Midwest Misanthrope: A Community-Driven Approach To Ecological Restoration

This is part two of my conversation with Eriko Kojima.

Eriko is a full-time volunteer steward at a variety of different preserves within the Chicagoland area where she has become an integral member of a growing volunteer community praised for the extraordinary restoration work they've accomplished.

Eriko also serves on the board of Friends of the Illinois Nature Preserves, a non-profit aimed at supporting biodiversity conservation throughout Illinois by empowering and building volunteer stewardship communities.

Listen to this conversation to hear about how Eriko got her start in restoration through volunteering, her journey to becoming an awe-inspiring and award-winning steward, and what makes a volunteer community successful.

Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves: ⁠https://friendsofillinoisnaturepreserves.org/⁠

North Branch Restoration Project: ⁠https://northbranchrestoration.org/

Eriko is a full-time volunteer steward at a variety of different preserves within the Chicagoland area where she has become an integral member of a growing volunteer community praised for the extraordinary restoration work they've accomplished.

Eriko also serves on the board of Friends of the Illinois Nature Preserves, a non-profit aimed at supporting biodiversity conservation throughout Illinois by empowering and building volunteer stewardship communities.

Listen to this conversation to hear about how Eriko got her start in restoration through volunteering, her journey to becoming an awe-inspiring and award-winning steward, and what makes a volunteer community successful.

Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves: https://friendsofillinoisnaturepreserves.org/

North Branch Restoration Project: https://northbranchrestoration.org/

Alice Brandon is the Resource Programs Manager for the Forest Preserves of Cook County where she manages the counties' relationships with various programs and organizations that help provide training and support to those interested in starting a career in ecological restoration and natural resource management.

Alice is a very well versed botanist with a strong knowledge of Midwest native and invasive flora.

Listen to this conversation to hear about Alice's story of finding her love for plants and ecology and how she helps directly assist and inspire countless others to become reconnected with the natural areas and even begin a career in conserving and restoring them.

Conservation Corps: ⁠https://fpdcc.com/nature/conservation-corps-programs/