In our Office, we don’t just celebrate Earth Day, but Earth Month! There is so much to celebrate this April and ways we can give back to the Earth. Below you can find a list of eco-friendly events happening across the Chicagoland area that you can participate in. While most of these events are free, some do require pre-registration and may have a limited number of spots. At the top of the page, I especially want to highlight several events that my office is co-hosting, and down below, you can find information for all the events happening in the 12th District.
Come join the Cleanup Club, District 12 Commissioner Bridget Degnen, and 47th Ward Alderman Matt Martin to bond over the joys of removing trash from our local community!
Date: Saturday, April 5th
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Corner of Ravenswood Ave & Montrose Ave (east side of the tracks). We will have groups going both north and south, in an attempt to cover everything from Montrose to Addison.
Social Outing: Optional meetup before at Spoken Cafe (1812 W Montrose Ave) from 9 -10 AM for some coffee, pastries and chit chat!
For the first year, our office is partnering with DePaul University to host a community clothing swap! In the spirit of reducing waste and fighting fast fashion, you’ll have the chance to get some new outfits for the spring and summer weather. Items for the swap are to be collected between April 1st and April 9th at various drop box locations across the DePaul Campus and at my office at 4347 N Milwaukee Ave.
Date: Saturday, 4/12/2025
Time: 11am-1:30pm
Location: The Quad at DePaul University (2325 N Seminary Ave, Chicago, IL 60614)
Join us for a free community paper shredding event on Saturday, April 19th at 5333 N Western Ave. from 11:30am – 2pm or until trucks are full. Bring up to two boxes to shred, drop off old or expired medications, and donate pantry staples, hygiene products, and baby diapers and wipes for neighbors in need!
Our Free Community Bike Tuneup will be held on Saturday, April 26th in Pulaski Park!
Join elected officials, the Recyclery, Bike Lane Uprising, and the Chicago Transit Authority for a Community Bike Tuneup.
From 10 am – 1 pm, engineers from the Recyclery will be at Pulaski Park working one-on-one to tune up bikes. Walk ins only, first come first serve.
Attendees are also encouraged to bring extra bike or bike parts to donate to the Recyclery’s Freecyclery Program, which provides refurbished bikes to those with limited means.
We will also have the CTA on-site providing demonstrations on how to load their bus bike racks. And of course, we’ll have lots of fun eco-friendly giveaways and music and activities to enjoy while your bike is being worked on!
All Upcoming Events
Wednesday, April 2nd
Retrofit Solutions Webinar Series
As the energy sector moves toward a low-carbon future, both electric and gas utilities will play a critical role in ensuring safe, reliable, and affordable energy solutions. This virtual session will explore the latest advancements in gas efficiency, taking a deeper look at emerging and existing technologies that lower emissions and energy bills. Experts will discuss the potential of decarbonized fuels and innovative systems in achieving efficiency goals. Topics include:
* High-efficiency gas heat pumps
* Combined heat and power (CHP) and micro-CHP systems
* Distributed (small-scale) carbon capture technologies
* Hydrogen, renewable natural gas (RNG), and synthetic fuels
Join us to learn how you can leverage these innovative technologies to lower energy costs in your next project—and which Peoples Gas incentives could help save you money up front.
Date: 4/2/2025
Location: Virtual
Time: 12pm-1pm
Saturday, April 5th
Ravenswood Neighborhood Clean Up
Come join the Cleanup Club, District 12 Commissioner Bridget Degnen, and 47th Ward Alderman Matt Martin to bond over the joys of removing trash from our local community!
Date: Saturday, April 5th
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: Corner of Ravenswood Ave & Montrose Ave (east side of the tracks). We will have groups going both north and south, in an attempt to cover everything from Montrose to Addison.
Social Outing: Optional meetup before at Spoken Cafe (1812 W Montrose Ave) from 9 -10 AM for some coffee, pastries and chit chat!
Northwest Side EnviroFest 2025
On Saturday, April 5th, the Office of State Representative Lindsey LaPointe will host their 2025 EnviroFest, an environmental resource fair featuring speakers and resources from various local and state-wide advocates and organizations. Our family-friendly event is perfect for neighbors passionate about climate change and making our community and Illinois green, as well as children interested in learning more about the natural environment. The event will feature tabling throughout the duration of the fair, as well as three FREE sessions. The event will take place at the Portage Park Fieldhouse (4100 N Long Ave.) from 11 AM – 2 PM.
Host: State Rep Lindsey LaPointe, State Senator Rob Martwick
Date: 4/5/2025
Location: Portage Park Fieldhosue (4100 N Long Ave)
Time: 11am-2pm
Make spring cleaning more sustainable!
