‘We Are All Connected’ has some public events coming up this Spring 2024! Contact Ruth – info@ruthmarshall.com or Patti – pcooper317@yahoo.com

Sunday April 21st from 12pm – 2pm. Earth Day Arts & Crafts event. Loreto Playground, 1111 Van Nest Ave, Bronx, NY 10461.

May 8, 22, 29, from 9am – 11am. If you are an older adult and want to help crochet deco’s for our butterfly habitat. Northeast Bronx Senior Center, 2968 Bruckner Blvd, Bronx, NY 10465.

June 17, 26, from 11am – 1pm. Craft & butterfly habitat activities. Hutchinson Metro Center, Bronx, NY 1250 Waters Place, Bronx, NY 10461.

Brought to you by BRAC – Bronx River Art Center’s Cultural Immigrant Initiative to provide programming based on the history & traditions of immigrant communities. Working with Morris Park BID, Hutchinson Metro Center and Northeast Bronx Senior Center.
-Milkweed seedling handouts with Patti. -Monarch butterfly origami with Ruth. -Paper making and migration stories with Michele Brody See flyers below!

Learn about the Monarch’s migration to and from Mexico and how it relates to human migration. We look forward to hearing your immigration story and understanding how it can connect us to the journeys of different species throughout the world.

Did you know that there is a protected butterfly habitat along the Hutchinson Parkway? Come to our events to find out more! In the meantime Monarch Joint Venture has information for you to explore.

Monarch butterflies are great ambassadors!  Helping Monarch butterflies survive calls attention to the importance of protecting native habitat and restoring biodiversity.  One thing we can do is to grow Milkweed. It is the only plant that Monarchs lay their eggs on, eat as caterpillars, and use for their chrysalis. So until they become a fully formed butterfly they need this plant to survive as do hundreds of other insect species. The 3 milkweed species native to our area in the North East USA: 

Common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa). Here is more information on growing Milkweed.

The biodiversity of our planet is under severe threat and we are losing species at the fastest rate in Earth’s history.  Preserving and restoring all of our green and wild spaces is becoming critical to humanity’s survival as biodiversity provides the air that we breathe, the water that we drink, the food that we eat, and the medicines that heal us.

How can we keep biodiversity strong?

• Let a section of you lawn/garden grow wild and messy.
• Grow native and insect friendly plants, shrubs, and trees.
• Do not use pesticides.
• Do not rake or tidy your garden until there’s a week of 50 degree temps. Many eggs and caterpillars overwinter in dead grass and leaf litter that will hatch in the spring if you wait.
• Eat sustainably, reduce food waste.
• Buy refurbished tech (check out Backmarket.com)
• Watch (or rewatch) An Inconvenient Truth and Wall-e.
• Consume less! Especially food, clothing, electrical appliances.
• Reduce carbon footprint: wash clothes in cold water and hang on line to dry, switch to LED lights, reduce plastic, try plant based proteins.
• Stay positive, there’s still hope! Stay committed and invested and connected to communities that are working together for solutions.-
• Volunteer with and support environmental groups.
• Be a storyteller – tell your friends about the amazing Monarch butterflies and how you are helping save them!
• Redefine your relationship to nature. Every single patch of green space has value and needs our help (especially in urban environment).  If it’s ‘us vs. nature’ we all lose, if we connect with nature we all win.  We are all Connected! 

This 2024 program is made possible by a Cultural Immigrant Initiative grant from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Council Member Kristy Marmorato of Council District #13 and the Bronx Delegation. 

Our Butterfly Habitat Map!