Chicago

Oak Park artist Jenny Tiner, who is working on a special Carrotmob Chicago project for the big day, is a Carrotmob rock star. A self-taught artist who was inspired by Georgia O’Keefe as a child, she started her artistic career at the age of six when she began painting – rocks. Now she’s a student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a teacher at the Lillstreet Art Center.

But between her rock painting and her art career, Jenny studied environmental stewardship at Columbia University, in New York City. As part of the program, she studied at the famed Biosphere 2, near Tucson, AZ, where she researched algae. Upon receiving her certificate, she went on to do water quality testing and later flood mapping research. (Could this interest in water have anything to do with the Blue Period she seems to be having in her painting?)

Her artwork reflects her environmental sensibilities; she likes to use recycled and re-purposed materials.

Jenny is a perfect fit for Carrotmob Chicago. Something else we like about her? She thinks big. Watch for the unveiling of her big Carrotmob mascot.

Posted by Christine

You may be wondering how Carrotmob Chicago chose Fox & Obel to be mobbed. Well, we used a somewhat different approach than most Carrotmob events. Typically, businesses compete with each other to be mobbed, offering to devote a certain percentage of proceeds to energy efficiency improvements.

But the August 9 mob is being organized in conjunction with the Academy of Management (AOM), which is holding a conference in Chicago that weekend with the theme of “Green Management Matters.” The AOM wanted to find a store within walking distance of the conference locations to enable as many attendees to be part of the mob as possible. And to have the event best complement the conference schedule, the goal was to hold it on Sunday.

So the Carrotmob team worked to find a store that is a few blocks from the conference, open on Sundays, offers a variety of price points, is willing to commit to energy efficiency upgrades, wants to be part of a Carrotmob action, and is locally owned and operated. Whew!

Fox & Obel fit the bill. It will devote 50% of the revenues that the Carrotmob generates to becoming more energy efficient. An energy audit of the store will help F&O know how to spend those dollars for the greatest impact.

Add the Greater Chicago Food Depository, which will be on site to receive donations from mobbers, and it’s a Carrotmob win-win-win.

Posted by Christine

You say you want a revolution?

Put your money where your mouth is. Join a reverse boycott – or “buycott” – of a local business that has committed to greening itself up. When you join Carrotmob Chicago Sunday, August 9, in giving Fox & Obel the business, a portion of the ka-chings will go toward making the store more energy efficient. And energy efficiency means less use of precious natural resources and a healthier environment for everyone.

It’s about offering a carrot, instead of wielding a stick, for the good of the planet.

Carrotmob is a bunch of consumers who buy stuff to support businesses that make socially responsible decisions. It rewards good businesses instead of punishing bad ones.

Join the mob!

Event details: Mobbing Fox & Obel Market, 401 E. Illinois – near Navy Pier, Chicago, noon – 6pm.

Never heard of Carrotmob? Check out carrotmob.org and get ready to be energized for action.

Double bonus: Help the hungry while you help the planet. Mobbers can donate purchases to the Greater Chicago Food Depository at the event, too.

Carrotmob Chicago Instigators: Sponsors Consolidated Printing, Faucethead Creative, Natropolis, the Smart Energy Design Assistance Center and Terracom Public Relations. Hosts Net Impact-Chicago Professional Chapter, Loyola Chapter, and DePaul Chapter; the Academy of Management; Local First Chicago; and the the Chicago Sustainable Business Alliance.

Join Carrotmob Chicago on Facebook.

Carrotmob Makes It Rain from carrotmob on Vimeo.
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Posted by Christine