With Urban Rivers’ 5th annual Wild Mile Block Party just around the corner, prepping for the event required focused effort and careful planning this week. To build momentum, I hit the streets of Chicago alongside my colleagues to distribute flyers to local residents and post them in welcoming local businesses. Given how successful previous celebrations were, my primary goal this week was brainstorming creative ways to draw in an even larger crowd. Beyond flyering, I helped use custom PLA stencils and bright spray paint to etch trail markers on the sidewalks, guiding visitors straight to the Wild Mile.

I also spent time at River Park cleaning up floating riverbeds with a small group of interns led by my supervisor. After a 40-minute boat ride down the Chicago River, we pulled on knee-high safety boots and stepped onto the riverbeds to tackle invasive plant species. Despite having limited prior weeding experience, I was surprised to find myself easily identifying invasive plants and pulling them by the roots. That moment was a big personal turning point: I realized I was beginning to trust my own knowledge rather than second-guessing myself or immediately relying on others. Navigating that balance between self-reliance and leaning on senior expertise is a crucial step in my growth as a leader.

Looking at my experience through the lens of the 3 C’s and Laidlaw values, I can see how deeply those core principles are shaping my approach. As a change-maker, I’ve aimed to stay brave, curious, and determined. Stepping into new responsibilities (like leading public tours or tackling riverbed restoration) tested my accountability and humility as I learned to embrace new tasks while acknowledging my limits. Collaborating closely with colleagues and supervisors kept our shared goals on track, but I relied most heavily on my performance capacities: thinking critically as I researched materials for my core project, generating creative ideas for outreach, and actively reflecting on strategy to support the broader vision at Urban Rivers.