Our event partners will be collecting electronics, prescription drugs, books, musical instruments, bikes, clothing and more. The first 25 donors receive a free, “Don’t be Trashy” t-shirt. Grove 6.
Learn more about volunteer opportunities at the Forest Preserves, enjoy green giveaways courtesy of the Cook County Department of Environment and Sustainability & MWRD and participate in a self-led litter cleanup. Supplies will be provided!
Bring items that you no longer need to donate or dispose of properly. Items being collected include books, records, glasses, musical instruments, adult and children’s bikes, bike parts and accessories, electronics, and prescription drugs. You can also take part in a volunteer cleanup to help keep the Forest Preserves of Cook County beautiful.
Host: Forest Preserves of Cook County, Cook County Department of Environment and Sustainability, Cook County Sheriff’s Office, MWRD, Scarce, Working Bikes
Date: 4/5/2025
Location: Miller Meadow-South
Time: 9am-12pm
Sunday, April 6th
Join for their 3rd Annual Earth-A-Palooza on Sunday, April 6th from 1pm-3pm at Linne Woods at Village of Morton Grove Municipality. Enjoy free kids’ activities, touch-a-truck, Brookfield Zoo animals, tree climbing and more.
Date: 4/6/2025
Location: Linne Woods in Morton Grove
Time: 1pm-3pm
LaBagh Woods Stewardship Workday
Join the Chicago Ornithological Society at LaBagh Woods, and help bring back critical bird habitats. Help to plant native shrubs, defeat menacing invasive plants, and much more to bring back the thriving native habitats that birds and so many other organisms rely on.
No experience necessary. All tools, equipment and instruction will be provided. Please wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and close toed shoes you don’t mind getting quite dirty. They will make sure to have plenty of water and a snack for break time, but you are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle.
Host: Chicago Ornithological Society
Date: 4/6/2025
Location: LaBagh Woods Grove #1
Time: 10am – 1pm
Monday, April 7th
Compostable Field-Testing Program (IFSCC Monthly Meeting)
Emily McGill, Program Director for the Compostable Field Testing Program (a non-profit research initiative) will introduce the topic of field testing of compostables and help folks learn what this type of testing entails, why it is important to use only certified compostable products in commercial compost streams, and how this applies for anaerobic digestion.
Date: 4/7/2025
Location: Online
Time: 12pm
Saturday, April 12th
For the first year, our office is partnering with DePaul University to host a community clothing swap! In the spirit of reducing waste and fighting fast fashion, you’ll have the chance to get some new outfits for the spring and summer weather. Items for the swap are to be collected between April 1st and April 9th.
Date: Saturday, 4/12/2025
Time: 11am-1:30pm
Location: The Quad at DePaul University (2325 N Seminary Ave, Chicago, IL 60614)
Saturday, April 13th
Support local refugee farms and food systems by getting your fresh spring produce from Global Gardens Chicago at their pop-up sales at the Eco Cafe! Available every Saturday in April & May,
Host: The Eco Flamingo
Date: 4/12/2025
Location: 4750 N Rockwell Street
Time: 10am – 2pm
Saturday, April 13th
Singles Earth Month Cleanup & Social
Trash People exists to facilitate community connection and contribution in Chicago. Join them for a special SINGLES clean up & social in partnership with Meet IRL! This special event is a fundraiser for Trash People to help fund ongoing neighborhood clean ups, and our other projects, The Volunteer Fair & The Parlor.
Host: Meet IRL & Trash People, Sponsored by WasteNot Compost
Date: 4/13/2025
Location: Pilot Project Brewing
Time: 10am – 12:30pm
Monday, April 14th
Chicago Water Team Monthly Meeting
The Chicago Water Team advocates for the health and enjoyment of area waterways and equitable access to safe drinking water. At their monthly meetings, they will be planning upcoming events and campaigns, discussing ongoing activities and opportunities, and looking to connect Sierra Club members to Chicago area waterways. All experience levels are welcome.
Host: Sierra Club Illinois Chapter: Chicago Group
Date: 4/14/2025
Location: Virtual
Time: 6pm – 7:30pm
Friday, April 18th
Community Social
Enjoy and evening with other like-minded people to hold conversations about sustainability, lead by a guest speaker. Light snacks & drinks provided, FREE to attend
Host: Eco Flamingo
04/18/2025
Time: TBD
Saturday, April 19th
Do you have old documents or expired medications that you want to get rid of? Join us for the Grateful Shred on Saturday, April 19th, from 11:30-2:00pm at 5333 N. Western Ave!
Bring up to two boxes to shred, and drop off old or expired medications. We’re also hosting a donation drive for the Friendship Center, so please bring any pantry staples, hygiene products, and baby diapers and wipes you’d like to donate for neighbors in need!
