As I write this (July 2025), the air quality in Chicagoland (where I live) is labeled unhealthy for sensitive groups. In addition, the National Weather Service has issued an “extreme heat watch,” noting that over the next two days, residents can expect dangerously hot conditions with possible heat index values of 105˚ -110˚ . Elsewhere on our planet, devastating tornadoes, floods, forest fires, and extreme heat bring death and destruction, test bodies and spirits.
Completed in 2023, the former County Courthouse and adjacent Sheriff’s House in Woodstock, Illinois, of Groundhog’s Day fame, recently underwent a wholesale modernization and retrofit, designed by Studio GWA architects and managed by Bulley & Andrews. The three-tiered brick buildings, now known as the Old Courthouse Center, anchor the town square. Though they have been subjected to a string of modifications and repairs since their original dates of construction (1857, the Old Courthouse, and 1887, the former Sheriff’s House), they still look pretty much the same on the outside as they did over a century ago, except cars roll by instead of horse-and-buggies.
See a futuristic battle over the last available fresh water resource, peer at wildlife living in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, hear an ironic love song about a polluting power plant, and more. View all 10 winning short films from the One Earth Young Filmmakers Contest at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 22, in person at Davis Theater, 4614 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago, or online virtually anywhere in the world. Be ready to stretch your imagination and expand your understanding of going green. A special online screening for those in Asia/ Pacific will also be available.
Climate change doesn’t just scorch forests and melt glaciers — it also gnaws at the edges of your daily peace. There’s a name for the ache in your chest every time another headline forecasts ecological collapse: climate anxiety. It's a natural response to a world that feels like it's hurtling toward catastrophe, yet the fear it stirs can often paralyze more than it motivates. While the warming planet poses serious threats, there’s a path through the unease — one grounded in practical action, connection, and the power of agency.
The Nowhere Collective is a circular economy marketplace for handmade goods. The vision is upcycling—or, in the words of founder Katy Osborn, “reimagining materials that already exist in our communities for a new joyful purpose.” One example: inviting people to bring in their end-of-life textiles and clothing, cut them into strips, and weave the “rubbish ribbons” into tapestries and rugs on a large four-sided loom.
If you’ve ever dreamed about blending your passion for sustainability with the freedom and potential of owning a business, then ECOpreneurship may be your calling. This rising movement brings together ecological values and entrepreneurial spirit, allowing you to create ventures that aim not only for profits but also for a positive environmental impact.
