Evanston neighbors are getting together this summer to begin transforming their front yards into pollinator pathways. It’s all part of Bees on the Block, an action research project led by homegrown urban ecologist Libby Shafer. “Urban ecology integrates social research and ecological research — and campaigning — in a way that just intertwined all of my interests,” she said. While there’s social pressure around the appearance of yards, Shafer reasoned, there’s also the possibility of encouraging people to act together for positive change. But she underscored the importance of getting people involved with native plants wherever they live.