Developing Chicago’s Conservation Leadership
Illinois Environmental Council Education Fund
IECEF is building advocates for conservation among Chicago’s decision-makers by using resources and expertise as a coalition builder to create a louder voice for members of environmental and social justice communities and their causes.
Nature-based Recovery from COVID-19 in Chicago Communities
Field Museum of Natural History
The Field Museum is building from early pandemic experiences to create replicable models that transform the environment from a concern separate from community wellbeing to clearly illustrate its central role in our health and welfare.
Catalyzing Restoration and Flood Alleviation in Calumet for Birds and People
Audubon Great Lakes
Audubon Great Lakes is building upon existing work in Calumet to deepen engagement with communities and partners through a variety of engagement, research, and restoration activities across the region.
Last Four Miles
Friends of the Parks
Friends of the Parks’ Last Four Miles (L4M) is an advocacy initiative to complete Chicago's lakefront park system and to inspire, equip, and mobilize groups of community organizers and advocates for nature-based solutions along Chicago's lakefront.
Demonstrating Urban Wetland Shoreline Improvement at Indian Ridge Marsh North
The Wetlands Initiative
The Wetlands Initiative (TWI) is working at Indian Ridge Marsh - North, a degraded urban wetland site in the Calumet region on Chicago’s Southeast Side, to modify and improve the shoreline to benefit rare wetland-dependent birds and to improve this public site for access and enjoyment by the surrounding underserved communities.
Chicago Region Trees Initiative Corporate Sustainability and Carbon Programs
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
This project connects sustainability-minded corporations with impactful projects and dedicated partners to enable companies to achieve their goals related to areas such as environment, equity, energy, climate, and health.
Green Era Renewable Energy and Urban Farm Campus
Urban Growers Collective
This project will advance plans for nature-based green stormwater infrastructure, community engagement and experiential education at UGC’s new Urban Farm Campus and Community Education Center.
From Science to Nature-Based Solutions in the Chicago Region
University of Illinois — Professor Don Wuebbles
This project uses newly-developed, high-resolution, climate models to identify and assess nature-based solutions around climate extremes.
Depave Chicago: Creating a Depave Network Program to Renature Surface Parking Lots in the Chicago Region
University of Illinois — Professor Mary Pat McGuire
Depave Chicago will partner with the Depave Portland (OR) program to launch a training and consultation initiative.
Biodiversity and Community in the Calumet: Creating Access and Restoring Open Spaces Along the Little Calumet River
Openlands
Openlands, in partnership with the Field Museum and the Forest Preserves of Cook County, is restoring open spaces and strengthening community connections at Beaubien Woods, the Ton Farm historic site, and other areas along the Little Calumet River.
Nature, Culture, and Human Health Network (NCH2)
Northwestern University — Professor Teresa Horton
This project aims to expand the cohort of researchers, conservation, and healthcare practitioners that comprise the NCH2 network, whose goal is to facilitate relationship development and collaboration around nature-based solutions.
South and West Side Health and Nature
The Nature Conservancy in Illinois (TNC)
Through two projects, TNC aims to create a model for engaging neighbors and co-creating projects that help people and nature thrive.
Terra Firma Project—Research and Demonstration Pilots
Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC)
MPC is working with Emerald South Development Corporation to incorporate green infrastructure installations into MPC’s StormStore program.
Proyecto Mi Villita
Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO)
LVEJO is developing a shared commercial kitchen space for low-income food cart vendors in Little Village.
Nature-Based Solutions for Equitable Transit-Oriented Development (NBS 4 eTOD)
Elevated Chicago
In collaboration with community and non-profit partners, Elevated Chicago will launch demonstration projects that showcase how nature-based solutions can enhance equitable transit-oriented development.
Garfield Park Resilient Corridor
Garfield Park Community Council (GPCC)
As part of the ongoing Garfield Park Resilient Corridor project, GPCC is establishing: a fruit orchard and stormwater management project, a nature-based play space, and affordable carbon-neutral housing.
Generating Critical Data and Methods to Support Nature-Based Green Infrastructure in Chicago Communities
Delta Institute
The Delta Institute is installing green infrastructure on vacant lots identified in partnership with the Emerald South Economic Development Collaborative, and measuring the impact on biodiversity.
Health, Equity and Nature Accelerator
Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods
The Brushwood Center’s Health, Equity, and Nature Accelerator is activating healthcare investment in nature-based solutions.
Catalyst Southwest: Integrating Nature-Based Strategies Into Net-Positive Water Solutions for Chicago
Academy for Global Citizenship (AGC)
In partnership with Northwestern University and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), AGC is using its new Catalyst Southwest community hub as a research site for nature-based solutions.
Space to Grow: Greening Chicago Schoolyards
Healthy Schools Campaign
This undertaking uses green stormwater infrastructure and natural features to transform schoolyards and foster daily connection to nature, support nature-based play and learning, and build community and climate resilience. This project involves community engagement and design of new schoolyards in underserved communities, training teachers, and working with partner organizations to define a citywide strategy for maintaining GSI installations.