The Urban Ecology Podcast tells the ongoing story of the Urban Ecology Center, an “experiment” still in the works in the neighborhoods of Milwaukee that has been connecting people to nature for nearly three decades. We’ll explore the nature-based educational programming and community engagement efforts that help the Urban Ecology Center make a positive impact locally and globally. Through conversations with staff members, volunteers, and community members, each episode of the Urban Ecology Podcast weaves together stories from the past, present, and future of the Urban Ecology Center. What do we do? How do we do it? How can you do it in your community? And perhaps most importantly, why do we do it? Listen in as we continue working to transform kids, parks, cities, and the world. Nothing like having small goals, eh?
Environmental Collaboration in Milwaukee: Erick Shambarger has an Office for That
This is our second episode in a mini-series focusing on how local governments can provide public green spaces. In the City of Milwaukee, there is a clear history for this work. Around the time the Urban Ecology Center was moving into a new building in Riverside Park in 2004, leaders in the area helped Mayor Tom Barrett establish a “Green Team” for the city. Today, the Environmental Collaboration Office carries on the work of the original Green Team in distinctive ways. Many cities have opened offices that focus on sustainability, as well as the familiar parks and recreation programming. In Milwaukee, as we learn in this conversation with Director Erick Shambarger, the focus is consistently on collaboration, and the results over the past decade or so point to even more potential for the future. As in our last episode with Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, Erick shares a passion for urban ecology. His work – starting in the city budget office, joining the Green Team, and now leading the Environmental Collaboration Office – sets a high bar for other cities looking to expand access to urban green spaces.
This episode is hosted by Chris Young with contributions from Gillian Spence, and Ken Leinbach. Edited by Danny Pirtle. Special thanks to our guest, Erick Shambarger.
For more from the Urban Ecology Center, visit our website (www.urbanecologycenter.org) or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, @UrbanEcologyCenter.
17 May 2021
Urban Ecology in Milwaukee County: Conversation with Chairwoman Nicholson
In this episode, we meet Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors (https://www.facebook.com/SupervisorNicholson and http://milwaukee.gov/Nicholson) to learn about her passion for urban ecology. This is the first in a two-part series on municipal government partnerships. Nicholson explores the importance of public policymaking for protecting green spaces. She shares her passion for nature as she talks about its benefits to individual and community health. Connected to this, she returns to major themes of her work so far as a public servant, advocating for racial equity as it is impacted by disparities in funding for programs across the county. She is inspired by community organizations like the Urban Ecology Center that partner with one another, with neighbors, and with government agencies to make change happen. She is, in turn, inspiring others at the local, state, and national levels to recognize the need for continuing transformation of green spaces in our cities.
This episode is hosted by Chris Young with contributions from Gillian Spence, and Ken Leinbach. Edited by Danny Pirtle. Special thanks to our guest, Marcelia Nicholson.
For more from the Urban Ecology Center, visit our website (www.urbanecologycenter.org) or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, @UrbanEcologyCenter.
3 May 2021
Education Partners Build Community
This episode completes our initial 4-part series on environmental education. Throughout this series, we have seen how programming at the Urban Ecology Center makes connections to environmental learning for children in school groups and for community members of all ages. We have seen the dynamic ways that the community informs that programming. In this episode, it is even more notable that we are only just beginning to share the diversity of the people the Center serves and how our efforts to learn from and meet the needs of our neighbors are ongoing. José interviews Martina Patterson, an educator in a partner organization called Nearby Nature. Together, they reflect on what it means to share their love of nature to inspire the passion of children for the environment through science and art. The partnership between the UEC and Nearby Nature has been in the works for several years, through the commitment of a local Sierra Club advocate, David Thomas, and this collaboration is set to grow as we move forward.
This episode is hosted by Chris Young and José Basaldua with contributions from Ken Leinbach and features special guest Martina Patterson. Edited by Danny Pirtle.
For more from the Urban Ecology Center, visit our website (www.urbanecologycenter.org) or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, @UrbanEcologyCenter.
12 Apr 2021
Community Education at the UEC: Engaging Environmental Education
In this episode -- the third in our 4-part series on environmental education -- we take a dive into another component of the ecosystem of education at the Urban Ecology Center: Community Programs. In conversation with educators Erin and José, our podcast interviewer Tim explores the meaning of community through the lens of these programs, as well as the ways that the focus of education differs when we consider a much wider audience. Previous episodes included descriptions of the Neighborhood Environmental Education Project (NEEP), but here the focus is all Community Programs (CP). Bringing a range of experience and different backgrounds, José and Erin share what it takes to succeed in the dynamic role of a Community Programs Educator.
This episode is hosted by Chris Young and Tim Vargo with contributions from José Basaldua, Erin Whitney, and Ken Leinbach. Edited by Danny Pirtle.
