Illinois

GreenLatinos Illinois Commemorates Earth Month by Creating New Green Spaces Across Chicago

GreenLatinos

GreenLatinos’ Urban Greening Initiative Shows Climate Resilience Starts at Home

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 04/22/2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Cumbia Padilla, Communications Coordinator, 707-382-8113, [email protected]

CHICAGO— In celebration of Earth Month, GreenLatinos is proud to share the growing impact of its Urban Greening Initiative, a community-driven effort advancing climate resilience, environmental justice, and authentic local stewardship across Chicago.

From expanding urban tree canopy and community gardens to bolstering youth workforce development programs and neighborhood compost hubs, the initiative has delivered measurable environmental and community benefits since its launch in August 2025.

Over the past six months, the program has:

More than 100 community members helped shape the future of the Canal Origins Park through surveys, tours, and design conversations.
89 youth and 24 families engaged in growing food via gardening programs and workshops in Avondale
Local school in LeClaire Courts launches new community gardens, nature-based gathering spaces, and geodesic domes used for solar workforce training
650 students learned about nature and climate solutions via hands-on outdoor activities in renovated school campus
30 trees and 9000 sf of rain gardens and native plants planted
More than 500 community members participated in tours, workshops, and planning sessions across Chicago projects

“During Earth Month, we celebrate the real impact of our urban greening initiatives. When we invest resources directly into the hands of our communities, our planet heals,” said Amanda Pantoja, Urban Greening Initiative Coordinator with GreenLatinos. “Our neighborhoods have been caring for the Earth for generations, and this stewardship continues every day in our Latino households and communities. Seeing our people lead urban greening projects with their own vision and hands shows that climate resilience is not just a goal—it is a reality we are building together.”

In Chicago, projects advanced community green spaces, environmental learning areas for children, and restoration planning through partnerships with local institutions and residents. “In Chicago, we’re investing in community-driven projects that are turning some of our most environmentally burdened neighborhoods into healthier, greener spaces,” said Lucy Contreras, Illinois State Program Director with GreenLatinos. “Our awardees are reclaiming land, revitalizing their communities, and expanding access to nature in areas that have long been overburdened by pollution and disinvestment.”

This Earth Month, GreenLatinos reaffirms its commitment to investing in frontline communities and supporting community-led, culturally grounded solutions built for long-term climate resilience.

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Acerca de GreenLatinos –

GreenLatinos (NOTA: GreenLatinos es UNA PALABRA) es una comunidad activa de líderes latinos, envalentonados por el poder y la sabiduría de nuestra cultura, unidos para exigir equidad y desmantelar el racismo, con recursos para ganar nuestras batallas ambientales, de conservación y de justicia climática, y motivados para asegurar nuestras políticas, Liberación económica, cultural y ambiental.

GreenLatinos (NOTA: GreenLatinos es UNA PALABRA) es una comunidad activa de líderes latines envalentonados por el poder y la sabiduría de nuestra cultura, unidos para exigir equidad y desmantelar el racismo, con recursos para ganar nuestra justicia ambiental, batallas de conservación y climáticas, e impulsados a asegurar nuestra liberación política, económica, cultural y ambiental.

Cumbia Padilla

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Community members on the Southeast Environmental Task Force Boat Tour.

This Earth Month, we want to take a moment to share and celebrate what our comunidades have been building across the country.

In the past six months, GreenLatinos partners across Chicago, Los Angeles, and Albuquerque have been doing what Latinos have always done: taking care of the land, feeding our neighbors, and investing in the youth around us.

Here's a look at what that work looks like on the ground.

The numbers

7,600+ community members showed up. 13,000+ pounds of fresh food were distributed. 611,000+ pounds of organic waste were diverted from landfills. 201 trees are in the ground. 3,500+ volunteer hours were logged by neighbors who chose to give their time to this work.

Gracias to our comunidades across the country for their work!

chicago

People for Environmental Restoration & Riverfront Organization (PERRO) holding a community event at the Canal Origins park restoration project in partnership with the Chicago Park District.

In Chicago, residents are helping design the future of Canal Origins Park from the ground up. More than 100 community members joined boat tours, walking tours, and design conversations to share their vision for the space, all led by our partners at PERRO. Students at the Academy for Global Citizenship (AGC) are learning in brand new outdoor classrooms, including Geodesic domes and Community gardens. Stay tuned to see exciting updates from Centro San Bonifacio and Southeast Environmental Task Force!

los Angeles

Community members collaborating and sharing their vision for Aliso Pico Recreation Center with Proyecto Pastoral.

