Bridging the Gap Between Chicago and Nairobi
Last Saturday afternoon, at an intimate gathering at the Al Raby School for Community and Environment, Dr. Wangari Maathai presided over the dedication of a native garden planted in her name. Students, teachers and community members listened as Dr. Maathai spoke of the essential role gardens like the Wangari Maathai Natural Garden play in promoting urban renewal, social and environmental activism and raising awareness-from the Al Raby School on Chicago’s West Side to the Green Belt Movement in Nairobi, Kenya.
At the dedication, Al Raby students spoke about their experiences planting the native garden at the entrance of their school. Back in May, with the help of CNT and other community members, the concrete was removed and students helped to install a garden that will serve as an interactive learning site not only for students but for the East Garfield Park community.
The students also reflected on the important lessons they learned from leveling and turning soil, planting seeds and laying mulch, to now maintaining and monitoring the garden-one of the most valuable being the teamwork it required. One student reflected on her initial surprise to find she would not just be observing the garden, but helping to create it from scratch. Later, Dr. Maathai responded by pointing out that to invoke progress you often must “get down on the ground” and plant a garden yourself.
Wangari Maathai was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for founding the Green Belt Movement, an environmental organization that planted over 30 million trees across Kenya to prevent soil erosion. On Saturday, Dr. Maathai spoke of the importance of trees and plants”not just for the carbon dioxide they trap”but for the awareness they raise.
The 1500 square foot Wangari Maathai Natural Garden, that students dedicated six hours a week to planting and that will demonstrate the importance and value of green infrastructure, is a microcosm of what can be repeated globally-from Chicago to Kenya.
“It is this type of activity that should be replicated a billion times throughout the world”, concluded Dr. Maathai, before taking a stroll through a small drop in that bucket.
The Wangari Maathai Natural Garden was made possible by funding from the Prince Charitable Trusts, and service and material donations from F.H. Paschen, Christy Webber Landscapes, Green Corps, the Chicago Park District and the Chicago Bureau of Forestry.
