Podcasts about metropolitan planning council

Illinois lawmakers have until the end of the month to hammer out a budget deal. Public transit agencies in the Chicago area say they're facing a $770 million shortfall. Reset discusses what's at stake for transit riders with Audrey Wennink of the Metropolitan Planning Council and Justin Marlowe of UChicago's Harris School of For a full archive of Reset interviews, head over to wbez.org/reset.

Audrey Wennick leads the transportation policy efforts at the Metropolitan Planning Council, a Chicago-based organization that generates community-informed ideas about issues including housing, sustainability, and transportation. She is focused on improving the sustainability and equity of the transportation system, pursuing sustainable funding for transportation in Illinois, integration of performance-based planning methods into transportation practice, and advancing equitable transit-oriented development.

Jessica Droste Yagan is the CEO of Impact Engine, and she has built a career based on her values and a clear demonstration of authenticity. We talk about how she did it, why it's important, and how it benefits you and everyone around you.Jessica shares her journey from McDonald's to Impact Engine, where she manages venture capital and private equity strategies focused on sustainable and impactful investments. She recounts her moment of realization while studying urban economics, where she realized that capitalism can be used to create sustainable jobs and wealth in high poverty areas.You can align your personal values with business success and contributing to a more transparent and impactful society – and Jessica shares with us how! About the Guest:Jessica Droste Yagan is the CEO of Impact Engine, an investment firm with a mission to bring more capital to a market where financial returns are linked to positive social and environmental impacts. Impact Engine manages venture capital and private equity strategies that invest in transformative for-profit, positive-impact funds and businesses.Prior to Impact Engine, Jessica led the creation of McDonald's Corporation's global and U.S. sustainable sourcing strategies. At McDonald's, she enabled the integration of ethical, environmental, and economic sustainability across all food and packaging sourcing. Jessica also worked in urban economic development through the City Advisory Practice at the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City. Jessica has co-authored two Harvard University case studies on public-private partnerships and currently serves as a board member for the Metropolitan Planning Council, the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation at Chicago Booth, and Fixer. Crain's Chicago Business named her to its list of 40-Under-40 in 2013 and she served as a 2014Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow. Jessica holds a BA in Public Policy from Haverford College, an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, and an MPA from the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. She lives in Chicago with her husband and three children. https://www.theimpactengine.com/ About the Host:Amy L. Riley is an internationally renowned speaker, author and consultant. She has over 2 decades of experience developing leaders at all levels. Her clients include Cisco Systems, Deloitte and Barclays.As a trusted leadership coach and consultant, Amy has worked with hundreds of leaders one-on-one, and thousands more as part of a group, to fully step into their leadership, create amazing teams and achieve extraordinary results. Amy's most popular keynote speeches are:The Courage of a Leader: The Power of a Leadership LegacyThe Courage of a Leader: Create a Competitive Advantage with Sustainable, Results-Producing Cross-System CollaborationThe Courage of a Leader: Accelerate Trust with Your Team, Customers and CommunityThe Courage of a Leader: How to Build a Happy and Successful Hybrid Team Her new book is a #1 international best-seller and is entitled, The Courage of a Leader: How to Inspire, Engage and Get Extraordinary Results. www.courageofaleader.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/amyshoopriley/ Resources mentioned in the podcastThe Inspire Your Team to Greatness assessment (the courage assessment).How can you inspire our team to be more proactive, take ownership and get more done?You demonstrate and empower The Courage of a Leader. In my nearly 3 decades of work with leaders, I've...

Metropolitan Planning Council joins Lisa Dent to discuss a contentious topic.

From construction on the Kennedy Expressway to road closures because of Nascar, traffic in Chicago is getting worse. Reset discusses how the congestion is affecting drivers and potentially putting cyclists and pedestrians in danger with Rick Resnick of See it All mini tour bus company, Audrey Wennink of the Metropolitan Planning Council and Sharon Hoyer, a cyclist and Streetsblog freelance journalist.

The Illinois and Chicago Departments of Transportation launched their “Redefine The Drive” study in 2013. This spring and fall there will be more public hearings where people can weigh in on the latest plans. Reset talks with transportation experts Joseph Schwieterman, professor of public policy at DePaul University, Sam Kling, director of Global Cities research at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and MarySue Barrett, former president of the Metropolitan Planning Council, about the plans that exist so far.

*Mitchell Armentrout of the Chicago Sun-Times breaks down a poll showing that Ken Griffin's political donations aren't working. *Long-time Democrat Ted Van Dyke shares why he's been disappointed in the Jan. 6th hearings so far. *John A. Lawrence discusses how a lot of what we see in Washington now started with Watergate 50 years ago. *Audrey Wennink of the Metropolitan Planning Council takes a look at what it would take to cap the Eisenhower. *Plus, Doug Bandow of the Cato Institute says that Americans, not Ukraine should decide US policy.