In Los Angeles, a community garden opened in Pico Union and became a gathering place almost immediately thanks to our friends at Cultiva LA. Over 1,200 people joined events there in just a few months. Youth with the San Gabriel Valley Conservation Corps planted 201 trees in Pico Rivera and were recognized by the city for their work. Our partners at LA Compost diverted over 611,000 pounds of organic waste from landfills, turning it into soil that feeds more gardens and more community. We are rooting for our amigues at Proyecto Pastoral as they continue to dream and plan their vision for Aliso Pico Recreation Center!

Alburquerque

A group gathered at the SouthWest Organizing Project community garden space.

In Albuquerque, the Southwest Organizing Project and the Semilla Project distributed nearly 12,000 pounds of fresh food, grew over 2,000 plant starts, and welcomed thousands of neighbors to Loma Linda Community Farm. Eighteen BIPOC youth graduated also from a pre-apprenticeship in agriculture and urban forestry, earning certifications in CPR, Wilderness First Aid, and wildfire mitigation. And CESOSS brought hundreds of K-5 students into hands-on learning about acequias, soil, and water, the same systems their ancestors built and maintained for generations. Yes! Housing continued to build the infrastructure for a new orchard.

This is what our people have always known

As Amanda Pantoja, our Urban Greening Initiative Coordinator, put it: "Our neighborhoods have been caring for the Earth for generations, and this stewardship continues every day in our Latino households and communities."

This Earth Month, we're proud to celebrate that. These are not new ideas, but concepts and practices our comunidades have been practicing all along.

Want to continue supporting our work across the country and make a real impact? Make a donation today AQUÍ. 

Respira: A Southwest Side Townhall

GreenLatinos

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GreenLatinos

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GreenLatinos’ Urban Greening Initiative Shows Climate Resilience Starts at Home

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/22/26
MEDIA CONTACT: Cumbia Padilla, Communications Coordinator, 707-382-8113, [email protected]

[Los Angeles, California] — April 2026 — In celebration of Earth Month, GreenLatinos is proud to share the growing impact of its Urban Greening Initiative, a community-driven effort advancing climate resilience, environmental justice, and authentic local stewardship across Chicago, Los Angeles, and Albuquerque.

From expanding urban tree canopy and community gardens to bolstering youth workforce development programs and neighborhood compost hubs, the initiative has delivered measurable environmental and community benefits from its launch in August 2025 to this spring.

Over the past six months, the program has:

Engaged more than 7,600 community members
Hosted 350+ community events, workshops, and site activations
Diverted 611,306+ pounds of organic waste from landfills
Distributed approximately 13,000 pounds of fresh food
Logged 3,500+ volunteer hours
Planted 201 trees and 35+ perennial plants since the start of the program
Reclaimed 7.44 million gallons of water
Prevented 161.22 tons of CO₂ emissions annually

“During Earth Month, we celebrate the real impact of our urban greening initiatives. When we invest resources directly into the hands of our communities, our planet heals,” said Amanda Pantoja, Urban Greening Initiative Coordinator with GreenLatinos. “Our neighborhoods have been caring for the Earth for generations, and this stewardship continues every day in our Latino households and communities. Seeing our people lead urban greening projects with their own vision and hands shows that climate resilience is not just a goal—it is a reality we are building together.”

Across Los Angeles, GreenLatinos’ grantees planted over 200 trees, opened a community garden in the Pico-Union/Westlake area, provided job training for frontline youth, and built a robust composting infrastructure that has diverted more than 611,000 pounds of organic waste. “Investing in solutions for our most nature-deprived communities unlocks the full potential of both the community and our planet,” said Pedro Hernández, GreenLatinos’ California State Program Director. “These projects demonstrate that nature can heal while cultivating the next generation of frontline leaders to steward our future.”

In Albuquerque, local organizations distributed nearly 12,000 pounds of fresh food, trained 18 BIPOC youth in agriculture and urban forestry, and expanded food forests, compost systems, and irrigation infrastructure. “Urban greening and urban farming have been vital to our communities in Albuquerque. Not only do these projects feed those in need, they build stronger bonds, teach the next generations about our traditional connections with the land, and help mitigate the inequitable effects of climate change," said Carlos Matutes, New Mexico State Program Director.

In Chicago, projects advanced community green spaces, environmental learning areas for children, and restoration planning through partnerships with local institutions and residents. “In Chicago, we’re investing in community-driven projects that are turning some of our most environmentally burdened neighborhoods into healthier, greener spaces,” said Lucy Contreras, Illinois State Program Director with GreenLatinos. “Our awardees are reclaiming land, revitalizing their communities, and expanding access to nature in areas that have long been overburdened by pollution and disinvestment.”

This Earth Month, GreenLatinos reaffirms its commitment to investing in frontline communities and supporting solutions that are community-led, culturally grounded, and built for long-term climate resilience.

