Product #1 and #2: Ethnography of Madison County Environmental Organizations
Reflection on Sierra Club and Heartlands Conservancy Interviews
This project is a part of the Digital Collaborations class of the Community-Oriented Digital Engagement Scholars (CODES) Program at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. As part of Team II of the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center research team, I have interviewed several individuals from environmentalist organizations around and active in Madison County, Illinois. The following sections of this article are stylized reports on my interviews, which were conducted with organizational representatives/employees of the Illinois Sierra Club Piasa Palisades Group, Heartlands Conservancy, the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center (NGRREC), and the Nature Institute. The goal of these interviews was to garner more information about the active roles that environmental organizations have played in protecting and working with communities in the southwestern Illinois suburb of St. Louis.
More than just providing descriptions of these organizations and the work that they are involved in, I have decided to incorporate the life stories of the representatives which I have spoken to. The goal of doing this is to allow for readers to have a human “root” for which they can identify with whilst reading. Moreover, my choice to include an amateur ethnographic approach was done with the goal of exploring the myriad types of people who are involved with environmental organizations. In doing so, I hope to capture the silent human faces behind amorphous environmental organizations and give credit to them for their participation as valiant members of the local community.
Back this June, the Supreme Court overturned the Chevron Decision, which gave federal agencies like the EPA more power to interpret laws. The overturning of this decision neutered the EPA’s ability to regulate, on top of the many over cases the SCOTUS has decided on which have worked to retract many environmental rights. This decision is just one aspect of the multidimensional failure of the US government to pass a comprehensive environmental policy. This failure is something extremely prevalent to Gen Z, who, in contrast with previous generations, is more cognizant of the effects and ramification of climate change. Growing up, we were told by parents, teachers, and other authority figures that we would be the ones to fix the problems that others had created for us. For many, however, the field of environmentalism is recondite. Future careers and job aspects are not clear for people who are immediately existing high school. Another underlined goal of this project is to highlight the different jobs someone could have in environmentalism and to highlight the interdisciplinary nature of the field which does not necessarily require a science background to be involved with.
The Sierra Club and Christine Favila
The Sierra Club is one of the oldest U.S. environmental organizations, founded in 1892 by conservationist John Muir. It advocates for the protection of wilderness areas, fights against climate change, and promotes environmental sustainability. Through grassroots activism, legal efforts, and public education, the Sierra Club works to influence policy and protect natural ecosystems. The organization has chapters in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, with state specific chapters. The Illinois of the Sierra Club has over 20,000 members. Like the national organization, it focuses on protecting natural spaces, advancing clean energy, and promoting sustainability policies.
Located along the Great River Road in Alton, IL is the Paisa Palisade Group. Founded almost 45 years ago, this group is one of the 14 groups of the greater Illinois Sierra Club chapter. The group was formed by a group of Madison County residents passionate about preventing Pere Marquette State Park from getting logged. Today they hold monthly educational meetings about environmental topics and offer local outdoor outings. They are also active in issues that affect their local community such as air and water quality, land use, and forest issues. The organization works in Madison, Jersey, and Calhoun counties. Christine Favila, a co-coordinator for the Three Rivers project of the Illinois Sierra Club, gave insights into herself, environmentalism policy, and the organization of small-scale local environmental groups.
During her time in college, Favila studied both Sociology and Environmental Policy. For Christine, the Sierra Club was her first real job outside of college. Despite people telling her that she would eventually move on to something “better,” she stood with the organization for 23 years. “I love my job,” Christine stated, “and I get to, not necessarily pick and choose what I work on, but I do have a lot of autonomy with my work, which is wonderful.”
Her job at the Paisa Palisade Group involves her working on water management, big river system management, floodplain water quality, and looking over every Illinois 404 permit (permits which entails the dumping of materials into freshwater or destruction of wetlands for alternative purposes). Besides the water work, Favila works a lot with sustainable agriculture and pollinator gardens.
For Christine, her experiences in adolescence inspired her to go into environmentalism. She grew up right next to where the Nature Institute is currently. “The moment I got home from school I would steal my homework, but I’d be in the woods. I’d be in the creek like, I’ve always just really enjoyed being outdoors.” Her love of nature conflicted with the political reality of environmentalism once she got to college. “I really started to learn more about the atrocities that happened and how and if they’re human-made or not, and I really started getting involved with kind of that social justice angle.”
