Speaker Series Examines Environmental Justice Issues of the South Branch
A lively discussion about environmental justice and community advocacy along the South Branch of the Chicago River was the focus of our Happy Hour Speaker Series at the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum on Thursday, July 11.
More than 50 guests gathered on the Bridgehouse Museum’s outdoor plaza for the informative panel discussion titled “Can the Chicago River's South Branch be a River of Welcome/Rio de Bienvenida for environmental justice?”
Participants learned from educators and researchers Dr. Rachel Havrelock and Citlalli Trujillo of the Freshwater Lab at the University Illinois Chicago, and artists Delilah Salgado and Cynthia Weiss. Together, they shared their expertise about environmental justice issues effecting South Branch communities and how their public art installation at Canalport Riverwalk Park celebrates the river and helps local communities reclaim this under-resourced public space. The sculptural art fence and mosaic planter were unveiled in June 2023, and Friends recently awarded the project a Chicago River Blue Award for its creativity and innovation in river-edge development.
The speaker series takes place every other Thursday from 5 to 6 p.m. through August 8 on the museum's plaza. The series is free and open to the public, and donations are encouraged to support Bridgehouse Museum programming. Special thanks to Two Brothers for generously donating tasty beverages for the next two events and to Marz Community Brewing for supporting our first two events.
The next Happy Hour Speaker Series event on July 25 features experts from the Urban Wildlife Institute at the Lincoln Park Zoo who will discuss the resiliency of Black-Crowned Night Herons and their growing presence in the river system.
- Henry Adams, Wildlife Management Coordinator, Urban Wildlife Institute
- Liza Lehrer, Assistant Director, Urban Wildlife Institute
Visit our website to learn more about upcoming topics and featured speakers.
Located in the southwest bridgehouse of the historic DuSable Bridge on Michigan Avenue, the Bridgehouse Museum tells the story of how the Chicago-Calumet River system changed as people's use and relationship with it changed. Exhibits within the five-story museum showcase a river system teeming with wildlife due in large part to hard fought water-quality victories and significant restoration efforts.
Guided tours of the Bridgehouse Museum are available at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday. The Bridgehouse Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Call (312)-977-0227 to reserve a Bridgehouse Museum tour.
