Our History

Our story began in June 2020, when Katherine Tellock recognized that many Chicagoans had questions and concerns about things like composting, recycling, wildlife issues, litter, and other environmental concerns. She decided to start a group on social media dedicated to these like-minded individuals that welcomed people at every stage of their eco journey: those with a deep passion and long history of involvement in environmentalism, and those who clearly cared and wanted to do more, but didn’t know where to start. Miranda Carrico joined the group early and was a frequent and knowledgeable contributor. With this, the Chicago Environmentalists group was born! It is now an inclusive sustainability community, with a forum for discussing eco topics like zero waste living, recycling, composting, environmental justice, renewable energy, eco policy, environmental news, events, and more.

Our Team

Katherine Tellock, Co-Founder and Executive Director

Katherine Tellock wants to dedicate her life to making our society more environmentally sustainable. She is a Chicago Conservation Corps sustainability leader and completed the Climate Reality Leadership Corps training in 2022. She worked in the composting and market research industries before going full-time with Chicago Environmentalists.

She has a bachelor's degree in Economics and Spanish from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and currently lives in Irving Park with her very sweet cockapoo.

Miranda Carrico, Co-Founder

Over the past ten years, Miranda has transitioned toward a "Zero Waste" lifestyle and has become very familiar with Chicago's sustainability scene. Miranda is passionate about educating individuals on actions they can take to lessen their environmental impact, as well as advocating for sustainable business practices. She completed the Climate Reality Leadership Corps training in 2021.

Miranda works in healthcare and resides in Lakeview. She enjoys traveling, exploring the city via bike and by foot, and spending time with her husband and dog, Greta von Goof.

Kara Cooke, Website Consultant

Kara Cooke has been deeply committed to environmentalism for most of her life, but it wasn't until she completed the Chicago Conservation Corps (C3) training in April 2021 that she found a way to channel her passion. Her dedication to a "Zero Waste" lifestyle, composting, cleaning up trash, and protecting the Great Lakes has continued to grow since then. Professionally, Kara has been with Smithbucklin for the past decade, where she currently serves as an Art Director and Website/Accessibility Consultant.

Sarah Horn, Events Coordinator

Sarah's environmental focus is making it more accessible for others to make sustainable choices. She founded Eco Chic Events, a sustainable party planning and rental service, and collaborates with many other groups, including EcoShip and the Chicago Tool Library. In her free time, she loves to go on hikes with her husband and pup and do lots of crafts.

Sophie Shulman, Blog Manager & SEO Specialist

After discovering her passion for conservation and clean energy in her college town of Kenosha, Wisconsin, Sophie came back to Chicagoland to pursue a lifelong commitment to sustainability. She works in communications for a Chicago-based renewable energy developer and enjoys reading, learning new languages, and playing guitar in her free time.

Michael Curiel, Website Manager and Graphic Designer

Michael is a Senior Graphic Designer at Antenna Group, a marketing and PR agency focusing on social, economic, and environmental research and innovation. Passionate about sustainability, Michael lives a low-waste lifestyle both at work and in his personal life. In his free time, he loves to travel the world, discover new music, and explore Chicago's incredible foodie scene.

Manisha Devidi, Website Coordinator

Manisha moved to Chicago in 2023 to pursue her passion for sustainability and the circular economy. She’s now channeling this commitment into a purpose-driven career, with a Master’s in Engineering Management and a specialization in Product Management. She has interned with Compass Group at Northwestern University, and loves engaging with sustainability-focused groups where she can contribute meaningfully while continuing to learn and grow.

Who We Are

Our History

Our Team