An encounter with a trio of indigo buntings at Morton Arboretum in 1996 is what started my volunteerism and activism.
In a truly magical scene, these brilliant and intensely blue birds were dancing playfully between a couple trees, and right there and then, I decided to change my life’s path: to go back to school to study ecology, a field entirely new to me.
A few weeks later, I enrolled in a Master in Environmental Studies at Northeastern Illinois, while continuing to work as a lecturer teaching French at Northwestern University.
Around that time, I discovered the North Branch Prairie Project (now called the North Branch Restoration Project), a wonderful organization of volunteers who spend their Sundays restoring Cook County forest preserves and educating themselves to become citizen scientists and advocates.
I had come from Belgium a few years before, and the idea that volunteers could help manage public lands and advocate on their behalf was a totally new concept for me. It seduced me right away. I eventually became a steward at a beautiful prairie in Northbrook and spent a lot of time in the next 20 years happily monitoring plants, collecting seeds, cutting buckthorn, participating in prescribed burns, etc. And as a result of that work, I became increasingly worried about the climate and determined to do something more directly focused on that issue.
And then I attended a lecture by Bill McKibben during his 2012 “Do the Math Tour,” aimed at motivating college students to get their universities to divest from fossil fuels. Several years of activism with students ensued and eventually led to my involvement with 350 Chicago.
As I am sure you know, Bill McKibben founded 350.org before founding Third Act, when he turned 60. So, when I retired last December, it seemed natural to find out more about Third Act.
One of my first actions with Third Act Illinois was to go to City Hall on a cold and icy day in January to support a presentation to the press of CABO (Clean and Affordable Buildings Ordinance). I was thrilled to meet a group of active and dedicated peers and realized that this group was where I wanted to invest my energy. Very attractive to me was the sense of purpose, the combined experience of many members, and the resulting effectiveness of the Third Act organization.
This year, while I am still figuring out what retirement means, I want to be involved in the Preserving Democracy committee as the urgent fight to mitigate climate change and to transition to a fossil free society depends on having a functioning democracy. Apart from that, I’ve had the opportunity to go back to City Hall for more CABO action, and to represent Third Act at a senior living facility and at a Chicago eco-fest, all activities that gave me a chance to work alongside fellow Third Actors.
It is those actions that I have enjoyed the most and have given me hope. I look forward to getting to know more of you and together to do our part to engage with the important issues of this critical moment in time.
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All photos provided by Christiane Rey.
This article originally appeared in the 2024 July/August edition of the Third Act Illinois Newsletter.