Date: 4/19/2025
Location: 5333 N. Western Ave
Time: 11:30am-2pm
Waters Elementary School Earth Day Event
Join Waters Elementary for a morning of environmental education sessions, trash collection, raffles, and fun! Staff from Waters Elementary will be educating the community about the importance of bioswales on their campus and why they are so important for flood control in their area.
Host: Waters Elementary School
Date: 4/21/2024
Location: Waters Field
Time: 10am – 12pm
Tuesday, April 22nd
One Earth Film Festival is a Chicago area film festival that creates opportunities for understanding climate change, sustainability and the power of human involvement through sustainability-themed films and facilitated discussion. We engage private, public and non-profit sector community partners in the sponsorship and production of the film festival. From April 22nd-28th they will be screening 7 different films both in person and virtually throughout the city of Chicago and its suburbs. Tickets are free, but donations are encouraged as “pay what you can”. To find information on films, screening times, tickets, and locations, visit the link above.
Host: One Earth Film Festival
Dates: 4/22-4/28
Location: Varies
Time: Varies
Friday, April 25th
Adopt-a-Beach Spring Kickoff 2025
Spring is just around the corner. That means Adopt-a-Beach season will start before you know it! So mark your calendar: Adopt-a-Beach Spring Kickoff is Friday, April 25 – Sunday, April 27. Every year, thousands of Adopt-a-Beach volunteers come together to keep our Great Lakes beaches clean. It’s easy to join in. Visit the Adopt-a-Beach website and find a cleanup near you.
Dates: 4/25/2025-4/27/2025
Location: Various
Time: Varies
Saturday, April 26th
Community Bike Tune Up at Pulaski Park
Join us for a community bike tune up on April 26th at Pulaski Park from 10am – 1pm. Bike engineers from the Recyclery will be working one-on-one to tune up bikes for the warmer weather and you can learn and practice how to mount your bike on a real CTA bus!
Attendees are also encouraged to bring extra bike or bike parts to donate to the Recyclery’s Freecyclery Program, which provides refurbished bikes to those with limited means.
Host: Commissioner Bridget Degnen, Alderman Daniel La Spata, Chicago Transit Authority, The Recyclery, Bike Lane Uprising, Active Transportation Alliance
Date: 4/26/2024
Location: Pulaski Park, 1419 W Blackhawk St. on the baseball field
Time: 10am – 1pm
Come together with neighbors and fellow Chicagoans to help clean up one of our city’s most vibrant neighborhood parks! We’ll be picking up trash, beautifying green spaces, and completing other park projects to help make a positive impact on our community.
Host: Wicker Park Advisory Council & Chicago Growth Project
Date: Saturday, 4/26/2025
Time: 9am-1pm
Location: Wicker Park, 1425 N Damen Ave
We are excited to announce our first Montrose Beach cleanup of the year! Once again, the Chicago Group is proud to team with the Alliance for the Great Lakes and the Truman College Environmental Club. In addition to beautifying part of Chicago’s shoreline, we collect and catalog all the debris we find in order to help analyze the cleanliness of the world’s water and beaches. This is a wonderful event for adults and kids alike, and a great opportunity to bring your group together for a great cause. Alumni, faith-based groups, and professional groups are encouraged to sign up. Come for all or part of the work period. Dress for the weather, wear a hat and sunscreen, bring a filled water bottle and work gloves if you have them. No dogs allowed.
Host: Sierra Club, Alliance for the Great Lakes, & Truman College Environmental Club
Date: Saturday, April 26th
Location: Montrose Beach, 200 W Montrose Harbor Dr
Time: 9am-12pm
The Chicago Park District, in partnership with Friends of the Parks, hosts the citywide Earth Day Parks Clean Up on Saturday, April 26, 2025. Join thousands of volunteers in parks across Chicago in picking up litter and putting down mulch to give our precious green spaces a fresh start for the season.
Host: Chicago Park District, Friends of the Parks
Date: 4/26/2025
Location: Chicago Parks across the City
Time: Varies
Saturday, April 27th
Do you have old documents, personal electronics, or expired medications that you want to get rid of? Join the 43rd Ward for their vi-annual recycle and shred event! Bring up to two boxes to shred, your old electronics, and drop off old or expired medications.
Date: 4/27/2025
Location: Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Time: 10am – 1pm
The Volunteer Fair is back! This spring, we’re highlighting even more incredible organizations doing impactful work in Chicago. Join this fun community event to learn about a wide variety of opportunities to get involved on the northside, westside and citywide!
Host: The Trash People
Date: 4/27/2025
Location: Midwest Coast Brewing
Time: 12pm – 4pm
