We utilize community organizing strategies to understand Earth's health and the interconnectedness to human health. We work together to repair harm towards water, food, land, and urban ecology. Through gardens, bike rides, clean-up days, panel discussions, movie nights, and other community solution-oriented programs, we bring people together to learn how we can take actions together.

Monarch Palooza 

On August 27th, we celebrated the start of the monarch migration with North Park Village Nature Center during their annual Monarch Palooza. The indigenous Purépecha group from Michoacán, Mexico,  Chi Nations Youth Council, and many other partners came together for the fourth generation migration of the incredible, symbolic, endangered monarch butterflies.

Organic Oneness is a part of the Bronzeville/South Lakefront My Chi My Future cohort. Spring Forward: Day of Service was a city-wide initiative in various neighborhoods for teens to conduct service projects during spring break. We conducted outdoor clean up projects at Ellis Park and Mandrake Park. All teens involved were able to get exclusive access to a Spring Break party at the Navy Pier Ballroom.

Day of Service for Teens in Bronzeville

Caring for the Earth

Such an amazing experience to witness children interacting with nature as we celebrated Earth Day with Webster Elementary, North Lawndale!  Nilufar and youth organized a day of cleanup and gardening with prekindergarten-8th graders. Classrooms rotated throughout the day and worked on garden beds to clean, turn soil, and plant seeds.

We were honored to be among Openlands, Nordson Green Earth Foundation and all the children and staff of Webster Elementary for this day of service.

Missing Narratives: How Climate Actions Are Producing Winners and Losers

On November 4, 2021, Organic Oneness UIUC hosted the second event in our Exchange 4 Justice Speaker Series. We collaborated with 5 other registered student organization to bring together 40+ students and community members for a conversation led by environmental justice panelist Oboi Reed, Amaris Alanis-Riberio, and Anthony Tamez- Pochel. Together they led an important discussion centered on how climate actions are affecting the world we live in today and how it is impacting marginalized groups who impacted by systems such as capitalism and racism.  (Click here for media coverage of this event written in the Daily Illini)

Bike, Breath + Environment Justice

On October 2nd, Organic Oneness  and several Chicago-based social justice groups teamed up with the transportation equity organization Equiticity to host a ride through Humboldt Park and Hermosa entitled Bikes, Breath + Environmental Justice: Celebrating the African Diaspora in the Americas on Two Wheels.

The ride webpage explained that the purpose of the Near West Side ride was to “Celebrate on two wheels the culture of the African diaspora in the Americas. Through a profound historical journey, explore spirit, dance, and the drum and their inextricable connection in the fight for survival, freedom, and prosperity of Afro LatinX people across two continents.” The event started at the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center in Humboldt Park, and began with meditation and intention-setting, led by Black Brown + Breathing. Read more about this event on StreetsBlog.

Co-hosting groups included, De Colores + Cultura, Black Brown + Breathing, Music Moves Chicago (a program of the Old Town School of Folk music), Paseo Boricua Tour Company, Environmentalists of Color, and The Honeycomb Network.

Movie in the Park

On August 15th Organic Oneness provided a movie night for families that focused on the environment. We partnered with Ken-Well Park Advisory Council and Representative Will Guzzardi and watched Raya and the Last Dragon with approximately 75 residents of Hermosa, Avondale, Logan Square, and Old Irving Park.

Bikes, Birds, & Environmental Justice

On October 17, 2020 approximately 150 community members, environmentalists, healers, justice activists, and bicycle enthusiasts joined Environmentalist of Color, Equiticity, Organic Oneness and partners for a day of solidarity, healing and justice.

The goal of this event was to build solidarity between Black and Brown communities, bring awareness to the intersectionality of environmentalism, and advocate for environmental justice.

Attendees participated in birding activities followed by a Land Acknowledgment, inspirational words, and bicycle tour. Throughout the eight-mile journey, riders visited the African Heritage Garden in North Lawndale that highlights plants originating from the African continent. Riders also visited Semillas de Justicia garden (Seeds of Justice) and the Hilco sites to learn about Little Village Environmental Organization's (LVEJO) journey to bring about food and environmental justice to the community. The day ended with a healthy lunch, positive music, and people expanding their networks with neighbors from both communities.

This event was inspired by the One Earth Film Festival and Environmentalists of Color Outdoors
While Black: Unpacking History, Redefining Safety, and Taking Action.

Watch this presentation to learn about partners coming together and their unique process on planning this event.
Read more about this event from a Baha'i perspective.

Environmentalist of Color, EOC

On October 21st, Organic Oneness and EOC hosted the 3rd annual gathering at the river front downtown at the beautiful McCormick Bridgehouse Museum.

This gathering was a BIPOC safe space to amplify, connect and support members in this network to be leaders and thrive in this field.

EOC is an interdisciplinary network of leaders of color who are passionate about an array of critical environmental issues, ranging from habitat conservation to environmental justice. We cultivate opportunities for community, support, and joy so members can thrive.

After the Be the Healing conferences, Syda (Executive Director of Organic Oneness) met with attendees to reflect on lessons learned.  She then connected participants that had like-minded solutions and assisted with co-creating their own events for continued learning and healing. This community-building process ignited the thoughts of creating Organic Oneness.

 Heal the Healers Retreat

June of 2017 Environmentalist of Color, Chicago Botanic Garden, Faith in Place, and the Bahá'í Temple all felt the need to create a space for Caregivers of the Earth to rejuvenate.  Hour long seminars gave tips on mediation, massaging, breathing, mindfulness, so participants can combat compassion fatigue and burnout.  A vegan lunch nourished bodies while friendships developed among people from various neighborhoods in Chicago and north suburbs. Concluding the day was artist and author, Misha Maynerick Blaise that debuted her book, This Phenomenal Life: The Amazing Ways Are Connected With Our Universe.