University News

Prairie Lands Environmental Summit Oct. 22 at WIU

September 15, 2014

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MACOMB, IL — Online registration is now open for the Prairie Lands Environmental Summit, which is scheduled from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22 at the Western Illinois University Union. According to Tim Collins, assistant director at the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (IIRA) at WIU, the Prairie Lands Environmental Summit originated from Western's Environmental Summit, which has been held at WIU for the previous 10 years. The event is open free to the public.

"Beginning this year, the summit has been expanded and renamed to promote a more regional focus and image," he said.

This year the summit includes three tracks:

  • "Greening Our Community" will be of interest to the western Illinois and Macomb area community in recognition of Campus Sustainability Day.
  • "Arts on the Prairie Landscape: Main Streets and Country Roads" is aimed at community and economic developers, local officials and community residents, especially those interested in enhancing local arts and humanities in their communities.
  • For high school science teachers, the third track focuses on continuing education and will provide teachers with modules they can use in their classrooms to meet state standards and improve their teaching methods.

Michael Howard, associate director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and south side of Chicago community activist, is this year's keynote speaker. At 1 p.m. (Oct. 22) in the University Union Grand Ballroom, Howard will discuss his work as a community leader and as the founder of Eden Place Nature Center in Chicago. Developed on an abandoned brownfield site, Eden Place was honored in May 2004 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Chicago Wilderness with the Conservation and Native Landscaping Award.

"The winners were recognized for their extensive and creative use of natural landscaping to support native plants and animals that contribute to the region's biodiversity," Collins noted. "That same month, Eden Place was filmed for a PBS special documentary called 'Eden's Lost & Found.'"

Register online for the Prairie Lands Environmental Summit at www.iira.org/devconference/register.asp?conferenceid=150. In-person registration begins at 9 a.m. (Oct. 22), and sessions are scheduled from 10 a.m. through 3 p.m. The summit will be followed by a reception at the WIU Art Gallery.

For more information, contact Collins at (309) 298-3412 or via email T-Collins@wiu.edu.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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