Whilst living in Colorado, she came to know the issues indigenous peoples faced with water rights. “In Colorado, I lived in the area that had three indigenous tribes that were still very much alive and well, and they were still dealing with water rights issues from when their lands were taken from them,” Christine recounted, “so, that really kind of catapulted me into working on water issues I’m working on the human side of things as well.”
Regarding the Chevron decision, I asked Christine about what effect America’s failed environmental policy has had on her work: “Environmental laws have basically just been ripped them out from under us. I hate to say it, but in the Trump administration got rid of everything that people have worked for 50 years to put in place. And so, the last four years have been us trying to get those reinstated.”
Christine also shared insights into the collaborative relationships her organization maintains with other environmental groups. “On NGRREC,” Christine mentioned, “They’re doing the science, and they’re doing the surveys and the community work that allows other groups like ours to know what to talk to the legislators about.” Heartlands also has history with the Nature Institue and Heartlands Conservancy, of which, the two are coordinating with on conducting a riverside cleanup of Chouteau Island. This partnership exemplifies how the Sierra Club leverages local research to support advocacy and educational efforts, underscoring its role in regional environmental policy.
Current Projects
One major project that Christine discussed is a wetland restoration on Alton Steel’s property. This project arose due to a prior environmental violation by the company. Instead of pursuing legal action, the Sierra Club collaborated with Alton Steel on a Supplemental Environmental Program (SEP). **“Instead of suing them,”** she explained, **“you try and get them to do a SEP… it has to be done, basically on site where the violation occurred.”** Through such initiatives, the Sierra Club engages with corporations to mitigate environmental impacts directly, creating local benefits.
Engagement with Local Communities
The Sierra Club fosters positive relationships with various cities and communities in Madison County. Christine and her team actively serve on multiple local commissions, including Riverfront Advisory and Sustainability Commissions, to support environmental policies and provide resources. She highlighted their role as “a resource…we have some skills that we would love to share.” They work with local authorities to guide responsible environmental practices, hosting workshops on invasive species removal for city crews, public works, and park departments. These efforts contribute to improving local ecosystems and promoting sustainable land use in Madison County.
Student Engagement and Volunteer Opportunities
Christine emphasized the value of student involvement, encouraging participation in local Sierra Club activities to foster environmental interest and experience. The club’s monthly speaker series, held at Old Bakery Beer Company, features diverse topics in environmental science, conservation, and advocacy. Christine also praised their outings group, which organizes hikes, biking trips, and canoe excursions, explaining that “we feel that it’s really important for people to experience nature. Fall in love with it before they want to take action on it.” Additionally, the Sierra Club offers hands-on volunteer opportunities, such as removing invasive species and conducting prescribed burns under the guidance of experts.
She expressed hope for broader youth engagement, particularly given the challenges of volunteer retention after COVID-19. “Any outreach at SIU campuses or local high schools would be a huge help,” Christine noted, welcoming ideas and collaboration on outreach initiatives that would support increased community involvement in environmental efforts.
Learn more from their website at: https://www.sierraclub.org/illinois/piasa-palisades
Heartlands Conservancy and John O’Donnell
Heartlands Conservancy, established in 1989, initially operated under the USDA as a soil and water conservation district focused on combating erosion and nutrient pollution in agricultural areas. As federal funding shifted, the team rebranded as Heartlands Conservancy, evolving into a nonprofit. The organization has since expanded its mission beyond its origins, merging conservation with community planning to serve the broader southwestern Illinois area, with significant work in Madison County. They have maintained their foundational values by supporting land conservation, stormwater management, and environmental planning for urban areas. “Heartlands started with green spaces for farmers but now holds land for conservation and manages trails, parks, and bike planning for communities,” explained John O’Donnell, Water Programs Manager.
O’Donnell, a water program manager for Heartlands, discussed his path into environmentalism: “I started off in engineering, but a senior project with public health sparked my interest in water quality and the environment.” His role at Heartlands allows him to work directly with communities, integrating residents’ needs into environmental planning. He emphasized, “We ensure projects reflect the community—gathering feedback and keeping communication open through the planning process.”
Current Projects and Initiatives
O’Donnell shared that his recent focus has been on the Prairie DuPont Watershed Plan, a multi-year project aimed at mitigating flooding and wastewater issues in East St. Louis. Heartlands mapped flood-prone areas and developed recommendations, involving residents at every step. “It’s good to see East St. Louis thinking about grant applications for detention basins that can serve as both flood management and recreational spaces,” he noted. Heartlands is also addressing structural issues, such as undersized culverts and infrastructure in need of repair. Their goal is to improve green infrastructure, ensuring it benefits residents as well as the environment.
