A River’s Way: Remove Barriers & Create New Paths to Urban Community Health and Resilience

About the Community 

Waukegan, Zion, and North Chicago, Illinois, are located on the shores of Lake Michigan and are part of the Lake Michigan watershed. These historically marginalized communities are impacted by the legacy of industrial pollution, power plants, and underinvestment. This area has a 15-year lower life expectancy compared to wealthier neighborhoods within Lake County. These three communities face challenges related to watershed management, flooding, degraded water quality, erosion, and insufficient greenspace along riverbeds and other shoreline spaces. Meanwhile, members of the community face barriers to accessing the natural water and riverine resources that are available. While some of the needs of these communities have been identified by country- and city-level entities, many of the proposed projects are expensive and remain un- or under-funded. There is therefore a need to empower, inspire, and excite community members to take action through low-barrier, grassroots efforts that leverage nature-based solutions.

About the Project 

This project aims to empower community members to address challenges related to river watershed management, flooding, water quality, ecosystems, and erosion. The project will involve a series of community-centered, education, and engagement events and culminate in a river shoreline resilience project using native plants or other nature-based solutions.

Community events will focus on education, co-creation, and strengthening connections within the local community. These events will leverage storytelling, hands-on activities, and indigenous ways of knowing to expand our common understanding of the local watershed and its importance in our daily lives. We hope to engage in conversations surrounding ways nature-based solutions can be applied to enhance area shorelines and make connections between community resilience and health and the health of area rivers, ecosystems, and habitats. 

The river shoreline resilience component of this project will bring together community members, scientists, and local non-profits and community organizations to explore opportunities to enhance a shoreline in the local community. We will collaborate to identify nature-based approaches, such as native-plants,  suitable for the local geography and for improving resistance to flooding or erosion, water quality, or ecosystem health. Once a suitable project site has been identified, we will work together to implement a river shoreline transformation effort.

Timeline and Milestones

Spring 2026

• Recruit scientific collaborators and community partners.
• Explore funding sources and establish a budget.
• Collaborate with scientists and community organizations to determine opportunities and constraints for a nature-based project on a local river shoreline.
• Identify a shoreline restoration site and plan an initial community education and engagement event. 

Spring / Summer 2026

• Hold the initial community education and engagement events. 
• Collaborate with local community organizations, scientists, and community members to navigate any permissions necessary for implementing a shoreline, nature-based project.
• Apply for additional funding and recruit local businesses to support a shoreline, nature-based project.

Summer/Fall 2026

• Collaborate with community members at community-focused events/workdays to implement a shoreline, nature-based project. 

Winter 2026/2027

• Identify next steps for continued and sustained implementation.

Community Leads

Dr. Muriel Adams is an environmental advocate and founder of One World Shared Future Community Labs (OWSFCL).  She works alongside under-resourced and underserved, frontline communities to advance community-based environmental stewardship, strengthen public health, economic empowerment, and resilience.  A River Runs Through It!, her  flagship initiative, serves as the cornerstone of OWSFCL’s Urban Freshwater Stewardship Program.  Dr. Adams has a PhD in Sustainability, which  focuses on the environment, equity, and the economy, and she works with a variety of community groups to prioritize community wisdom, urban environmental education, collective learning, collaboration, workforce development, and action.  As a community justice and restorative practices facilitator, she empowers others by honoring the perspectives and voices of all community members, building trust, fostering  inclusion, and a stronger sense of shared  well-being.

Deanna Cruz’s work is rooted in creativity, strategy, and a deep commitment to community resilience and environmental stewardship. As Co-Founder and President of Dandelion Art Gallery & Studios, NFP, Inc., and Owner of DC.CreativeConcepts, LLC, Deanna brings a community-centered, interdisciplinary approach to addressing complex social and environmental challenges. She believes that lasting change emerges when education, creativity, and local knowledge come together in accessible and inclusive ways.

With a professional background in strategic communications, Deanna specializes in translating complex issues—such as watershed health, flooding, ecosystem protection, and environmental equity—into meaningful, engaging experiences for diverse audiences. Her work emphasizes storytelling, hands-on learning, and co-creation as tools for deepening community understanding and participation. By integrating indigenous ways of knowing, cultural expression, and experiential education, she helps communities strengthen their relationship to local waterways and recognize the vital role rivers play in public health, ecological balance, and everyday life.