For more from the Urban Ecology Center, visit our website (www.urbanecologycenter.org) or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, @UrbanEcologyCenter.
22 Mar 2021
Kids in Nature at the UEC: Enacting Environmental Education
In the second episode of our 4-part series on environmental education, we visit winter Forest Camp in Riverside Park. Two educators and about a dozen kids on piles of snow and around a campfire tell us what it takes to have fun and learn outdoors in a Wisconsin winter. Along the way, we encounter animal tracks, learn about what they eat, hear about where wildlife in the park lives, and get a lesson in what animals leave behind.
This episode is hosted by Chris Young with contributions from Matt Flower, Alex LaBonte, and Ken Leinbach. Edited by Danny Pirtle. Special thanks to our very special guests, the kids of winter Forest Camp.
For more from the Urban Ecology Center, visit our website (www.urbanecologycenter.org) or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, @UrbanEcologyCenter.
1 Mar 2021
Environmental Education at the UEC: Foundations
This episode begins a 4-part examination of environmental education and the Urban Ecology Center model. In this episode, we hear from Senior Director of Education and Strategic Planning Beth Heller and Environmental Education Manager Lynn Anders. They share the history of the program, and look closely at the important elements that have led to its success, some of which will be familiar to environmental educators across the world, but many of which are unique to our urban community-focused model.
This episode was hosted by Chris Young with contributions from Ken Leinbach. Edited by Danny Pirtle. Special thanks to our guests Beth Heller and Lynn Anders.
For more from the Urban Ecology Center, visit our website (www.urbanecologycenter.org) or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, @UrbanEcologyCenter.
15 Feb 2021
Creating a Culture of Equity, Dignity, and Justice
In this episode, we explore the culture of equity, dignity, and justice that we work to cultivate at the Urban Ecology Center. We begin by learning more about these three terms, and why we use them to describe this work. Then, in conversation with August Ball, we explore how to create this culture, specifically when considering the lens of race and racial identity. We finish by hearing the new anti-racism commitment statement from the staff at the UEC.
This episode is hosted by Danny Pirtle and Glenna Holstein. Special thanks to our guests Carijean Buhk, August Ball, and the entire staff of the UEC.
Check out the UEC's blog post about the new anti-racism commitment statement: https://urbanecologycenter.org/item/1430-equity-dignity-and-justice-at-uec.html
For more from the Urban Ecology Center, visit our website (www.urbanecologycenter.org) or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, @UrbanEcologyCenter.
1 Feb 2021
Connecting to Nature and Each Other During a Pandemic
In this episode, we explore how the Urban Ecology Center has changed and adapted since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Connecting people in cities to nature and each other has remained our top priority at the UEC, but how do we do that work when we cannot gather together in person? To tell this story, we check in with three departments at the UEC to see how they've adapted their work:
the land stewardship team who maintain our parks
the marketing team who curate the UEC in My Backyard virtual lessons portal
and the community programs team who continue to create meaningful programs for kids and families in our community
This episode is hosted by Danny Pirtle with contributions from Gillian Spence and Ken Leinbach. Special thanks to our guests Caitlin Reinartz, Anna Aragon, Hayley Bartlein, Payton Biwer, and Kiara Atre.
For more from the Urban Ecology Center, visit our website (www.urbanecologycenter.org) or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, @UrbanEcologyCenter.
11 Jan 2021
Menomonee Valley: Connecting to Community
This episode concludes our exploration of the three branches that comprise the Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee. Menomonee Valley was the third branch of the UEC. This episode tells the history of the Menomonee Valley and explores the role of the Urban Ecology Center in this park that serves a diverse community of people, many of whom speak Spanish.
This episode is hosted by Danny Pirtle with contributions from Elizabeth Gamillo, José Basaldua, and Ken Leinbach. Special thanks to our guests Corey Zetts, Miguel Santos, Alejandra Jimenez, Breanna Taylor, and Karina Soto.
For more from the Urban Ecology Center, visit our website (www.urbanecologycenter.org) or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, @UrbanEcologyCenter.
28 Dec 2020
Washington Park: Crossroads of Community
This episode continues our exploration of the three branches that comprise the Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee. Washington Park was the second branch of the UEC. This episode tells the storied history of Washington Park and explores the role of the UEC in this park that exists at a confluence point of many different Milwaukee communities.
This episode is hosted by Danny Pirtle and Gillian Spence with contributions from Kelli Johnson and Ken Leinbach. Special thanks to our guests Judy and Mike Howden and Terry Evans.
For more from the Urban Ecology Center, visit our website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/urbanecologycenter), or Twitter.
