Northern Illinois Conference’s HEAL (Helping Everyone Access Life) Well ministry has planned an Earth Day event for all ages on April 26, 10:30 a.m., starting at Olivet United Methodist Church in Chicago. It is also looking for volunteers to help with community gardens in the city's Austin neighborhood.

HEAL Well members visit Chicago's Austin neighborhood to learn more about the community.

At Olivet, the first Earth Day activity is an “urban forest bathing experience,” followed by a visit to the Stone Temple Missionary Baptist Church to help plant 20 fruit trees, clean up litter in the North Lawndale neighborhood, and participate in other Earth Day activities.

Stone Temple Church and My Block My Hood My City are co-hosting the event.

The HEAL Well group also invites people to volunteer at community gardens in the Austin neighborhood on Saturdays, starting May 31. If interested, please sign up here.  More than 20 United Methodists have signed up to volunteer at least one Saturday.

The vision for HEAL Well started with NIC’s Black Healing Collective.  After visiting four community gardens in August 2024 and learning about the lack of grocery stores in the Austin neighborhood, the NIC Committee on Religion and Race’s Advocacy Partners agreed to lead the initiative.

During the next three years, HEAL Well leaders hope to work with Austin residents to plant trees and volunteer in their 25 community gardens.

Under the leadership of Lisa Rogers (chair), Patricia Evans, Diana Davis, LaCretcia Edward, and Rev. Marcus Tabb, HEAL Well has held monthly online learning sessions since October to better understand the community and the neighbors’ challenges and joys, and to develop partnerships with individuals and organizations.