Park Ridge 'Model Citizen' Dedicated To Environmental Activism

PARK RIDGE, IL — Without community leaders, Park Ridge wouldn’t hum along nearly as smoothly as it does. We’d miss their contributions in big and small ways.

Patch has partnered with T-Mobile to recognize these often unsung community leaders and celebrate their contributions.

This submission comes from Patricia Lofthouse, a Park Ridge reader who nominated Amy Bartucci.

How do you know this community leader?

We share membership in some of the same organizations.

What does this community leader do?

Amy Bartucci is a mother of four in Park Ridge who voluntarily dedicates her life to making our environment cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable. Amy founded Go Green Park Ridge in 2012 and Green Drinks Park Ridge which meet monthly to discuss ways we can all implement green practices in our lives, homes, and yards. The group has successfully persuaded the Park Ridge Park District to stop the use of pesticides in the parks and on school grounds. She is a member of the Coalition for Plastic Reduction to fight plastic pollution and its resulting toxins and is active in SLURP that encourages local businesses and individuals to replace plastic straws with recyclable or permanent ones. Amy is now finding ways to reduce the use and production of polystyrene (Styrofoam) which is a petroleum-based plastic, 75% of which is non-biodegradable and emits toxins in our landfills. Amy has partnered with our local high schools to coalesce recycling teams and has organized yearly cleanup days in our surrounding Forest Preserves. For four years she has made Park Ridge the location of the One Earth Film Festival that showcases documentaries featuring people and programs that are working to save the environment. She picks up and delivers donations of fresh fruits and vegetables to locations in the Love Fridge food pantry in food deserts in the Chicagoland area. Amy serves on the board of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance / Local Food Matters that supports pure, pesticide-free farm to table foods. She is the volunteer administrative coordinator for the Illinois Food Scrap Coalition to compost and reduce food waste from local businesses and individuals. She is a part of the Chicago Metro Chapter of the Climate Reality Project to fight climate change. Amy Bartucci does not just talk the talk; she walks the walk as she practices what she preaches. She is the perfect example of a model citizen and Park Ridge, Maine Township, Cook County, Illinois, and the USA, are very fortunate to have her as one of its residents. Through her volunteer work, every day of Amy Bartucci’s life is a dedication to environmental activism that is helping to preserve and improve our world..

Why do you believe the community leader should be recognized or honored?

Amy Bartucci accomplishes more to save our planet than any person I have ever met or learned about.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the community hero?

Amy Bartucci is fighting for all of us and, most especially, our children.

This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile.

Know a community leader who deserves a shout-out?

Nominate them here.