Changing Chicagoland’s climate, one bin at a time

Two years ago, Deanna McBeath, a parent and learning lab coordinator at Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School, was surprised to hear her daughter complain that her friends didn’t want to play at recess. When she asked why, her daughter’s answer was even more surprising:

“They just wanted to sit around and talk about the environment!” she recalled.

McBeath and two other faculty members–Laura Reff, Bernard Zell’s Director of Marketing and Communications, and eighth grade science teacher Beth Sanzenbacher–joined forces with students to create a space where their passion for the environment could take shape.

They found that space by forming a chapter with the Jewish Youth Climate Movement, a grassroots youth-led organization dedicated to help young people combat climate change through a Jewish lens–and find a way to make a difference on an issue that matters greatly to them.

“I’ve always cared about our environment and [the movement] is a good way for me to put my beliefs into action,” said Omer, a Bernard Zell seventh grader.

Omer and his peers have already achieved a significant amount in the two years since Bernard Zell’s chapter started. Their longest-lasting project has been the implementation of composting in the school cafeteria, which required researching commercial composting options in the Chicago metropolitan area, pitching the idea to the administration, and growing and selling plants to offset the cost.

Through their efforts, the school has diverted 1,600 gallons of food waste from landfills in the 2021-2022 school year and a massive 5,120 gallons this past school year.

The middle school participants managed the project, while the younger students–in second through fourth grade–created “JYCM Jr.”–where they are working on a stop-motion video to demonstrate how to compost correctly and taking shifts to monitor the compost bins during lunchtime.

The program has blossomed within the walls of Bernard Zell, but is growing outside the school, too. When students discovered that their school had the only Chicago-area chapter, they campaigned to launch more groups by doing outreach to synagogues, schools, and organizations, including JUF.

“It’s great that they see their mission as not just helping their immediate community, but also helping other people in the community do the same thing,” said Brittany Abramowicz, Springboard Associate Director, who works with Chicago Jewish teens.

“This younger generation cares so much,” Reff said. “They were devastated to hear they were the only group in Chicago because it’s so important to them. The communication and excitement coming from them is so powerful, and when they speak, people listen.”

The middle school participants organized a recent lunch-and-learn to educate children and teens about the movement. The Bernard Zell kvutzah (chapter) has been so amazing with helping us improve our kvutzot across the country,” said Nathan Adler, the national organizer for the movement.

The Chicago students said their Jewish values–from tikkun olam (repairing the world) to collective action–inspire them to mobilize around climate change. Next school year, they plan to run an Earth Fair and another plant sale, and partner with local politicians on Chicago’s new Climate Action Plan.

To learn more, visit jewishyouthclimatemovement.org.