Meet the Garbage Gals!

Garbage Gals is more than a clean-up crew; it's a movement. We bring people together to reclaim their neighborhoods and make meaningful impacts.

Community engagement is crucial for lasting change. Through our clean-up initiatives, sustainability efforts, and partnerships with local organizations, we empower residents to take pride in their environment.

Our mission is to clean up neighborhoods, create camaraderie, and show how small steps can lead to big change across Chicago.

associate board of directors

  • PRESIDENT

    Originally from Florida, I’ve spent the last five years falling in love with Chicago—first in Wicker Park and now in Lakeview. By day, I’m the Senior Manager of Cognitive Services at CJE SeniorLife; but the real full-time gig is being a crafty, community-loving gal happiest with friends, family, and my sweet pup, Olive.

    I practice sustainability by composting, recycling, buying second hand whenever possible, and joining Garbage Gals trash pick-ups to help keep our streets sparkling. 

  • SUSTAINABILITY AND GROWTH COMMITTEE

    I'm a Modern and Contemporary Art Historian from St. Louis and a Taurus through and through. I have lived in Chicago for 3 years, 2 of those in Logan Square. I love creating opportunities for offline community and friendship in our high-tech lives. In the summer, you can find me biking to the lake or under a tree somewhere. 

    I practice sustainability by refusing to own a car.

  • EVENTS COMMITTEE

    I’m a lover of the outdoors, born and raised in Minnesota. You can find me outside in any season, making the most of both the sunny and snowy days!

    I practice sustainability by always carrying my keychain reusable bag with me.

  • FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE

    Originally from the Northeast, I'm a relatively new Chicagoan working at the intersection of sustainability and healthcare. In my free time, I love volunteering, wheel-throwing, making ice cream, and finding ice cream spots around the city. 

    I practice sustainability by composting at home, eating a plant-forward diet, and subscribing to community solar. 

  • EDUCATION COMMITTEE

    I moved to Chicago two years ago and found home on the West Side—first Wicker Park, now Logan Square. I’m a former teacher turned learning designer, passionate about creating joyful learning experiences for kids. Off the clock, I’m usually chasing sunshine on a long walk or swimming in a pool or lake, and I firmly believe Chicago’s beaches are the best in the continental U.S.

    I practice sustainability by buying second hand, recycling, composting, and walking or biking instead of driving. It’s less about perfection and more about genuinely trying to do better.

  • FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE

    Originally from California’s Bay Area, I’ve had the privilege of calling Grenada and New York City home before recently settling into life in Chicago. My work as a climate scientist and humanitarian is fueled by a lifelong commitment to protecting our oceans and ecosystems. I’ve spent years navigating the intersections of sustainability—from leading cleantech non-profits and consulting for startups to collaborating with government agencies on global ocean conservation and resource management.

    I’m a firm believer that big change starts with small, daily audits. I’m constantly hunting for plastic-free alternatives, whether it’s switching to a metal shaver and laundry strips or installing a bidet! Whether I’m diving in Grenada or exploring Chicago’s lakefront, you’ll always find me with my reusable water bottle and cotton produce bags in tow. Even my dog, Ziggy, does his part for the planet with his biodegradable corn starch poop bags.

  • SOCIAL MEDIA / MARKETING COMMITTEE

    Born & raised Chicagoan (yes some of it was in the suburbs) living in Logan Square, and working full-time in sports - Go Cubs! You can mostly find me walking around for hours throughout the city, doing yoga, playing music trivia, or trying different bars/restaurants!

    I practice sustainability by daily recycling household goods, using reusable Tupperware, and bringing grocery bags from home with me to the store.

  • FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE

    I'm originally from the Chicago suburbs, I've been living in the city for 10 years, currently in Pilsen. I'm an huge reader & live music lover. 

    I practice sustainability by riding my bike & shopping second hand. 

  • EVENTS COMMITTEE

    Chicago transplant working in global event management and internal communications. I love bringing people together! You can catch me reading the newest fantasy series, riding my bike around Wicker Park, or seizing every chance I get to go swimming. 

    Thrifting clothes and household goods is my favorite way to practice sustainability. I also compost at home, recycle old jars for plants and storage around the house, and always (almost) carry my own tote bag for shopping items.

  • EDUCATION COMMITTEE

    A native Chicagoan who has explored just about every corner of the city. During the week I am working with little ones as a Title 1 teacher for Math and Reading. On the weekends, I run my company, Tomato Girl Gardens, hosting workshops and events to teach people of all ages the importance of gardening and how to feel confident creating your own garden, even in an urban environment like Chicago.

    Practicing sustainability is such a driving force in my life; including being a vegetarian for almost a decade, running a company to empower gardeners of all levels, and taking public transit or biking instead of driving.

