Mexican Mother Fights to Turn Chicago into a Greener Space

From Struggle to Survival

Claudia Galeno-Sánchez, a Mexican immigrant mother, recalls thinking it would be just another night at her home in Pilsen when she suddenly heard her daughter crying in the backyard. The whispers of an approaching storm also took her by surprise.

A Storm of Change

When she opened the door, she found her daughter, Claudia Bicchieri, shielding a caterpillar as she begged her to bring it inside. As Galeno-Sánchez tried to dissuade her from taking it inside the home, her daughter yelled: “The storm is coming! We have to save it.” Like that caterpillar, Galeno-Sánchez remembers feeling trapped once. Without documents, she had to cross the border from Mexico to the United States, hidden in a car trunk. Shortly after, her father passed away.

From Cages to Freedom

Galeno-Sánchez was like a bird in a gilded cage, unaware of the freedom that would soon be hers. Her daughter’s words echoed through the years: “The storm is coming! We have to save it.”

A Butterfly’s Journey

Similar to the caterpillar, Galeno-Sánchez survived the storm. After being cared for and fed by her mother and daughter, the caterpillar transformed into the first Black Swallowtail butterfly in Galeno-Sánchez’s backyard.

A Sanctuary of Hope

Although she didn’t know it at the time, this was the first step in her mission to bring more green spaces to Chicago’s Pilsen and Little Village neighborhoods, through a grant from the Chicago Department of Public Health.

A Sanctuary in the Making

After raising the butterfly with her daughter, Galeno-Sánchez was determined to help save more. It was then when she created a sanctuary in her backyard. She began learning about butterflies and native plants through workshops at the “El Valor Guadalupe Reyes Children & Family Center,” where her children started their early education, Galeno-Sánchez said.

A Community United

Step by step, she started collecting eggs, planting more plants and hosting caterpillars. Her goal was to create “a space where butterflies could emerge” in her backyard as a way to teach her children about nature during the pandemic.

As word spread, more community members joined the initiative. Together, they learned not only about butterflies but about the native plants that are a key element in the migratory route of the monarch butterfly to Mexico.

The Power of Community

“The caterpillar didn’t become a butterfly alone, it needed the shelter and care of our community to flourish,” Galeno-Sanchez said. Her message echoed through the years: “We are all connected, we are all responsible for each other.”

A Fight for the Future

“It’s hard and sad to say, but butterfly species, bird species and many other animal species are disappearing,” Galeno-Sánchez said. To combat this, the organization plants native trees in Pilsen, Little Village, and Back of the Yards. The trees are essential for the survival of these species, especially plants like milkweed, which butterflies need to lay their eggs and caterpillars need to feed on.

Fighting for the Future

Galeno-Sánchez has already found 70 green spaces. Although trees take time to grow, and fewer monarch butterflies depart from her sanctuary each year, she remains hopeful that the trees and native plants in her community will help the next generation of butterflies thrive.

Conclusion

As Galeno-Sánchez looks to the future, she hopes to create jobs for community members, so they can afford to stay in neighborhoods currently affected by high property taxes.

FAQs

Q: What is the goal of Mujeres Por Espacios Verdes?
A: The organization aims to unite low-income women of color to expand green spaces in neighborhoods like Pilsen and Little Village, to improve local environmental conditions and save endangered species.

Q: What is the significance of native plants in green spaces?
A: Native plants are essential for the survival of endangered species, and they do not require as much work or maintenance as non-native plants.

Q: How can the community get involved?
A: Community members can join the organization, participate in workshops, and help plant native plants in their neighborhood.

Q: What is the long-term goal of Galeno-Sánchez?
A: Galeno-Sánchez hopes to create a world with more trees, more flowers, and more plants for future generations.