14 Dec 2020
Riverside Park: Created by Community
This episode begins our exploration of the three branches that comprise the Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee. Riverside Park was the first branch of the UEC, located on Milwaukee's East Side. This episode tells the origin story of our Riverside Park branch and, by extension, the origin story of the UEC. We learn, from the folks that were there, what it was like to be a part of a community-led environmental organization, operating out of a double-wide trailer in the 1990's and reflect on how much has changed, and yet stayed the same, since then.
This episode is hosted by Danny Pirtle and Chris Young. Special thanks to our guests Michael D'Amato, Anne Steinberg, Dennis Grzezinski, and Meghan Forseth.
For more from the Urban Ecology Center, visit our website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/urbanecologycenter), or Twitter.
30 Nov 2020
Access to Green Space + Access to a Mentor
In this episode, we take a deeper dive into the two elements that significant life experiences research suggests have the biggest impact on a kid's future as an environmentally conscious adult: access to green space and access to a mentor. We look at each of these factors individually and see how the Urban Ecology Center works to make both a cornerstone of our work.
This episode is hosted by Danny Pirtle and José Basaldua. Special thanks to our guests Jeff Veglahn and Regina Miller.
For more from the Urban Ecology Center, visit our website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/urbanecologycenter), or Twitter.
16 Nov 2020
Significant Life Experiences Research and the "Secret Sauce" of the UEC
Significant Life Experiences Research suggests that two factors are the biggest predictors of whether or not a kid will grow into an environmentally conscious adult: access to green space and access to a mentor. In this episode, we learn more about this research and how it became the foundation of the Urban Ecology Center's environmental education model.
This episode is hosted by Danny Pirtle and Kelli Johnson. Special thanks to our guests Ken Leinbach and Chris Diehm.
For more from the Urban Ecology Center, visit our website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/urbanecologycenter), or Twitter.
16 Nov 2020
What is the Urban Ecology Center?
Welcome to the first episode of the Urban Ecology Podcast! In this episode, we introduce the Urban Ecology Center by speaking with four people whose lives have become interwoven with the UEC. Through these stories, we learn what the Urban Ecology Center does and why connecting people in cities to nature and each other is so important.
This episode was hosted by Danny Pirtle, with contributions from Gillian Spence, Elizabeth Gamillo, Chris Young, and Ken Leinbach.
Special thanks to our guests Pat Mueller, Analiese Rosales-Garcia, Carijean Buhk, and Van Johnson.
For more from the Urban Ecology Center, visit our website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/urbanecologycenter), or Twitter.
23 Sept 2020
Urban Ecology Center's HKE MKE Virtual Fall Hike (Part 2)
PART 2:
Join the staff at the Urban Ecology Center for a virtual fall hike! Participants in the 2020 HKE MKE fundraiser can listen to this podcast episode as they complete their hike.
During this part of our virtual hike, we will learn about:
Fall plants and the importance of native gardens
Bird vocalizations and what they are calling about in the fall
How to make nature exploration a priority for busy families
This episode also includes Mitch the Missing Mosquito, a nature- based audio drama for kids and families.
This episode features the voices of Urban Ecology Center staff members: Danny Pirtle, Michaela Rosenthal, Tory Bahe, Chad Thomack, Matt Flower, MaryBeth and Felix Kressin, Ken Leinbach and Gillian Spence.
For more from the Urban Ecology Center, visit our website or follow us on Facebook, Instagram (http://www.instagram.com/urbanecologycenter), or Twitter.
Thanks to our 2020 HKE MKE Sponsors!
Presenting sponsor: The Milwaukee Rotary Club
Major sponsor: Heartland Value Fund
Key sponsors:
CG Schmidt
Charter Wire
Mueller Communications
Robertson, Ryan, and Associates
Eaton
Yellow Wood
North Shore Bank
23 Sept 2020
Urban Ecology Center's HKE MKE Virtual Fall Hike (Part 1)
PART 1:
Join the staff at the Urban Ecology Center for a virtual fall hike! Participants in the 2020 HKE MKE fundraiser can listen to this podcast episode as they complete their hike.
During this part of our virtual hike, we will learn about:
Fun activities to do with kids while hiking
Urban wildlife and how we can protect them
Acorns and their various ecological roles
Fall phenology and insects to look for
This episode features the voices of Urban Ecology Center staff members: Danny Pirtle, Annie Ela, Mike Larson, Alex LaBonte, Ethan Bott, Maggie Steinhauer, Tim Vargo, MaryBeth Kressin, and Gillian Spence.
For more from the Urban Ecology Center, visit our website or follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/urbanecologycenter), Instagram, or Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/urbanecology).
Thanks to our 2020 HKE MKE Sponsors!
Presenting sponsor: The Milwaukee Rotary Club
Major sponsor: Heartland Value Fund
Key sponsors:
CG Schmidt
Charter Wire
Mueller Communications
Robertson, Ryan, and Associates
Eaton
Yellow Wood
North Shore Bank
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