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.
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.
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.
Englewood Nature Trail for Environmental Sustainability
Grow Greater Englewood
Grow Greater Englewood is pursuing planning and community engagement around the proposed new rails-to-trails public green space in the community.