Environmentalism in Madison County and Heartlands’ Legacy
Madison County has a unique environmental heritage, rooted in both agriculture and community-driven conservation. Heartlands Conservancy represents this legacy, extending conservation efforts to both rural and urban settings. “Madison County’s environmentalism has always connected community needs with land use and conservation,” O’Donnell shared, adding that Heartlands’ projects are crafted to support this balance, addressing issues like water quality and green space accessibility.
I asked John O’Donnell how Heartlands has been functioning despite the hostile federal environment to environmental policy. On wetlands he stated, “there has been another rule change regarding the waters of the United States, and what is considered a wetland or not, which basically reduced the amount of places that could be considered wetlands protected by the United States, and that’s definitely something that is giving us problems, limiting the access to federal funding.” Despite this, however, Heartlands has remained flexible: “Okay, well, we can’t depend on them for this. But you know there is USDA funding out right now for the inflation reduction act. We can use that and try to focus our efforts on those things.”
The lack of federal policy change has not, overall, affected Heartlands too deeply. “I think it just means we can’t depend on maybe a big federal response,” stated John, “working as local as possible is sometimes the best.” Due to Heartland’s nature as a local organization, federal issues do not matter as much as they do to national organizations, “there’s a lot of stuff that can be done on the regional scale that doesn’t necessarily have to wait for Federal funding. Obviously, the individual scale is nice. But that’s not really gonna change things, you know, changing our individual habits is kind of a drop in the bucket. But working on things at the municipal or regional scale, you do start to have larger effects that benefit the region.” As a regional organization, Heartlands Conservancy can tackle issues that are local and intimate. These initiatives can take different forms, such as increasing Street trees that can provide a canopy for pedestrians are some local efforts that are direct and are not directly affected by the ebbs and flows of federal government. This insight reveals how local organizations are the most politically sustainable avenue for fighting against climate change.
Future Shaping of Environmentalism in Madison County
O’Donnell sees Heartlands as instrumental in shaping a sustainable future for Madison County by focusing on environmental and community resilience. By designing green spaces that also serve as stormwater management sites, Heartlands offers an innovative model for local environmentalism. He emphasized, “Our work looks at the future impact of urban heat, increasing floods, and the need for resilient infrastructure.” As they address current needs, Heartlands aims to build a sustainable environment that supports public health.
Student Engagement and Opportunities in Environmentalism
For students interested in environmentalism, O’Donnell suggests building transferable skills, such as GIS, grant writing, and data analysis, as these can be applied across fields and help organizations like Heartlands. “Mapping, technical analysis, and communication skills are key. They allow students to make an impact wherever they end up,” he noted. Heartlands also offers volunteer opportunities, from land management to planting trees and removing invasive species, with strong participation from retirees. However, they are eager to expand their younger volunteer base, as O’Donnell highlighted, “More younger volunteers could help with the physically demanding tasks and bring fresh perspectives to conservation work.”
Learn more at their website at: https://heartlandsconservancy.org/
Reflections
Interviewing these two individuals allowed me to see how environmentalists engage with their local communities in an interesting way and how different organizations are reacting to movements at the national level.
The Sierra Club engages with city council boards, educating people on the correct ways of dealing with invasive species, and holding community events where people can talk about the environment. Since Christine at the Sierra Club is involved with policy, her work is intimately tied to federal policy changes.
Heartlands provides many opportunities for volunteers to get involved with clean up and planting events. John’s work with local communities to deal with flooding, wastewater, and green development shows how environmental organizations can help their local communities to improve. Since this organization focuses more on community level action, they are less affected by national shifts, as their work remains the same, and they are resilient.
Both individuals collaborated on the need for younger people as volunteers. From their recounting of stories, volunteers tend to be older, retired individuals. Making sure that there are opportunities for young people to get involved is something that schools and organizations could work towards.
The interviews with Christina and John give insight into environmental organizations in Illinois, their work, and how they are reacting to federal shifts in environmental policy. Their stories reveal the depth of commitment necessary to drive local initiatives, highlighting that impactful environmental work extends beyond scientific expertise; it requires community collaboration, policy engagement, and long-term vision.