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Green Exploration: Rockford

Green Exploration: Rockford

By Haley Dahl

A research podcast to raise awareness regarding the various environmental issues afflicting Rockford and exploring how inclusive, green infrastructure, in addition to other sustainable and nature-based solutions, can offer viable solutions to these problems. Diving deeper, I am exploring how these environmental issues affect the BIPOC communities within the region to see if there is inequity regarding environmental quality and protection. To do so, this podcast consists of a series of discussions regarding these issues with environmental and municipal leaders throughout the Rockford region.
Currently playing episode

Chester D. Kolodziej, Sustain Rockford: Part 1

Green Exploration: RockfordNov 18, 2021

00:00
38:22
Janessa Wilkins, City of Rockford: Part 2

Janessa Wilkins, City of Rockford: Part 2

Continuing our discussion with Janessa Wilkins, the Seventh Ward alderman of the City of Rockford, she further describes how the Seventh Ward is impacted by being located in a floodplain. She highlights the importance of individual empowerment through education and being an active member of the community, emphasizing how community residents have the power to band together and make things happen for their neighborhoods themselves.

May 31, 202332:09
Janessa Wilkins, City of Rockford: Part 1

Janessa Wilkins, City of Rockford: Part 1

Meeting with Janessa Wilkins, the Seventh Ward alderman of the City of Rockford, we discuss Rockford’s social and environmental issues from the lens of the Seventh Ward, an under-served ward on the northwest side of the City. We discuss work that is being done and the barriers preventing what still needs to be done to improve the Seventh Ward for the residents that currently live there.

Mar 25, 202332:17
Brad Holcomb, City of Rockford

Brad Holcomb, City of Rockford

Meeting with Brad Holcomb, the stormwater manager from the City of Rockford, we discuss Rockford's environmental issues from the perspective of  stormwater management. We discuss the presence of various floodplains throughout the City and explore how green infrastructure can aid with these issues. We also discuss sustainability and environmental justice concerns in relation to floodplain management and how that impacts the community.

Jan 10, 202326:55
Barb Chidley, City of Rockford: Part 2

Barb Chidley, City of Rockford: Part 2

Continuing our conversation with Barb Chidley, the Neighborhood Specialist of the City of Rockford, she explains further why inclusive and all-encompassing neighborhood wellness is key to sustainability and environmental justice. In order to see true and positive change, she emphasizes how authentic connection is necessary to better individual neighborhoods, and thus benefiting the City as a whole.

Aug 12, 202232:20
Barb Chidley, City of Rockford: Part 1

Barb Chidley, City of Rockford: Part 1

Meeting with Barb Chidley, the Neighborhood Specialist of the City of Rockford, we discuss sustainability and environmental justice from the perspective of neighborhood health. She shares with us why it is important that we focus on neighborhood, as well individual, health and wellness to achieve overall community health and sustainability. We discuss how connectivity is vital to these efforts.

Jun 08, 202233:52
Robert Wilhelmi & Kyle Saunders, Part 2: City of Rockford

Robert Wilhelmi & Kyle Saunders, Part 2: City of Rockford

Continuing our conversation with Robert Wilhelmi, the Brownfields Redevelopment Specialist, and Kyle Saunders, the Director of Public Works, both working for the City of Rockford, Illinois, we will keep discussing Rockford’s environmental issues, and how the City has been working towards a more sustainable future in the context of brownfields redevelopment and stormwater management. Rob and Kyle dive deeper into this discussion, highlighting the measures that the City of Rockford has been making towards equitable implementation of these city improvements.

Mar 08, 202233:26
Mark Luthin, Natural Land Institute

Mark Luthin, Natural Land Institute

Meeting with Mark Luthin, a member of the Board of Trustees for the Natural Land Institute and a volunteer steward for the Boone County Conservation District, as well as a retired environmental educator, we discuss conservation and sustainability in the greater Rockford metropolitan area, while emphasizing the importance of education in combating environmental issues. As part of an equity task force for the Natural Land Institute, Mark also stresses the importance of equity in combating these issues.

