Group picture of CMGT, Brookfield Zoo, and Indonesian Consulate General in Chicago
It was a truly memorable event for the Chicago Muslims Green Team (CMGT) to celebrate our diversity, story of migration, and resiliency with Brookfield Zoo and the Indonesian Consulate General in Chicago at the Zoo Adventure Passport (ZAP!) World Wednesday on June 18, 2025.
The CMGT and Brookfield Zoo special collaboration started when CMGT met Graig C. Mason, Sr. Manager of King Conservation Leadership Academy Brookfield Zoo, at the El Paseo Community Market in Summer 2024. After that, we have been working together on an education program for youths to increase awareness of our appreciation for nature, environmental issues, plastic pollution, and creative ways to recycle.
At this first ever World Wednesday event at the Zoo, we highlighted Butterfly as a symbol of diversity, migration, and resiliency to represent the CMGT community. Despite looking like a small, delicate, and weak creature, the Monarch goes through an amazing journey of migration on the American continent.
The event was full of educational and fun activities for youth. It was first opened by Jonee Cocogliato, Brookfield Zoo Community Engagement Coordinator, followed by an introduction to CMGT presented by CEO Layalee Beirat to showcase our mission, activities, and diversity. Beirat herself is an American-born Palestinian. CMGT President Caroline Williams and Program Manager Sara Siddiqui are Americans with Indonesian and Pakistani heritages, respectively.
The Indonesian Consulate General in Chicago was represented by Ms. Listiarini Moeljawan from the Indonesian Women’s Association presented a journey to Indonesia, the world’s biggest archipelago located in Southeast Asia. Indonesia is a home to diverse cultures, multiple religions, delicious foods, native flora and fauna, such as Rafflesia Arnoldii, the largest flower on Earth, Komodo Dragon, and Orangutan. Indonesia is also a home to Peacocks, which can be seen roaming freely at the Zoo.
After the presentation, attendees enjoyed beautiful Butterfly Dance and a traditional Peacock Dance performed by youths trained by Ms. Dyah Sintorukmi Minarno. The dancers wore beautiful traditional colorful costumes with wings and crown or antenna shaped like the animals. They showed delicate hand and body movements inspired by the behavior of butterfly and peacock in nature through the interpretation of unique Indonesian culture. The Peacock Dance was accompanied by a soft and shooting music produced with a traditional percussion called Gamelan. The Butterfly Dance was accompanied by a children classic song about butterfly. Ms. Dyah also led attendees to participate in the Butterfly Dance, mimicking how butterfly moves and flies around. It was truly an amazing experience.
After the dance, CMGT Program Manager, Sara Siddiqui with her talent as an educator performed a read-aloud from a book, “If I were a Little Tree“, written by CMGT’s member Christy Namondo Menyoli, originally from Cameroon. The book shares a poetic and insightful story and colorful pictures of a young tree, its dreams, its survival, and abilities to serve other creatures, humans and animals. Through this read-aloud activity, we hope to inspire youths about the benefits of planting trees, encourage them to appreciate nature and be part of the solution to climate change and global warming.
At the end of the event, CMGT continued its program at the Zoo, i.e., Recycling and Crocheting Plastic Bags workshop. From our interactive presentation, we could see how the youth participants were knowledgeable and eager to develop skills in reducing plastic waste and pollution.
CMGT thanks all the Brookfield Zoo crews for the hospitality and continuing support. We also thank all the staff and youth dancers from the Indonesian Consulate General in Chicago who were very accommodative in creating an amazing and unforgettable event with beautiful performances.
Here are pictures from the event:
Jonee and Layalee opening the World Wednesday event
Butterfly, a symbol of Diversity, Migration, and Resiliency
CMGT sisters with Pakistani (Sara), Palestinian (Layalee), Yemeni (Sedika), Indonesian (Caroline), and African/Native American (Nora) origins
Ms. Listiarini Moeljawan from the Indonesian Women Association who presented a journey to Indonesia
The Butterfly Dance
Attendees participated in the Butterfly Dance led by trainer Ms. Dyah Sintorukmi Minarno
The Peacock Dance
The Indonesian dancers with beautiful costumes
CMGT Program Manager and educator Sara Siddiqui read aloud a book, “If I were a Little Tree” written by Christy Namondo Menyoli
The Indonesian Consulate presented a traditional Indonesian souvenir, a Wayang Golek Doll to Jonee for a job well done organizing the World Wednesday event
After the event, CMGT continued with Recycling and Crocheting Plastic Bags workshop at the Zoo, from creating plastic yarn (plarn), sharing basic and advanced skills of crocheting