative agriculture.  The Illinois Stewardship Alliance is a membership-based organization that cultivates a local food and farm system that is economically viable, socially just, and environmentally sustainable. Their members span the state and care about the food that is produced and consumed in Illinois and want to support the increase of fresh, local foods. Find them online at https://www.ilstewards.org/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ilstewards/, and on Twitter and Instagram at https://twitter.com/ilstewards and https://www.instagram.com/ilstewards/. You can also follow Executive Director Liz Moran Stelk on Twitter at https://twitter.com/lizziestelk.  Kaesebier Farms, located in Logan County, Illinois, is a small family-operated farm run by Kathy and Rick Kaesebier. They specialize in regenerative agriculture, soil health, and locally-raised products. You can follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KaesebierFarms/.  If you’d like to learn more about how to support regenerative agriculture as a consumer, Liz recommends checking out Kiss the Ground’s free Purchasing Guide, found here: https://kisstheground.com/purchasingguide/  Subscribe to the podcast on Apple, Spotify, Soundcloud, or wherever you listen to podcasts. If you like the work we’re doing, you can support us on Patreon.  Thanks to our sound editor, Ilana Marder-Epstein, our research assistant, Molly Scruta, and our graphic designer, Reagan Carey, for their help with this episode, and to Collective Resource Compost, for sponsoring our work.  Support the show (http://patreon.com/housewarmingpod)

Welcome to House Warming, a podcast about climate policy and solutions in Chicago, Illinois, and beyond. In this episode, get to know co-hosts Abby Wilson and Anni Metz and learn why we started this podcast and what you can expect from upcoming episodes. We're glad to have you here!  Support the show (http://patreon.com/housewarmingpod)