  • EVENTS COMMITTEE

    Growing up in the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina, sustainability and community have always been a very important theme in my life! I began my journey with Garbage Gals last year and adore the community it has created.

    I practice sustainability by having a primarily thrifted wardrobe!

  • FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE

    Originally from Milwaukee, WI, I now call Chicago’s Ukrainian Village home. I work in marketing and recently earned my MBA from Northwestern, so I’m excited to put some of my newfound free time toward volunteering and community work. When I’m not working, you can usually find me playing in one of my two softball leagues.

    I practice sustainability by going on regular trash walks with my friends in the neighborhood, buying second hand and limiting single use plastic.

  • SUSTAINABILITY AND GROWTH COMMITTEE

    I moved back to Chicago five years ago with my now-husband, and Ukrainian Village quickly became home. These days you’ll find us chasing our little boy and rambunctious corgi, Jefferson, through neighborhood playgrounds, hunting for the best new coffee shop, or hitting the Wicker Park farmers market on Sundays. By day, I work in the food industry, focused on bringing new sustainable products to innovate the fresh produce supply chain. I’m also an avid traveler and amateur photographer who loves this city deeply, which is exactly why I want to help keep it beautiful.


    I practice sustainability by advocating for recycling awareness, promoting composting, and staying curious, because I believe real sustainability is less about perfection and more about honest, practical progress.

  • EVENTS COMMITTEE

    I’m originally a Michigander but have called Chicago home for the past 12 years. I work as a consultant in the nonprofit and behavioral health space, where I love connecting people, building strong teams, and helping mission-driven organizations do their best work. Outside of work, I enjoy yoga, reading a good book, and eating and drinking my way through Chicago’s incredible food scene. As a mom, I’m passionate about teaching my kids to care about Mother Earth and our community, whether that’s reusing, composting, or getting involved locally. 

    A couple ways I practice sustainability are by always bringing reusable bags to the grocery store and never leaving home without my refillable water bottle.carry my own tote bag for shopping items.

  • EDUCATION COMMITTEE

    Originally from Metro Detroit, I’ve been calling Chicago home for the past two years. I work as a pediatric speech-language pathologist across both school and hospital settings. When I’m not working with kids, you can find me walking or running along the lakefront or trying out a new coffee shop.

    I practice sustainability by walking to work two to three times a week, using reusable storage bags, and avoiding red meat in my diet.

Board of directors

  • PRESIDENT

    Originally from California, now based in St. Louis. After a rewarding career advocating for Early Childhood Education in Missouri, I recently retired and look forward to spending more time with my two grandsons and exploring my hobbies!

    One way I practice sustainability is utilizing an electronics recycling service. My goal is to learn how to compost and grow my own vegetables.

  • TREASURER

    Born, raised, and now based in St. Louis. My wife and I enjoyed the first 10 years of our professional career in Chicago. We moved back to St. Louis two years ago to grow our family of now two boys and two dogs.

    As our household grows, so do our sustainability practices! Our two-year-old never wastes food, instead sharing it with our always-hungry Pug and Boston Terrier. We also use a compost tumbler for yard waste.

  • SECRETARY

    Only child from a big St. Louis family. In my tech career, I’m driven by forging connections that are rooted in community - the very values that have made Garbage Gals such a natural fit. Their mission is so meaningful and I’m honored to be a very small part of it.

    I practice sustainability by always carrying at least two silicone straws with me.

  • DIRECTOR

    6-year Wicker Park resident, working full-time in furniture sales within the events industry. Cat mom to Dane, my Maine Coon. I satisfy my sweet tooth with home baking and am a yoga enthusiast (Zen Yoga Garage!). Crafty, handy, and single 😉.

    I embrace sustainability by regularly composting, crushing cans, cutting straws, and using my Garbage Gals reusable totes, all while following a vegetarian lifestyle.

founder and executive director

Hi, I'm Sophie! Though I moved to Chicago in 2019 and still feel a bit new, I've already developed a deep connection to the city. My passion for trash collection, however, goes back a bit further.

When I was about 20, my mom and I volunteered for an Earth Day cleanup in our community. That experience left me with a new sense of pride and connection to our street—a feeling I had never had before.

I often thought back to that day, and in August 2023, I decided to bring that same feeling to life. That’s when I created Garbage Gals - looking for a way to foster pride and connection in my community.

I embrace sustainability by composting with WasteNot Compost, recycling fabric through Trashie, and hosting a Clothing Drive to give old clothes a second life.

WHY WE DO IT

Trash isn't just discarded waste. It reveals our habits, values, and what we respect. Each piece of litter symbolizes either a lapse in judgment or an opportunity for progress.

While many view trash as the end of a cycle, we see it as a chance for a fresh start. By responsibly disposing of waste and recycling as much as possible, we turn potential landfill waste into new possibilities, paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future.