Based in Lake County, Illinois, Deanna Cruz leads initiatives that bring together community members, scientists, artists, and local organizations to explore nature-based solutions such as native plantings and shoreline restoration. Through collaborative education events and on-the-ground environmental action, she supports projects that enhance river shoreline resilience while fostering stronger community connections. Guided by purpose and inclusivity, Deanna continues to bridge creativity, communication, and environmental action—cultivating healthier ecosystems and more resilient communities for generations to come.

Collaborator

Maritza Rocha’s journey through life has been defined by resilience, dedication, and a deep commitment to her community and the environment. As the Former Executive Director at Cool Learning Experience, she inspires youth, families, and BIPOC communities to appreciate and preserve natural spaces, emphasizing advocacy and  STEAM education. Growing up as a first-generation American in Chicago, influenced by her hard-working immigrant mother from Michoacán, Mexico, Maritza developed a strong sense of connection and commitment. Her passion for tangible impact and community service grew as she pursued a bachelor’s degree in Sociology of Law & Society and a Master’s in Sustainable Urban Development at DePaul University, focusing on cultural and land preservation, health disparities, and the importance of green spaces in communities of color. Residing in the North Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago, Maritza Rocha embodies the power of connection, education, and inclusivity, making her a remarkable force for positive change both locally and beyond.

Community Science Fellow

Ben Dahan is a Department of Energy Innovator Fellow at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, where he travels around rural Alaska to develop Tribally-owned renewable energy projects. Previously, Ben founded the Common Grounds program at Planet Reimagined, a climate advocacy non-profit, and led applied earth science research through NASA DEVELOP. Ben graduated from Columbia University – Sciences Po Paris Dual BA in Sustainable Development and Political Humanities, and is an even prouder alum of AmeriCorps NCCC.

This project seeks scientific collaborators who can support efforts related to nature-based solutions for river-shoreline resilience and/or efforts related to community education surrounding freshwater resources and ecosystems.  

Collaborators, depending on expertise and interest, may be asked to:

• Help develop interactive, educational materials for community events.
• Attend and facilitate conversations and activities at a community event.
• Help identify and design plans for nature-based solutions that can support the resilience of a river shoreline in the community.

Desired Skills and Qualifications

This project will engage multiple scientific collaborators. The project team is particularly interested in engaging with scientists who possess one or more of the following skills or qualifications:

• Expertise in river shoreline freshwater resources and/or ecosystems.
• Expertise in freshwater resources and/or ecosystems in the Great Lakes region.
• Expertise in nature-based solutions and/or native plants for shoreline and/or watershed resilience.
• Knowledge of indigenous ways of knowing in the Great Lakes region.
• Knowledge of birds and other species in freshwater ecosystems in the Great Lakes region.

Additionally, collaborators should be:

• Open-minded and flexible
• Active listeners and patient collaborators.
• Interested in and excited about engaging  with people who span a range of ages and life experiences (e.g., youth, families, Veterans, young adults, working professionals)
• Willing to connect science to local concerns and tangible aspects of day-to-day life, in a collaborative and approachable manner.
• Willing to attend at least one event/engagement in-person.

Scientists from a range of career stages and venues are invited to express interest in this project, including individuals from universities (e.g., graduate students, faculty advisors), private firms/organizations, or public-sector roles. The project team is excited to hear from individuals who may have lived experiences that have enabled them to develop relevant expertise. Local proximity is strongly preferred (Lake County, Chicago-land, or Milwaukee area), but some virtual engagement may also be possible. Enthusiasm for collaborative science, with community relevance, is essential.

Thriving Earth Exchange asks all scientific partners to work with the community to help define a project with concrete local impact to which they can contribute as pro-bono volunteers and collaborators. This work can also position the scientists and communities to seek additional funding, together, for the next stage. Unsure if you’re the right fit for this project? Reach out to us via email at [email protected] to learn more. 

Interested in volunteering as a scientist? Apply now!