
Art Meets Sustainability on Chicago's West Side
Clip: 6/20/2023 | 3m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Innovators are making benches out of recycled plastic detergent bottles.
Two organizations are on a mission to bridge the gap between art and sustainability with a new initiative aimed at "redeeming plastic."
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
Chicago Tonight is a local public television program presented by WTTW
WTTW video streaming support provided by members and sponsors.

Art Meets Sustainability on Chicago's West Side
Clip: 6/20/2023 | 3m 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Two organizations are on a mission to bridge the gap between art and sustainability with a new initiative aimed at "redeeming plastic."
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch Chicago Tonight
Chicago Tonight is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.

WTTW News Explains
In this Emmy Award-winning series, WTTW News tackles your questions — big and small — about life in the Chicago area. Our video animations guide you through local government, city history, public utilities and everything in between.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipWTTW.COM/NEWS.
>>> TWO ORGANIZATIONS ON THE WEST SIDE ARE ON A MISSION TO BRIDGE THE GAP AND BRING ARTS AND SUSTAINABILITY WITH A NEW INITIATIVE AIMED AT HELPING WITH THE PLASTIC PROBLEM.
>> Reporter: IT STARTS WITH AN ASSEMBLY LINE OF SORTS.
>> YOU WANT TO CUT THEM DOWN THE MIDDLE AND MAKE IT EASIER.
WE WILL PUT THEM IN HERE.
>> Reporter: WASHING AND DRYING DETERGENT BOTTLES COLLECTED FROM DIFFERENT LAUNDROMATS.
>> WE HAVE TO DRY IT.
WE LABEL IT.
WE THEN SHRED THE PLASTIC TO MAKE SMALL GRANULES.
FROM THERE, WE PUT IT IN HERE WHICH EATS IT UP.
WE ARE MAKING TWO BY THREES.
>> Reporter: THIS BENCH WAS MADE FROM WHAT USED TO BE DETERGENT BOTTLES.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, YOU NOTICE THERE ARE NOT AS MANY BENCHES ON THE WEST SIDE, NOW WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND DESIGN THE SUBJECT FOR PUBLIC USE AND MADE FROM A MATERIAL THAT WILL OUTLIVE EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM.
>> Reporter: A CONCEPT SPEARHEADED BY THE ORGANIZATION WITH FUNDING .
>> WE LOVED THAT ART WAS AT THE CENTER OF IT BUT THE COMMUNITY PIECE , THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO GET INVOLVED IN NOT JUST DEVELOPING THE ART, BUT INTERACTING WITH IT BECAUSE OF THE PLACEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY AFTERWARDS.
>> Reporter: PLASTICS THEY ARE ABLE TO CONTINUE THE MISSION OF USING ART AS A TOOL TO GALVANIZE COMMUNITIES.
A CONCEPT STARTED BY CAMPBELL AND HIS LATE BUSINESS PARTNER.
>> I THINK ABOUT HOW WE ARE CALLED TO PLANT SEEDS AND WATER.
ALLOW THESE THINGS TO GROW.
WHAT WE WITNESSED WAS JOHN PLANTING THOSE SEEDS.
SPURRING PEOPLE ON AND CHALLENGING PEOPLE , SHOWING LOVE .
HE TALKED ABOUT HOW SUSTAINABILITY IS IMPORTANT.
>> Reporter: THEY HAVE AN IDEAL COLLABORATOR WHOSE MISSION IS DIGITAL CRAFT AND RECYCLING PLASTICS.
TOGETHER , THE GROUPS WANT TO TAKE THEIR LOVE OF SUSTAINABILITY AND LOVE OF COMMUNITY NATIONWIDE .
>> WE PROCESSED 800 POUNDS OF PLASTIC IN THE LAST SIX WEEKS.
A FRACTION OF THAT PLASTICS CONSUMED IN CHICAGO EVERY DAY.
IT IS AN AWARENESS TOOL , WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR YOGURT CUP ?
THROUGH THIS PROJECT, THE AWARENESS FROM THE COMMUNITY , WE ARE HIRING PEOPLE, TRAINING THEM, GIVING THEM THE TOOLS TO BE ARTISTS.
THIS IS AN INVESTMENT IN THE COMMUNITY JUST AS MUCH AS A TRANSFORMATION OF THE LANDFILL.
Chicago to Use $6.8M Grant to Build 8 New Monuments
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 6/20/2023 | 3m 6s | One monument will honor the men tortured by CPD officers trained by Jon Burge. (3m 6s)
Pritzker Scales Back Health Care for Undocumented Immigrants
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 6/20/2023 | 4m 56s | Illinois is one of the few states that provides health benefits to undocumented residents. (4m 56s)
What's Causing Chicago's Drought Conditions?
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 6/20/2023 | 4m 45s | The Chicago region is experiencing one of its worst droughts in decades. (4m 45s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipSupport for PBS provided by:
Chicago Tonight is a local public television program presented by WTTW
WTTW video streaming support provided by members and sponsors.