Moms Clean Air Force

Fighting for Our Kids' Health

Illinois

95,046 MEMBERS IN ILLINOIS

Moms are working in Illinois to fight for clean air and a stable climate. We host events, share information about what’s going on, and create opportunities for mothers to talk to their legislators about their concerns. Please join us in Illinois, and let us know about your priorities.

What We’re Working On

Tell Governor Pritzker: Lead on Climate Safety

It is more important than ever for states to act on climate change. States—and their governors—can be powerful leaders in building a clean energy economy. That’s why we’re asking Governor Pritzker to keep stepping up to slash climate pollution, protect children’s health, and ensure clean air for all. Our future depends on it.

Take Action

Meet Your Illinois State Organizer

Elizabeth Hauptman

Elizabeth is the Moms Clean Air Force field coordinator in Brighton, Michigan. She also coordinates volunteer engagement for Moms across the U.S. She serves on Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin’s Environmental Advisory Board, the Brighton Area Chamber Environmental Council, and the Citizens’ Advisory Workgroup of the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team. Elizabeth’s work with Moms is deeply personal because her son suffers from asthma and is affected by poor air quality.

Pictured: Members of Moms Clean Air Force with Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13).

Contact Elizabeth

Highlights

  • Moms join members of Congress for Black Maternal Health Caucus Stakeholder Summit. Congresswomen Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and Alma Adams (NC-12) invited Moms’ Stephanie Reese to Chicago for the 2024 Black Maternal Health Caucus Stakeholder Summit in August. With actress Tatyana Ali and other partners, they talked about ensuring pregnant people get the care they need in the face of climate-fueled extreme weather and air pollution.
  • Moms join experts to talk about air pollution—and solutions—in Chicago. In May 2023, EcoMadres Iowa coordinator Karin Stein joined Pilsen Neighbors Community Council, Neighbors for an Equitable Transition to Zero Emission, American Lung Association, and Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America for a virtual conversation about the consequences of environmental pollution on children’s health. Watch the replay.
  • Moms call on EPA to set strong standards for methane pollution. In June 2021, our Illinois members joined Moms Clean Air Force staff and volunteers from across the country to participate in EPA’s listening sessions on its upcoming oil and natural gas methane rule. Read testimony from Moms’ intern Samantha Schmitz.
  • Moms host a conversation about the impacts of air pollution and extreme weather on Black maternal health. In March 2021, Moms’ Tonya Calhoun moderated a Green Table Talk titled Listen to Black Women: How Environmental and Systemic Racism Impact Moms and Babies, featuring Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-4), LaTricea Adams of Black Millennials for Flint, and pediatrician Dr. Yolanda White. Watch the replay.
  • Illinois Moms deliver powerful message to U.S. automakers. In May 2018, Illinois moms and kids joined moms from across the Midwest to deliver 13,000 petitions from Moms Clean Air Force members to the headquarters of the Big Three automakers—Ford, GM, and Fiat Chrysler—in Detroit, Michigan. Moms urged the automakers to oppose the Trump administration’s rollback of the Clean Car Standards.

Events and Resources in Illinois

Why We Care

Our children are breathing polluted air. Cook County, home to Chicago, received an F grade from the American Lung Association for ozone—which means dangerous breathing days for the more than 47,800 children there with asthma. The overwhelming majority of Illinois’ communities do not have air monitoring systems at all, so we cannot accurately assess the health risks local polluted air can pose to our families.

Plus, beautiful Lake Michigan is at risk. The source of drinking water to more than 40 million people, the Great Lakes are threatened by pollution, rising water temperatures, and erratic water levels, as extreme weather affects evaporation and precipitation patterns. Historically high water levels from 2017 to 2020 have caused frequent flooding and extreme erosion, threatening vital infrastructure along the lakes’ shores.

Today

Hot Days, High Stakes: Protecting Maternal Health in Extreme Heat

Extreme heat poses risks to pregnancy, from dehydration and heat exhaustion to more serious complications. This webinar will explain why heat is a concern during pregnancy, how to reduce personal risk, and what signs warrant medical attention. We'll also discuss how current policies—at all levels of government—support or fall short in protecting maternal health in ...

Crafting Our Future in Pittsburgh: Kids for Clean Air

Schenley Park 2005 Beechwood Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA, United States

Join Moms Clean Air Force and Protect PT for an afternoon of coloring and healthy snacks. The artwork created will be sent to the Governor to remind him who a ...

The Story of Plastic Documentary Screening in Las Vegas

Springs Preserve Room #8040 ORIGEN, Rotunda and Big Springs Theater 333 S Valley View Blvd, Las Vegas, NV, United States

Join us for a screening of The Story of Plastic, a revealing documentary that connects the dots between plastic production, air pollution, methane emissions, and global warming. Learn how the fossil ...

