Clean Future: Boosting Planet Health

By Xilonen Penzado

Hello, My name is Xilonen Penzado, but I also go by Xilo (pronounced Sheelow), for short! I go to Richard T. Crane High School, which has an internship program, Urban Alliance, and they connected me with an incredible internship with One Earth Film Festival. It's been three weeks, and the crew keeps me so busy with reviewing films and many other projects, including this blog, which is perfect for me. I love to write and journal. It frees my mind and lets me get my thoughts out in a way where I feel at peace. I find it relaxing just letting my thoughts flow and my voice on paper. 

Writing is not the only thing I enjoy. Going to a school on the West Side that is teamed up with Rush University Medical Center gives me many opportunities. Participating in internships is helping me explore a medical career. One Earth connects with the aspects of working in a hospital: caring, patience, nurturing. I absolutely love it. The idea of helping out the Earth is like boosting the planet's health. It's new for me to be a part of an organization that lets me participate in field trips around the city. I am learning how to deal with enviromental problems around the world. I am becoming aware of environmental conditions that affect the health of youth and young adults. It all connects. 

The internship with One Earth expands my thinking on many environmental issues, like environmental justice fights around the city. All people, regardless of their race, color of their skin or the money in their bank accounts, deserve a healthy environment, clean water and good soil in which to grow a garden. I think these issues should get more attention. Unfortunately, not many people know about these problems. I have started doing research to learn about pollution and the environmental justice issues in Chicago neighborhoods. The problems have caught my attention and intrigued me to get more involved and use my voice to share these issues! Right now, I'm doing some research on Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood to see how young adults and youth are affected by air pollution or water challenges. I'll also be doing some research on my own neighborhood, Garfield Ridge, to get more insight into where I'm living, especially considering I live next to an airport. I’ll have lots to tell you about. 

I'm thrilled to move forward with this research to broaden my knowledge about things I've never known before about our Earth. I want to learn how we can keep ourselves healthy and safe. I'm curious about what I'll be finding out. I’m motivated to discover more about my surroundings and to make others aware of what's going on here. I'm looking forward to communicating with you readers once a month through these blogs. I'm excited to share what I learn with our community.