Nature-based Recovery from COVID-19 in Chicago Communities

Field Museum of Natural History

The Field Museum is building from early pandemic experiences to create replicable models that transform the environment from a concern separate from community wellbeing to clearly illustrate its central role in our health and welfare. Four key work streams, each inflected by pandemic experience and learning, are being pursued: supporting the next generation of conservation leaders through inventive, holistic, youth conservation action programming; supporting the inclusion of smaller-scale community partners working on diverse pathways to nature-based solutions into the Chicago Wilderness Green Vision conversation; advancing a replicable model of arts and heritage-based environmental engagement; and joining the lessons drawn from experiences in fostering nature-based healing programs with TCA Health on the far South Side of Chicago with those of other nature-based healing facilitators into a shared set of lessons learned.

Learn more about the Field Museum of Natural History

Youth recite poetry at the Set in Stone Gathering Space for Mid-Autumn Festival, an important tradition in the Chinese community held annually in partnership with the Roots & Routes partnership, September 2021 ©️ Field Museum.

Lorena Lopez, Senior Community Engagement Specialist with the Field Museum’s Keller Science Action Center, teaches Chicago Green Ambassador students about native plants at UIC Greenhouse, July 2022 ©️ Field Museum.

Jerrold "Just Flo" Anderson teaches youth how to paint on canvas during a facilitated nature-based healing workshop at Beaubien Woods, July 2022 ©️ Field Museum.

TCA Health partner Donisha Reed joins a round of Double Dutch during the Family Field Day event at Beaubien Woods, August 2021 ©️ Field Museum.

Participants gather at La Ronda Parakata Gathering Space in the Burnham Wildlife Corridor for land acknowledgement and music during Dia de los Muertos program, October 2021 ©️ Field Museum.

Chicago Green Ambassador summer interns study macroinvertebrates and crawfish species at Northerly Island to assess water quality in Chicago communities, July 2022 ©️ Field Museum.