Jan 26, 202233:51
Robert Wilhelmi & Kyle Saunders, City of Rockford: Part 1

Robert Wilhelmi & Kyle Saunders, City of Rockford: Part 1

Meeting with Robert Wilhelmi, the Brownfields Redevelopment Specialist, and Kyle Saunders, the Director of Public Works, both working for the City of Rockford, Illinois, we will be discussing Rockford’s environmental issues, and how the City has been working towards a more sustainable future. Rob highlights various brownfields redevelopment projects the City has done and how that has affected its urban core, while Kyle explains new projects Rockford has been undertaking within Public Works on the water side.

Jan 20, 202243:13
Dan Kane, Boone County Conservation District: Part 2

Dan Kane, Boone County Conservation District: Part 2

Continuing our conversation with Dan Kane, executive director of the Boone County Conservation District, we discuss sustainability and urban development further, focusing on conservation design. Dan highlights conservation projects throughout Belvidere, a neighboring town that resides within the greater Rockford metropolitan area.

Jan 08, 202235:10
Dan Kane, Boone County Conservation District: Part 1

Dan Kane, Boone County Conservation District: Part 1

Meeting with Dan Kane, executive director of the Boone County Conservation District, we discuss sustainability and rapid urban sprawl in the Rockford region within the context of conservation. Exploring sustainable development further, we discuss combating urbanization by integrating conservation within our residential neighborhoods and utilizing paths connecting these various natural spaces, increasing accessibility and awareness throughout the community.

Dec 30, 202135:02
Chester D. Kolodziej, Sustain Rockford: Part 2

Chester D. Kolodziej, Sustain Rockford: Part 2

Continuing our discussion with Chet Kolodziej, co-founder of Sustain Rockford, we dive further into sustainability topics, such as solar energy, electric vehicles, and community development and organization. Chet encourages organizations advocating for sustainability within Rockford to collaborate and coordinate, as some neighboring municipalities do.

Disclaimer: Chet sometimes mistakenly refers to the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Law and Policy Group by other, albeit similar, names. However, just know that the correct names are the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Law and Policy Group.

Nov 29, 202130:15
Chester D. Kolodziej, Sustain Rockford: Part 1

Chester D. Kolodziej, Sustain Rockford: Part 1

Meeting with Chet Kolodziej, a co-founder of Sustain Rockford, we discuss sustainability in Rockford from a business and energy perspective. As someone who has plenty of experience in both fields, Chet advocates for solar in the region, specifically via the Illinois Solar for All program, and gives his insight on various other environmental issues affecting Rockford.


Disclaimer: Chet sometimes mistakenly refers to the Natural Resources Defense Council by other, albeit similar, names. However, just know that the correct name is the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Nov 18, 202138:22
Shelby Best, R1 Planning Council

Shelby Best, R1 Planning Council

Meeting with Shelby Best, the Sustainability & Resiliency Coordinator of Region 1 Planning Council, we further discuss plans to implement sustainability throughout the Rockford region. She highlighted how they are approaching the implementation phase of the Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan, as well as plans to curb flooding around the Keith Creek, while additionally promoting active transportation around Rockford, via the implementation of the completed 2021 Greenways Plan and Map. Similarly to Brad Roos, Shelby expressed the need for a sustainability plan for the region.

Oct 21, 202127:06
Kristen Hayden & Sydney Turner, R1 Planning Council

Kristen Hayden & Sydney Turner, R1 Planning Council

Meeting with Kristen Hayden and Sydney Turner from Region 1 Planning Council, we discuss plans to implement sustainability within the Rockford region. They highlight some of the region’s current and recent plans, including the Electric Vehicle Readiness Plan, 2017 Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan, Keith Creek Corridor Study, and the 2021 Greenways Plan for Boone, Ogle & Winnebago County.

Disclaimer: The audio is choppy during various parts of the interview, due to the limitations of zoom and the internet at that time. I sincerely apologize for the disruption.

Oct 07, 202124:26
Brad Roos, Sustain Rockford: Part 2

Brad Roos, Sustain Rockford: Part 2

Continuing our conversation with Brad Roos, we discuss sustainability in Rockford even further. Inspired by neighboring communities, Brad, Sustain Rockford, and a growing number of others are leading the effort to develop and implement a sustainability plan in the Rockford region. He talks about how important it is to establish and track sustainability metrics and Brad offers his opinion on how important moral leadership will be in engaging cooperation among our neighbors in what is bound to be one of the greatest challenges the human race has ever faced.

Sep 27, 202130:10
Brad Roos, Sustain Rockford: Part 1
Sep 16, 202130:13