Bringing together high school students, senior citizens and everyone in between Go Green Wilmette stands as an example of local consciousness at work. The 20 core members in this north Chicago suburb are organizing events for local residents and working with the village government, local schools, the Wilmette Public Library and the Wilmette Park District.
"I have never been a part of such an energetic group," said Beth Drucker, a founding member of Go Green Wilmette. "We have found that there are many people in Wilmette who have a true passion for the environment and we are working as a group to inspire action. Our first activity was a showing of An Inconvenient Truth. After seating 120 people, we had to turn another 100 people away. That is when we knew the time was right to start a community group."
The next event organized by Go Green with support from the Wilmette Park District will be held on May 1 at the Wilmette Community Center from 7 to 9 p.m. There will be six panel discussions with local experts. The topics include pollution, renewable energy, recycling, saving energy, landscaping, “greening” your home or office, and youth action (for children 10 and up). The intention of the event is to inform and inspire Wilmette residents to take actions immediately to help the environment. Individuals who live in other communities are welcome as well and encouraged to initiate their own local group.
Beth Drucker and her husband Harry are excellent models for environmental action. Last year, their home was the first in Wilmette to have both a solar hot water heater and a solar electric system installed.
