Calendar

July 19
9am-12pm
Storm Drain Stenciling
If you are interested in volunteering, contact Matt Garmon at (708) 828-1448 or via email.

July 22, 5:30pm
Rain Barrel Workshop
WORKSHOP FULL

July 26, 10am
Rain Barrel Workshop
WORKSHOP FULL

July 26, 1pm
Rain Barrel Workshop
WORKSHOP FULL

August 4, 7pm
Rain Garden Workshop
by Stacy James, Water Resources Scientist with the Prairie Rivers Network.
Normal Public Library Community Room

Meet Our Staff

Michael Brown – Executive Director

Michael Brown is the Executive Director of the Ecology Action Center in Normal. Michael has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale in Biology and a Certificate in Geospatial Technologies from Illinois Central College. He has a diverse background in environmental work including management of a 320-acre interpretive park for the Peoria Park District, service as a Peace Corps volunteer at Pirin National Park in Bulgaria, work in environmental health with the Peoria City/County Health Department, restoration of a rare tallgrass savanna remnant as Steward of Springdale Cemetery Savanna for Peoria Wilds not-for-profit, and recruitment and training of volunteers in ecological monitoring for the Illinois EcoWatch. He currently serves as President of Peoria Wilds not-for-profit.

DeAnna Belz – Assistant Director

DeAnna Belz has been working for the Ecology Action Center since the fall of 2000. Her interest in environmental issues began when a hog confinement facility was located near her family home in 1997. She then co-founded LIVING upstream, which has worked on such issues as local food production systems, sustainable agriculture, cancer awareness and prevention and currently the YardSmart campaign to reduce the use of synthetic chemicals on lawns. As a substitute teacher, she has been involved with students of all ages and maintains contact with teachers and administrators within the local school systems. She has tremendous energy and has a lasting impact on the students she works with.

Michele Bell – Environmental Educator

Michele Bell has worked with the Ecology Action Center and its predecessor, Operation Recycle, for more than 15 years. As a teacher in the Unit 5 school district for over 20 years, she has organized environmental clubs and directed service learning projects. Michele started volunteering with her junior high students at the Normal paper recycling drives and joined the EAC Board of Directors during the 1990s. She now serves as coordinator for summer camps and has developed many of the after school and Scout programs. Her work with the EAC is visible in many of the beautiful murals in the Hewett House which were co-created by her students and volunteers.