By Cathriona Fey
BAPA Community Outreach
Students throughout Beverly/Morgan Park have started creating environmentally-inspired designs for BAPA’s Earth Day art contest. BAPA is looking for one–of–a–kind art to use year-round to promote its environmental initiatives. Students are asked to create a Renew Beverly/Morgan Park poster that integrates the 5 Rs and includes “BAPA.” Submissions are due by Sun., Apr. 11.
This spring, BAPA is encouraging neighbors to think about what they are using in their daily lives and ask themselves, where does it go when I’m done?
By choosing less and using less, we throw away less. BAPA is committed to consider the 5 Rs in decreasing its impact on the environment and is integrating this pledge through community events and initiatives.
The 5 Rs
Rethink: Think about what you purchase daily, weekly, monthly. How is it packaged? How do you dispose of it? Are there alternatives?
Refuse: Do you accept items you don’t need? Plastic utensils and napkins with carryout orders? Extra bags at the grocery store? Various “freebies” at events? Do you have the opportunity to say, “No thanks”?
Reduce: How can you cut back on excess items in your everyday life? What about your wardrobe? Single use items?
Reuse: How can items be reused? What are your options to donate or giveaway? Can items be refurbished?
Recycle: When it’s time to dispose of items, can they be recycled? Be mindful of how you recycle. In 2020, Chicago Streets and Sanitation reported the residential blue bin recycling rate to be 8.84 percent, far below the national average of 35.2 percent last reported by the EPA in 2018.
Art Contest Details
In 2020, we did what we could to stay safe during uncertain times, but our commitment to the environment may have taken a back seat. For Earth Day 2021, BAPA is excited to use artwork from some our community’s youngest environmentalists to promote earth-friendly efforts.
Students are asked to create a “Renew Beverly/Morgan Park” poster using the 5 Rs and including “BAPA.”
Artwork should be completed on an 8.5 x 11 inches sheet of paper and submitted digitally by taking a picture of the image using natural lighting, increasing the sharpness and saturation, and cropping any unnecessary background. Email artwork, along with the student’s name, age, grade level and school to cfey@bapa.org. Deadline: Sun., Apr. 11.
One winner will be selected from each of the following groups: 1st – 4th grades, 5th – 8th grades, and high school freshmen – seniors.
Winners will be announced Earth Day, Thurs., Apr. 22. Winning art will be displayed in the community and used to promote BAPA’s sustainability efforts.
