[Communications] Send us your questions for the CCGA Panel Discussion: Safety of Biosolids & PFAS from a Soil and Plant Perspective

Thu Feb 23 11:39:56 CST 2023

[image: PFAS Email reminder-art.png]

Hello everyone!

We're looking forward to spending time with you this Saturday. It looks
like we'll have a full house and we're hopeful that this will be an
informative, lively, and productive panel discussion.

SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS!
We're collecting questions ahead of time for the panel and will also have
an open Q & A as time permits. If you'd like to submit a question in
advance, please reply to this email (chicommgardeners at gmail.com) no later
than 12pm, tomorrow, Friday, February 24.

EVENT INFO

   - *The Hatchery Chicago* is located at 135 N. Kedzie, at the southeast
   corner of Lake St. and Kedzie Ave, right at the Kedzie Green Line station.

   - Checking in: Doors will open by 10am. Enter the front door to the
   Hatchery building on Kedzie, and you'll see a CCGA check in table.

   - Parking: There are a limited number of parking spots in the surface
   lot off of Albany between Lake St. and Washington Blvd. Free street parking
   is also available on Lake St. or Washington Blvd.

   - Beverages & Snacks: We’ll have some coffee and tea available. Please
   bring your own water or another beverage, as well as any snacks you may
   need.

   - *Agenda:* At 10:30, we'll start off with some introductions, then each
   of the panelists will give a short presentation. Afterward, we will start
   the Q&A session with the questions you've submitted, and then open the
   floor for more questions and discussion.

   - *Questions?* If you have any questions or need assistance, please
   reply to this email (chicommgardeners at gmail.com)

MEET THE PANELISTS

   - Dr. Dominic Brose is a Senior Environmental Research Scientist at
the Metropolitan
   Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) <https://mwrd.org/>.
   His specializations are in biosolids, soil chemistry, statistics, and risk
   assessment. Prior to the MWRD, Dr. Brose was with the National Academies of
   Science, Engineering, and Medicine and ToxServices, LLC in Washington, D.C.
   Dr. Brose received his B.S. from Purdue University and Ph.D. from the
   University of Maryland.

   - Nance Klehm has been working in bioremediation for over 10 years and
   has been an ecological systems designer, landscaper, horticultural
   consultant, and agroecological grower for more than three decades. Her
   approach is centered on instigating change by activating already existent
   communities, and her work demonstrates her lifelong commitment to
   redefining the way human populations coexist with plant and animal systems
   on this planet. She is the founder and director of operations of Social
   Ecologies <https://socialecologies.net/social-ecologies/>, which creates
   durational projects that aim to build healthy habitat and interaction
   through direct engagement of place with those who dwell there. She recently
   launched The Soil Keepers Community Training Program
   <https://socialecologies.net/cms/social-ecologies/the-soil-keepers/>,
   which endeavors to build a network of soil advocates who are equipped with
   the knowledge and skills to create social ecologies that are resilient to
   the challenges of the 21st century.

   - Dr. Andrew Margenot is an Assistant Professor in the University of
   Illinois Crop Sciences <https://cropsciences.illinois.edu/>. His
   research interests include urban agriculture and soil- organic matter and
   enzymes. His team evaluates how human activities can enhance or compromise
   soil services to human societies, with an emphasis on food security from
   urban and rural agro-ecosystems in the U.S. Midwest and East Africa. His
   work advances how we monitor and manage soils as natural capital.

   - Mariyana Spyropoulos was elected to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation
   District <https://mwrd.org/> Board of Commissioners in 2010, serving as
   Board President from 2015-19. Mariyana emphasizes community outreach and
   engagement by speaking to community groups throughout Cook County about
   water, good government, and environmental issues. In 2017, she received
   both the Illinois Water Environment Association Public Official Award and
   the Spirit of the River Award from Friends of the Chicago River.

   - Jennifer Walling is the Executive Director at Illinois Environmental
   Council <https://ilenviro.org/>, where she has served since January of
   2011. She oversees the strategic direction and management of the
   organization and lobbies decision makers on environmental issues. Jen is
   dedicated to building the power of Illinois’ environmental community to
   secure policy outcomes that protect the environment.

   - May Toy* (moderator) *is the President of the Skinner Park Advisory
   Council <https://www.skinnerpark.org/> and a member of the CCGA Advocacy
   & Outreach and Resources & Distributions teams. She has been a community
   gardener for over 25 years. As president of the Skinner Park Advisory
   Council, she led efforts to help build and restore three community gardens:
   two in Skinner Park and another on a closed section of Loomis Street. May
   is also active in her community and is an advocate of public parks, open
   spaces, and community safety. She volunteers her time to serve as Neighbors
   of West Loop’s Vice President and Chair of the Parks and Open Space
   Committee to work on park issues and concerns in the West Loop as well as
   on the 12th District’s Police Advisory Council.

[image: PFAS-Diagram.png]

A large variety of plant species can take up PFASs from the environment.
Vegetables and grains are the most commonly investigated crops, with
perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as
the most studied PFASs. The potential sources of PFASs for plant uptake
include industrial emissions, irrigation with contaminated water, land
application of biosolids, leachates from landfill sites, and pesticide
application. Image credit & Source
<https://chicagocommunitygardens.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7f2904daf2a26a891c68f8bb0&id=31976b2ea9&e=042c64c038>
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