CJ Greco (they/she)

How are you using education to build more sustainable and equitable communities? Tell us about your EE work and impact.

My work at Lincoln Park Zoo as a Teen Programs Manager allows me to connect with and aid in the growth of conservation-minded teens across the city of Chicago. I use education to relate rapidly changing urban environments to local species of urban plants and wildlife, connecting families and teen program participants to larger scientific research topics like living wildlife-friendly and One Health. A large part of my role is to work collaboratively across not only Lincoln Park Zoo’s entire Learning Department, but also with the researchers, scientists, and fellow educators within my organization and with community partners. Outside of my work, I spend my time leading accessible and inclusive nature outings for community organizations like Out In Nature and Chicago Bird Alliance. I also co-created, host, and produce the podcast The Birdy Bunch Podcast where I talk with guests about everything conservation related, from urban wildlife to queer ecology.

Tell us about your journey to where you are today. What inspired you? What has your path been like?

I started my journey, as many do, inspired by the incredible creatures that we share the planet with; my earliest memories were formed by visiting my local zoo. I started volunteering when I turned 11, starting at Cosley Zoo and then at Brookfield Zoo. Using interpretive techniques, I talked to guests about the animals and conducted research that contributed to larger conservation projects. I worked through college and graduated from Illinois Institute of Technology in 2018 with a B.S. in Humanities. I continued to pursue my passion for the natural world by using up my savings to go on a two-month backpacking trip across Australia just before graduating. I worked with a few different organizations before finding my way to Lincoln Park Zoo; here, I have worked as the Student and Teacher Programs Facilitator, Learning Exploration Coordinator, and now the Teen Programs Manager. 

How can people learn more about or support your work?

The biggest thing is to just check out some of the amazing organizations that I work/have worked with! Visit LPZoo.org to learn more about the incredible work that we do at Lincoln Park Zoo. Visit OutInNature.Gay to learn more about my work with Out In Nature, a queer nature affinity space community organization of which I am on the Leadership Team. And to support The Birdy Bunch Podcast, you can support it on Patreon. 

A Little More About Me

What (or who) keeps you hopeful for the future?

The young people I work with! As a relatively young person myself, I see so much hope in every student that I get the opportunity to work with!

Who (or what) do you look up to as inspiration?

I look to some of the incredible mentors I have had over the past 17 years working and volunteering in this field. I can’t name them all, but there are so many incredible people who I try to emulate in all of my work with teens now. 

What are your hobbies?

I’m a huge birder! I have over 315 birds on my life list!

What is one thing about you that might surprise others?

I love to write! I mostly write poetry and short stories.