In Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, Claudia Galeno-Sánchez has transformed her family home into a vibrant sanctuary aimed at protecting the monarch butterfly, a species currently facing significant environmental threats. Over recent years, she has cultivated native milkweed and wildflowers in her yards, creating essential habitat for the butterflies during their nearly 3,000-mile migration between the northern United States and Canada to Mexico, which typically continues through late October.
Galeno-Sánchez, 49, who lives with her husband and two children, collaborated with neighbors and local muralist Héctor Duarte to brighten the exterior of her home, symbolizing her dedication to monarch conservation. She describes her environmental advocacy as a personal mission inspired by growing awareness of species loss and global warming, emphasizing the importance of preserving the planet for future generations.
Her efforts align with a broader movement across the United States, where individuals are planting native milkweed and reducing pesticide use to support monarch populations. Galeno-Sánchez’s commitment deepened after a visit to her hometown of Puebla, Mexico, about a decade ago, where she observed a noticeable decline in monarch numbers compared to the vibrant swarms of her childhood.
Scientific studies indicate that monarch butterfly populations—both eastern and western—have plummeted over the last two decades due to habitat destruction from deforestation, climate change-induced extreme weather, and the harmful impacts of pesticides on milkweed plants. Attempts to list the monarch butterfly as a protected species under the U.S. Endangered Species Act faced setbacks during the Trump administration, with recent decisions delaying action until at least June 2030.
Despite some reports of population increases in eastern monarchs in recent years, experts caution that these gains do not yet offset the overall long-term decline, leaving the species still at risk of extinction. Nonetheless, these fluctuations offer some encouragement to advocates like Galeno-Sánchez, who engages the community by sharing knowledge about monarch biology and habitat needs during events such as Chicago’s Climate Week.
Galeno-Sánchez initially believed that raising caterpillars indoors was key to monarch conservation but later recognized that nurturing butterflies within their natural environment is crucial for their survival. She stresses the importance of natural conditions—including exposure to sunlight, temperature changes, and predators—in preparing monarchs for their arduous migration.
The sanctuary at her home now serves as a resting and feeding spot for the migrating butterflies. Galeno-Sánchez relates deeply to the monarchs’ migratory journey, reflecting on her own experience immigrating to the United States as a child without her parents. She connects the butterflies’ migration to human migration, noting, “The monarch butterfly migrates. We migrate. The only difference is that the monarch butterfly does not require a passport.”
Beyond her property, Galeno-Sánchez has expanded her conservation work by initiating eight native plant projects in local schools and providing milkweed to a community garden in an industrial area. She organizes community support through donations to purchase plants and offers stipends to volunteers who help maintain these green spaces.
As a co-founder of the nonprofit Women for Green Spaces, she seeks to educate children across Chicago about environmental stewardship and the vital interdependence of pollinators, ecosystems, and human well-being. She regards protecting monarch butterflies as part of a larger effort to safeguard biodiversity and, ultimately, humanity itself.