Community Corner
Stagg's First ConEx A Huge Success
More than a thousand attendees gathered at Stagg High School last month to learn about conservation and the nature that surrounds our area.
PALOS HILLS, IL -- Despite the bitter cold and snow, more than a thousand organizations, vendors, student-volunteers, and attendees gathered at Stagg High School on Saturday, January 12 for ConEx, a conservation expo planned by Stagg junior Peter Gordan, who is also the founder of Homes4Monarchs.
Founded in 2016, Homes4Monarchs is a non-profit organization that creates and distributes free seed packets of milkweed (the only food of the monarch butterfly caterpillar) to Illinois residents to create habitat for the decimated monarch population, and also organizes free, community events like ConEx to promote environmental conservation and awareness.
Since its founding, Homes4Monarchs has worked with over 1,000 volunteers to create and distribute over 20,000 milkweed packets throughout Illinois.
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The successful event featured representatives from the Shedd Aquarium, the Cook County Forest Preserves District, and Animals for Awareness, who provided live exotic animals including foxes, snakes, and even a talking parrot! Six speakers spoke at the expo, and there were more than a dozen information tables scattered throughout ConEx that were manned by Stagg student volunteers.
Michelle Govea, one of the vendors from the event, is currently holding a fundraiser for Peter's organization. 10% of all proceeds through February 13th will be donated. Check out her site, and be sure to send her a message letting her know your name and total after completing your order. Peter's organization also accepts donations directly through their GoFundMe page.