Pittsburgh 2025 Environmental Action Day

City-County Building 414 Grant St, Pittsburgh, PA, United States +1 more

Join Moms Clean Air Force and other environmental advocates across Southwest Pennsylvania to rally for a healthier environment that is protected by our elected leaders! Pennsylvania organizer Vanessa Lynch will ...

Community Baby Expo in Albuquerque

Alamosa Community Center 6900 Gonzales Rd. SW, Albuquerque, NM, United States

Join Moms Clean Air Force for a community-baby expo event! This event is open to all expecting parents and families and provides an opportunity to learn about how to protect ...

Izaak Walton League of America 2025 National Convention in Green Bay

Tundra Lodge Resort, Water Park and Conference Center 865 Lombardi Ave, Green Bay, WI, United States

Moms Clean Air Force Wisconsin Field Organizer Jayne Black will be speaking on the Climate Change Panel. She will share the efforts Moms Clean Air Force is taking to address ...

Single-Use Planet Screening in Green Bay

Cornerstone Foundation Hall West, Green Bay Botanical Garden 2600 Larsen Rd, Green Bay, WI, United States

Join Moms Clean Air Force for a screening of Single-Use Planet at the Green Bay Botanical Garden. Narrated by Peter Coyote and running 59 minutes long, the film features entertaining ...

Past Events

June 2023

On June 15, three Moms Clean Air Force Illinois volunteers joined more than 70 Moms Clean Air Force staff and members in 22 states and Washington, DC, to testify at EPA’s virtual public hearing on proposed federal standards for carbon pollution from power plants.

May 2023

On May 24, EcoMadres Iowa coordinator Karin Stein joined Pilsen Neighbors Community Council, Neighbors for an Equitable Transition to Zero Emission, American Lung Association, and Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America for a virtual conversation about the consequences of environmental pollution on children’s health. Experts, including Karin, talked about pollution in the Chicago area and across the US and possible solutions for the future. Watch the replay.

February 2023

On February 16, EcoMadres Iowa coordinator Karin Stein joined Pilsen Neighbors Community Council for a virtual meeting to discuss the consequences of environmental pollution in Pilsen, Illinois, on the health of our children. Watch the replay (in Spanish).

January 2023

On January 10, 11, and 12, more than 60 Moms Clean Air Force staff and members from 21 states and Washington, DC, spoke out at EPA’s virtual public hearing about its updated proposal to cut methane and other harmful pollutants from new and existing oil and gas operations. Volunteer Annika Lutz offered testimony.

June 2021

Illinois moms joined Moms Clean Air Force staff and volunteers from across the country to participate in EPA’s listening sessions on its upcoming oil and natural gas methane rule. Moms Clean Air Force intern Samantha Schmitz offered testimony. Read Samantha’s testimony.

March 2021

On March 9, Moms Clean Air Force, along with partners EDF and Black Millennials for Flint, hosted an important conversation between Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14), pediatrician and environmental health expert Dr. Yolanda Whyte, and LaTricea Adams, Founder, President & CEO of BlackMillennials4Flint. This discussion, moderated by Moms Clean Air Force’s National Field Manager Tonya Calhoun, PhD, focused on Black maternal health, how inequities in health care and systemic racism impact Black moms and babies, and what we can do to tackle the problem. Watch the replay.

July 2019

Members of Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended the sixth annual Play-In for Climate Action on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

October 2018:

Members of Moms Clean Air Force testified at the Affordable Clean Energy Rule Public Hearing in Chicago.

Moms Clean Air Force Chicago area volunteers hosted a Cafecito to celebrate the launch of EcoMadres.

July 2018:

Members of Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended the fifth annual Play-In for Climate Action on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

June 2018:

Field organizer, Kelly Nichols was facilitator in a meeting with the City of Chicago Department of Health and the South East Side Coalition to Ban Petcoke.

May 2018:

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois members testified at the Manganese Dust Rule Hearing with City of Chicago.

Field organizer, Kelly Nichols joined Ohio field organizer, Laura Burns in Detroit to deliver over 13,000 petition signatures from Moms Clean Air Force members demanding that the big 3 automakers–Ford, Chrysler and GM–continue enforcing Clean Cars Standards.

Field organizer, Kelly Nichols attended the Manganese Town Hall held on the Southeast Side of Chicago as a part of the South East Side Coalition to Ban Petcoke.

April 2018:

Field organizer, Kelly Nichols spoke at a press event called by the U.S. EPA Region 5 local employees union (AFGE 704) around the fact that Scott Pruitt took a secret trip to Indiana without telling community organizers, EPA Staff, or reporters.