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Acerca de GreenLatinos –

GreenLatinos (NOTA: GreenLatinos es UNA PALABRA) es una comunidad activa de líderes latinos, envalentonados por el poder y la sabiduría de nuestra cultura, unidos para exigir equidad y desmantelar el racismo, con recursos para ganar nuestras batallas ambientales, de conservación y de justicia climática, y motivados para asegurar nuestras políticas, Liberación económica, cultural y ambiental.

GreenLatinos (NOTA: GreenLatinos es UNA PALABRA) es una comunidad activa de líderes latinos/a/e, envalentonados por el poder y la sabiduría de nuestra cultura, unidos para exigir equidad y desmantelar el racismo, con recursos para ganar nuestra justicia ambiental, batallas de conservación, climáticas e impulsadas a asegurar nuestra Liberación política, económica, cultural y ambiental.

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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — GreenLatinos Illinois applauds Governor J.B. Pritzker for signing the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act (SB25) into law today — a major win for climate action, energy affordability, and frontline Latino/a/e and low-income communities.

The CRGA Act tackles rising energy costs, strengthens grid reliability, and expands clean energy benefits to communities historically left behind.

Key impacts of the CRGA Act:

Cuts energy bills for families who already pay a disproportionate share of their income on utilities
- ComEd customers: up to $24/year saved by 2030
- Ameren customers: up to $120/year saved by 2030
Triples funding for low-income energy efficiency programs
Expands access to weatherization and energy-efficient appliances
Launches “Storage for All,” ensuring battery storage benefits reach underserved communities
Prevents blackouts by adding major wind, solar, and battery storage capacity
Reduces fossil fuel dependence, improving air quality in communities overburdened by pollution

As an active member of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, GreenLatinos helped shape this law through town halls, in-district meetings, and community engagement to ensure impacted communities informed the policy from the ground up.

The law takes effect June 1, 2026.

Following the signing of the bill, GreenLatinos Illinois State Program Director, Lucy Contreras, released the following statement:

“Latino/a/e families have long faced the burden of high energy costs and pollution. The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act takes meaningful steps to lower bills and expand clean energy opportunities, ensuring the families who need it most finally see relief. By modernizing our grid and expanding wind, solar, and battery storage, this law makes our energy system more reliable and helps communities keep the lights on during extreme weather, all while reducing reliance on polluting fossil fuel power plants.”

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Acerca de GreenLatinos –

GreenLatinos (NOTA: GreenLatinos es UNA PALABRA) es una comunidad activa de líderes latinos, envalentonados por el poder y la sabiduría de nuestra cultura, unidos para exigir equidad y desmantelar el racismo, con recursos para ganar nuestras batallas ambientales, de conservación y de justicia climática, y motivados para asegurar nuestras políticas, Liberación económica, cultural y ambiental.

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GreenLatinos

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SPRINGFIELD, IL –– GreenLatinos Illinois aplaude a la Asamblea General de Illinois por la aprobación esta semana de dos leyes transformadoras: la Ley de la Autoridad de Tránsito del Norte de Illinois (NITA) y la Ley de Asequibilidad de la Red Eléctrica Limpia y Confiable (CRGA) (SB25). Estas leyes representan avances significativos en la acción climática, en las oportunidades económicas y en el acceso equitativo a la energía limpia y al transporte público, beneficiando a las comunidades latinas, afroamericanas, de primera línea y de bajos ingresos en todo Illinois.

La Ley CRGA brinda un alivio crucial a las familias que enfrentan dificultades para pagar facturas de servicios públicos elevadas, al tiempo que amplía el acceso a reembolsos para la mejora del aislamiento térmico de viviendas y la adquisición de electrodomésticos de bajo consumo, e incrementa significativamente el apoyo a los programas de eficiencia energética para personas de bajos ingresos. La ley también fortalece la infraestructura de transmisión, reduce los cuellos de botella en el desarrollo de la red eléctrica y maximiza el suministro de energía limpia en todo el estado.

Ante la amenaza de un abismo fiscal y posibles recortes del 40% en los servicios, la Ley NITA no solo preserva nuestro sistema de transporte público, sino que lo transforma al integrar mejor los servicios de CTA, Metra y Pace, establecer un sistema tarifario unificado y garantizar la accesibilidad mediante pases con descuento para usuarios de bajos ingresos. La ley también mejora la seguridad mediante el nuevo programa Embajador del Transporte y promueve un aire más limpio al reducir las emisiones vehiculares.

Como miembro de la Coalición por Empleos Limpios de Illinois, GreenLatinos se enorgullece de haber servido como asesor del Equipo de Negociación del Sector Eléctrico y de haber trabajado junto con los socios de la coalición para coorganizar asambleas públicas, organizar reuniones en los distritos y participar en grupos de trabajo regulares y llamadas de base para garantizar que las voces de las comunidades más afectadas por las desigualdades en energía y transporte ayudaran a dar forma a estas políticas.

