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By Laurie Casey
Sisters need to stick together. We also need to stand up, speak out and advocate for a healthier planet and viable future. Here’s an opportunity to network with like-minded women and up your climate awareness game: OEFF After Hours Event & International Women’s Day Celebration on Friday, March 8.
Co-presented with Chicago Women in Green and Malcolm X College, this event is sure to inspire you. Come for a 5:30 p.m. reception sponsored by Chicago Women in Green, a social event group for people working to make the world a greener place. Come for an hour of networking, to see old friends, meet new ones, relax and enjoy great company. We’ll have bites to eat, kombucha tastings, and an unveiling of One Earth’s signature mocktail drink.
At 6:30 p.m., settle into the auditorium at Malcolm X College for a Chicago-area premiere of “The Human Element,” in which renowned photographer James Balog (prominently featured in “Chasing Ice”) uses his camera to reveal how environmental change is affecting the lives of everyday Americans.
Following the four classical elements—air, earth, fire and water—to frame his journey, Balog explores wildfires, hurricanes, sea level rise, coal mining, and the changes in the air we breathe. He takes it further by examining the effects of the fifth element—the human element—to tell an urgent story while giving inspiration for a more balanced relationship between humanity and nature. Teens and young adults are encouraged to attend.
After the film, enjoy an expert panel on climate action, facilitated by Rev. Barbara Wilson, Adjunct Professor at McCormick Theological Seminary. The panel will include Dr. Geeta Maker-Clark, Integrative Medicine Physician at Northshore University HealthSystem, Karen Weigert, Chicago Women in Green, and Kyrsten Jovita of Sunrise Movement Chicago. Malcolm X president David Sanders will open the evening with a special welcome, and the Malcolm X College student and faculty population are encouraged to attend.
Friday, March 8, 5:30 to 9 p.m.
Malcolm X College, 1900 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago
OEFF After Hours Event
Admission $20 for reception from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m.
in Conference Room C
Film screening at 6:45 p.m. in Auditorium (free to all)
Panel discussion at 8:15 p.m. in Auditorium (free to all)