March 2018:

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois tabled at MommyCon Chicago.

February 2018:

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois met with Representative Robin Kelly’s office, and Representative Peter Roskam’s office.

Field organizer, Kelly Nichols spoke at a press conference around the redevelopment of the Crawford Coal Plant site in Little Village with the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization, Sierra Club, Jobs With Justice, and other allies.

December 2017:

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended the Mayor’s Climate Summit in Chicago.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended and spoke at a press conference in Little Village with the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization.

November 2017:

Field consultant, Kelly Nichols spoke about local air pollution and advocacy to a standing room only crowd at the Highland Park Public Library in Highland Park, IL.

Field consultant, Kelly Nichols testified at an EPA Clean Power Plan hearing held in Charleston, WV.

September 2017:

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois co-hosted a “Southeast Side Play-In for Environmental Justice” to call for clean and healthy community safeguards, including action on the local S.H. Bell bulk materials handling facility, which stores the powerful neurotoxin manganese in large outdoor piles that are blowing into the homes of local residents.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois members traveled to Washington, DC to meet with lawmakers and urge them to protect EPA’s budget.

July 2017:

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois members met with Senator Durbin to discuss toxic pollutants.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois members met with Senator Durbin during the 2017 Play-In for Climate Action.

Illinois Moms and Clean Air Kids meet with Senator Durbin in Washington, DC, July 2017

Field consultant, Kelly Nichols spoke at a press conference on EPA budget cuts with Senator Duckworth.

June 2017:

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois tabled at the Highland Park Bike Fair.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois field consultant Kelly Nichols was featured in a “Lunch and Learn” event with Conservation MN.

May 2017:

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois participated in the Poor People’s Campaign with coalition members from the Southeast Coalition to Ban Petcoke and Community Strategy Group.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois presented on clean air, children’s health, and advocacy at Chicago’s Sinai Congregation with Lorena Lopez of Faith in Place.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois participated in the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization’s 5th Annual Youth Summit, called “Strengthening your roots through self care.”

April 2017:

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois tabled at Earth Day Fest in Galena.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois tabled at ELPC Rally for the Planet in Chicago.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois tabled at Springfield Earth Awareness Fair.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended Party for the planet at Brookfield Zoo.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended an environmental justice rally in downtown Chicago with over 100 attendees. Rally speakers included Melissa Mays of Flint, MI, as well as Rev. Rivera of East Chicago.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois participated in Earth Day of Action Springfield.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended the Illinois Resistance Fair.

March 2017:

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended the Loyola Climate Conference.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois hosted a Town Hall focused on diesel pollution with Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO).

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois tabled at Green living fair in Libertyville.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended One Earth Film Fest.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois tabled at GoGreen Wilmette Fair.

February 2017:

Field consultant Kelly Nichols met with Congressman Danny K. Davis’s in-district office.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois meets with Representatives Danny K. Davis and Bobby L. Rush in Washington, DC, to thank them for their commitment to protecting Illinois children, February 2017.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended a press conference hosted by Senator Durbin focused on the nomination of Scott Pruitt to head EPA. Following the press event, field consultant, Kelly Nichols attended a rally with EPA employees in Federal Plaza.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended One Earth Film Fest.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois tabled at GoGreen Wilmette Fair.

January 2017:

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended a rally to oppose the nomination of Scott Pruitt to head EPA.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois members participated in the Women’s March on Chicago, part of a network of marches held across the country.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended and tabled at the Highland Park Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service Event in Highland Park.

December 2016:

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended a Lake County Coalition Fundraiser Event.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended a NatGeo “Years of Living Dangerously” watch party featuring CPLC coalition.

September 2016:

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois hosted a Play-In for Clean Energy at Meineke Park in Schaumburg.

Moms Clean Air Force Illinois hosted a press conference focused on the Clean Energy Incentive Program on the steps of Old St. Pat’s Church with partners: Chicago Youth Alliance for Climate Action, Faith in Place, and Respiratory Health Association.

Field organizer, Kelly Nichols taught a lesson on clean air and children’s health at the Academy for Global Citizenship to Ms. Fyffe’s 3rd grade class.

Field organizer, Kelly Nichols spoke at an Environmental Town Hall on America’s Clean Power Plan with an expert panel from ELPC, NRDC, Illinois Environmental Council, Chicago Botanic Garden, as well as State Senator Julie Morrison, State Representative Elaine Nekritz and State Representative Scott Drury.

Field organizer, Kelly Nichols attended the dedication and ribbon cutting in Altgeld Gardens on the South side of Chicago.

