On Sunday, April 22, the nonprofit organization Sunflower Project US celebrated Earth Day by holding activities in Calumet Park.
Sunflower Project US promotes growing sunflowers teaching about and the benefits of doing so, according to Block Club Chicago. The sunflower season kickoff event took place from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Calumet Park Field House located on the East Side.
“We do whatever we can to promote growing sunflowers,” Cofounder Rita Alvarez told Block Club Chicago. “We’re not scientists or anything, but this is our small part in helping the environment.”
The event was free to the public and included a “sunflower-inspired movement meditation” that was led by dancer Irene Hsiao. There were also arts-and-crafts with artist Maria Villarreal, hands-on art with Smart Museum of Art educator Erik Peterson and workout demonstrations with Irene Okafor, who works with Helping Others Thrive.
Volunteers also gave away organic mammoth sunflower seeds and told people how to plant them. Alvarez said they can be planted at home but also told participants that they can be planted in any area that gets plenty of sunlight, as long as no one minds you are planting them there.
There were also pens, buttons and other items given away, and there was a raffle at the event.
Alvarez founded the organization along with Kathy Fitzgerald. They both live on the Southeast Side of Chicago and have been using sunflowers to fight industrial pollution. The two women started Sunflower Project US with the goal of planting sunflowers in the community, after seeing the positive effects they had on their own property. The ultimate goal of the project is to educate the public about the benefits of environmentally sound plants like sunflowers, which provide phytoremediation, according to the Sunflower Planet website.
“Rita and Kathy have been fighting for change in their city, state and country all of their adult lives, hoping that their actions will positively impact thousands of people,” the Sunflower Planet says. Although they have other volunteer, work and social commitments, their involvement in this particular project has become a true passion.
Mayor-Elect Brandon Johnson also promoted the event by tweeting about it on April 20.
“Southeast Siders! The Sunflower Project is hosting a free sunflower season kickoff event this Earth Day, Saturday, April 22,” Johnson tweeted. “Swing by Calumet Park and let your green thumb thrive through the wisdom of nature and the power of community.”