Tras la clausura del período de sesiones de veto de 2025 de la Asamblea General de Illinois, Lucy Contreras, directora del programa estatal de Illinois, emite la siguiente declaración:

“Las familias latinas han enfrentado durante mucho tiempo la carga de los altos costos de la energía, la contaminación del aire y la falta de financiamiento para el transporte público. La Ley de Asequibilidad de la Red Eléctrica Limpia y Confiable toma medidas significativas para reducir los costos de la energía y ampliar las oportunidades de energía limpia, mientras que la Ley de la Autoridad de Tránsito del Norte de Illinois preserva y mejora el sistema de transporte público, vital para muchos en nuestras comunidades. Juntas, estas leyes brindan aire más limpio, energía asequible y transporte confiable para las familias que más lo necesitan.

En el futuro, GreenLatinos Illinois espera continuar colaborando con los legisladores de Illinois y con los miembros de la comunidad directamente afectados para asegurar que sus voces sean escuchadas y tenidas en cuenta durante las próximas sesiones legislativas. Reconocemos que quienes están más cerca del problema suelen estar más cerca de la solución, por lo que incluir estas voces es necesario no solo para impulsar una economía verde, sino también para mejorar la calidad del aire de nuestra comunidad.” —Lucy Contreras, directora del programa estatal de Illinois.

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Acerca de GreenLatinos

GreenLatinos (NOTA: GreenLatinos es UNA PALABRA) es una comunidad activa de líderes latinos/as/e, envalentonados por el poder y la sabiduría de nuestra cultura, unidos para exigir equidad y desmantelar el racismo, con recursos para ganar nuestras batallas por la justicia ambiental, de conservación y climática, e impulsados a asegurar nuestra liberación política, económica, cultural y ambiental.

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PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA:	CONTACTO PARA LOS MEDIOS:
10/31/25	Edder Díaz Martínez, Communications Director 602-832-6039 [email protected]

SPRINGFIELD, IL –– GreenLatinos Illinois applauds the Illinois General Assembly for passing two transformative pieces of legislation this week: the Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) Act y el Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act (SB25). These laws represent significant strides in climate action, economic opportunity, and equitable access to clean energy and public transportation, benefiting Latino/a/e, frontline, and low-income communities across Illinois.

The CRGA Act brings critical relief to families struggling with high utility bills while also expanding access to rebates for home weatherization and energy-efficient appliances, and significantly increasing support for low-income energy efficiency programs. The law also strengthens transmission infrastructure, reduces bottlenecks in grid development, and maximizes the delivery of clean energy across the state.

Amid threats of a fiscal cliff and potential 40% service cuts, the NITA Act not only preserves our transit system but transforms it by better integrating service across CTA, Metra, and Pace, establishing a unified fare system, and ensuring affordability through discounted passes for low-income riders. The law also enhances safety through a new Transit Ambassador program and promotes cleaner air by reducing vehicle emissions.

As a member of the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, GreenLatinos is proud to have served as an advisor to the Power Sector Negotiating Team and worked alongside coalition partners to co-host town halls, organize in-district meetings, and participate in regular working group and grassroots calls to ensure that the voices of communities most impacted by energy and transit inequities helped shape these policies.

Following the close of the Illinois General Assembly’s 2025 Veto Session, Illinois State Program Director, Lucy Contreras, releases the following statement:

“Latino families have long faced the burden of high energy costs, air pollution, and underfunded transit systems. The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act takes meaningful steps to lower energy costs and expand clean energy opportunities, while the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act preserves and improves the public transit system that is a lifeline for so many in our communities. Together, these laws deliver cleaner air, affordable energy, and reliable transit for the families who need them most.”

In the future, GreenLatinos Illinois looks forward to continue collaborating with Illinois lawmakers and directly impacted community members to ensure their voices are amplified and uplifted during future legislative sessions. We recognize that those closest to the problem are often closest to the solution, so including these voices is necessary not only to drive a green economy but also to improve air quality for our comunidades."- Lucy Contreras, Illinois State Program Director.

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Acerca de GreenLatinos –

GreenLatinos (NOTA: GreenLatinos es UNA PALABRA) es una comunidad activa de líderes latinos, envalentonados por el poder y la sabiduría de nuestra cultura, unidos para exigir equidad y desmantelar el racismo, con recursos para ganar nuestras batallas ambientales, de conservación y de justicia climática, y motivados para asegurar nuestras políticas, Liberación económica, cultural y ambiental.

Core Issues

Clean Energy & Grid Affordability

Public Transit Equity

Air Quality & Environmental Justice

Community-Led Policy

Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition

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