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a view of a city skyline from a park

Axios Chicago: Why Chicago’s Shrinking Tree Canopy Hurts Communities

Chicagoans can join groups like Openlands to become “treekeepers” — stewards who plant, nurture and …

Openlands TreePlanters Grant La Villita

ABC 7: Environmental Activists Plant Trees to Help Underserved Neighborhoods

Openlands’ TreePlanters Grant program was covered in a recent report by ABC 7 about environmental …

Openlands Tom Ebeling at a tree planting event

Internet of Nature Podcast: Don’t Tell Me How Many Trees You Planted, Tell Me How Many Are Still There After 20 Years

Tom Ebeling, Community Arborist at Openlands, discusses how we can ensure the trees that are …

La Villita Tree Planting

WTTW Latino Voices: Greening La Villita at Kanoon Elementary School

In April, the organizations Openlands and Enlace partnered with community members to plant 31 climate-resistant …

a group of people standing on a boat in the water

Midwest Living: On Chicago’s South Side, a New River Trail Guides the Way Through Nearly Two Centuries of Black History

Midwest Living reporter covers the African American Heritage Water Trail and the work of Openlands …

Connecting Children to Nature with Birds in My Neighborhood

This week marks the first week of spring, and with the warmer weather and increased …

Celebrating Stories of Black Excellence along the African American Heritage Water Trail

The Calumet region contains internationally significant history and stories of Black excellence from the past …

A small red shed sits next to a body of water

Celebrating the Passage of the Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act

Conservation easements play a critical role in landscape conservation and the preservation of wildlife habitat. …
Two people walking down a road in the woods

Celebrating the Successful Passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water, and Wildlife Referendum

The results are in! It’s a historic day as we celebrate the overwhelming passage of …
a road lined with trees covered in yellow leaves

Cast Your Vote “Yes” for the Forest Preserves of Cook County

Now the Forest Preserves need our support. With less than two weeks until election day …
A field of purple flowers with the sun setting in the background

The Importance of Grassland Ecosystems for Climate Resilience

Not only are Illinois’ grasslands beautiful locations to visit and enjoy, but grasslands are essential …
a group of people standing on a lush green field

Reconnecting People to Nature in the Calumet Region

Openlands has taken an active role in connecting communities of the Calumet Region with the …
a couple of people standing in the middle of a forest

Gaining Ground Through Volunteering at Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge

It started with a question, “Why can’t we have a National Wildlife Refuge here?” and …
a group of people inaugurating a ribbon cutting ceremony

The 2022 ComEd Green Region Grant Is Now Available to Nonprofits, Educational Institutions, and More

In celebration of its tenth year, ComEd has expanded the applicant pool to include a …
A man and woman collaborating on pruning a tree in a garden, using gardening tools and wearing protective gear.

TreeKeepers Celebrates its 30th Anniversary with the Creation of TreeKeepers Chapters

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Openlands TreeKeeper’s Program. In that time, over …
a long wooden pier beside a body of water

Openlands and Partners Win $400,000 Walder Foundation Grant to Restore Beaubien Woods

Beaubien Woods’ proximity to the Little Calumet makes it the perfect place to bring nature …
a tree next to a fire hydrant

Save Chicago’s Healthy Ash Trees

The City of Chicago should inoculate all healthy ash trees as a management tool to …
two women standing next to each other

Space to Grow Celebrates Opening of New Schoolyard with Community Partners and Elected Officials Including Mayor Lori Lightfoot

On Saturday, June 5, dignitaries including Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Alderman Jason Irvin, Dr. Andrea …
a crowd gathered around a mound of soil

How to Get Trees Planted In Your Chicago Neighborhood

Planting trees is one of the simplest nature-based solutions to climate change and is an …
an aerial view of a farm in the countryside

Why Openlands Has Joined A Lawsuit Against The City of Joliet

Openlands has joined a legal fight, alongside people who live and farm in this special …
a person holding several clams in their hands

Why Mussel Loss Is Harming Freshwater Streams And How It Could Affect Our Drinking Water

Openlands Aquatic Ecologist Laura Barghusen explains how her work with the Mussel Monitoring Program at …
A group of people standing around a tree.

Planting Trees, Growing Careers: Openlands Forestry Training Program

Imagine being paid to help young community members plant the next generation of trees, travelling …
a field full of yellow and purple flowers

Cook County Forest Preserves Referendum

In early October we asked that you to let your Forest Preserve Commissioner and President …
a group of people riding on the back of a boat

Explore the Lake Michigan Water Trail with Openlands

Join us in Lake County on August 2 and August 3 for two free, beginner-friendly …

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Jean Franczyk

See you at the 2026 Openlands Annual Luncheon!

Join us on Oct. 21 for “From the Ground Up,” honoring Jean M. Franczyk and featuring Dr. Tessa Francis as keynote.

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