August 2016:

Moms Clean Air Force members testified at the Clean Energy Incentive Program (CEIP) hearing in Chicago.

June 2016:

  • Moms Clean Air Force Illinois tabled at Radish Healthy Living Fair in Davenport, Iowa.
  • Moms Clean Air Force Illinois hosted a “School’s Out Food Drive” contributing to the over 4,542 pounds of food collected by Moms Clean Air Force chapters nationwide.

May 2016:

  • Field organizer, Kelly Nichols tabled at an event at Piotrowski Park in Chicago with the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization. The event focused on clean air and concerns over diesel pollution.
  • Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended the Highland Park Walk/Bike Fair.
  • Moms Clean Air Force Illinois presented at a Rotary Club in Moline.
  • Field organizer, Kelly Nichols presented a portion of a ReAmp webinar on grassroots tactics and approaches by C3 organizations in an election year.

April 2016:

  • Field Organizer, Kelly Nichols attended the Environmental Law and Policy Center 2016 Dinner and Celebration in Chicago. Also in attendance were many state and federal legislators (including Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL 09), and Senators Dick Durbin (IL) and Elizabeth Warren (MA)). Kelly was able to meet and connect with Senator Warren who was very pleased to see Moms Clean Air Force in attendance and told Kelly that the work Moms Clean Air Force does is so very important and to keep it up.
  • Moms Clean Air Force Illinois conducted a Read-In at Gumdrops playgroup in Geneseo.
  • Moms Clean Air Force Illinois conducted a Read-In at Glencoe Public Library.
  • Moms Clean Air Force Illinois hosted an Earth Day Read in with new Geneseo Mayor Kathy Carrol-Duda at Concordia Lutheran Preschool.
  • Moms Clean Air Force Illinois tabled at Forest Park Nature Center Earth Day Festival in Peoria.
  • Moms Clean Air Force Illinois tabled at Brookfield Zoo – Party for the Planet.
  • Moms Clean Air Force Illinois presented on methane at an Earthkeepers meeting in Moline.
  • Moms Clean Air Force Illinois tabled and hosted Read-Ins at the Galena Earth Day Festival.
  • Moms Clean Air Force Illinois hosted a “Mama Summit” in Springfield.
  • Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended Baker School Spring Fling.
  • Moms Clean Air Force hosted a Read-In at The Peace School in Chicago.

March 2016:

  • Moms Clean Air Force Illinois hosted a “Read-In” in Chicago.
  • Moms Clean Air Force Illinois hosted a Read-In with a yoga class at Gather play space in Evanston. Contact Kelly at knichols@momscleanaiforce.org for more info or to RSVP.
  • Moms Clean Air Force Illinois hosted a Read-In at Ravinia Nursery School.
  • Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended GO GREEN WILMETTE’S ENVIRONMENTAL FAIR, “Sustainable Suburbs,” at Michigan Shores Club.
  • Moms Clean Air Force Illinois attended the Loyola Climate Conference.
  • Moms Clean Air Force Illinois tabled at a Merchants of Doubt screening at Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe Episcopal Church, 2415 N. Butrick, Waukegan, IL 60087.
  • Moms Clean Air Force tabled at a screening of Merchants of Doubt in Peoria sponsored by partner Central Illinois Healthy Community Alliance.
  • Moms Clean Air Force tabled at MommyCon Chicago.

February 2016:

  • Moms Clean Air Force Illinois discussed methane pollution at Metropolitan Community Church in Davenport, IA and conducted a press event and rally after the service.
  • Moms Clean Air Force Illinois hosted a Peoria Press Event to discuss clean air and healthy hearts. The press conference featured: Robin Garlish (a mom, and asthma sufferer concerned about clean air), IL State Senator David Koehler, Pastor Wayne Wickware (who will talk about how clean air affects the whole being), Crystal Yost and Kelly Nichols (talking about the importance of children’s health and clean air).
  • Moms Clean Air Force tabled at a Guster concert in Des Moines, IA where we talked about methane with concertgoers and got nearly 200 methane cards signed.
  • Moms Clean Air Force hosted a Clean Air Valentine making party at Gumdrops playgroup in Geneseo, IL.
  • Moms Clean Air Force hosted a Clean Air Valentine making party at Metropolitan Community Church in Davenport, IA.

January 2016:

  • Field organizer, Kelly Nichols traveled to Champaign, IL to present at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on clean air, children’s health, and advocacy. She presented with Union of Concerned Scientists’ Jessica Collingsworth to an environmental law class and a public health and climate change class, taught by Warren Lavey and Dr. Holly Rosencranz, respectively.

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