Abby Crisostomo is the Project Director for Thames Estuary 2100, the 100-year Plan setting out how the Environment Agency and its partners can work together to manage tidal flood risk in the Thames Estuary, adapt to a changing climate and plan for the future of our riverside. Prior to this, she led on climate adaptation, green infrastructure, water, flood risk and heat risk planning and policy for the Greater London Authority; led on sustainable design and construction for London Olympic Park transformation projects and other developments at KLH Sustainability; worked on water, community development and governance policy and planning in the Chicago region for the Metropolitan Planning Council; and worked on water policy and advocacy for the Alliance for the Great Lakes. Abby also chairs CIWEM's SuDS and Water Reuse Policy Leadership Group. She is the former Vice-Chair of the International Water Association's Public and Customer Communications Specialist Group and was a member of the first round of Chicago Next Generation Environmental Leaders.Natalie Mcildowie has enjoyed a diverse, agile career with Jacobs in the UK. She currently serves as the client account manager for the Environment Agency, one of Jacobs' biggest clients and longest-running relationships. Natalie has led the delivery of many different environmental projects ranging from land remediation to flood protection. Her leadership style reflects her interest in people, client relationships and making good things happen for the environment. She is particularly enthusiastic about improving inclusion and diversity in the workplace, serving as an ambassador to employee networks, a sponsor to quiet people with potential for big impact and a mentor to women who are thriving in their careers alongside raising a family. Natalie makes the most of being an American expatriate living in England for 18 years, enjoying British campsites and seeing many music legends live in concert - and she's reminded almost daily that she hasn't lost her accent.

Illinois is the state with the most lead service lines for drinking water in the country, estimated to be between 700,000 and 1.4 million, with a large number of those found in Chicago. But in 2021, the efforts of a diverse coalition of stakeholders led to passage of landmark legislation that made Illinois one of only two states to require replacement of all lead service lines. An inside look at the Illinois legislation is provided in this Pass The Mic episode, which is guest hosted by Jeremy Orr, an environmental attorney specializing in Safe Drinking Water Act enforcement who previously worked at the Natural Resources Defense Council and now is at Earthjustice. Jeremy talks with Justin Williams of the Metropolitan Planning Council in Chicago about the problem of lead service lines, the disproportionate impact on communities of color, the extensive work it took to pass legislation, and expected benefits for people and the economy.waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet, made possible in part by a grant from Spring Point Partners. waterloop is sponsored by Hydraloop, the innovative water recycling system for homes and businesses. Use water twice with Hydraloop. Learn more at https://www.hydraloop.com Listeners can support waterloop and get exclusive opportunities through Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/thewaterloop

In this episode, local audio producer Joey Lieberman visits the Washington Heights and Logan Square neighborhoods with two community leaders who work on equitable transit oriented development. We learn how Elevated Chicago and their partners are working together to create walkable and equitable communities in the face of displacement from gentrification. In the second segment, Kendra Freeman, a vice-president with the Metropolitan Planning Council, hosts Juan Sebastián Arias, Deputy Director of Policy Mayor's Office, and Ghian Foreman, president and CEO of the Emerald South Economic Development Collaborative. They discuss a new model of transit-oriented development that keeps communities intact and helps them thrive. This episode is hosted by Justice Gatson, a Kansas City based organizer, who organizes intersectional movements that uplift the voices of the most marginalized groups.This podcast acts as a final grant report for Convergence Partnership's 2020 COVID response grants. The Convergence Partnership is a collaborative of local statewide and national funders to advance racial justice and health equity. The Convergence Partnership podcast series introduces you to people and organizations who are building social, political, and economic power.

Ellen's mother died at 101. Like her mother, Ellen's current life path is filled with enthusiasm and enrichment. She is fueled by the strong community that is the Docent Volunteers of the Chicago Architecture Center. Even before becoming a docent (certified in 25 different tours), Ellen pursued one path after another that led to her interests in historic preservation and the rich heritage that is Chicagoland architecture. For many years she worked for the Metropolitan Planning Council, wrote 4 books and volunteered for the Glencoe Historical Society, thrilled to be part of the group that saved a Frank Lloyd Wright home that is now turning into a museum in Glencoe.-“As my mother said, You are not even old until you are at least 85.” - Ellen ShubartConnect with Ellen:Email: eshubart@aol.comBooks: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=ellen+shubart&i=stripbooks&crid=2DQB30RJ7GBC1&sprefix=Ellen+Shubar%2Caps%2C174&ref=nb_sb_ss_c_2_12_ts-doa-pGlencoe Illinois: Images of AmericaTaylor Street: Chicago's Little Italy What's With Chicago?: The Quirks, Personality and Charm of the Windy CityChicago: An Illustrated Timeline

Mary is Heitman's Senior Managing Director, Head of Global Research and an equity owner of the firm. She is a member of the firm's Board of Managers, Global Management Committee, North American Private Equity Valuation Committee, and Private Equity and Debt Investment Committees. She is the author of numerous articles and research studies relating to real estate markets, portfolio management and strategy. Prior to joining Heitman, she was an urban planner for the City of Chicago and she worked in retail site location. Mary received an AB from Vassar College and an MA and PhD from Northwestern University. She is a Governing Trustee of the Urban Land Institute and sits on its Global Board of Directors. Mary also chairs ULI's Chicago District Council. Among other professional affiliations, she served two terms on the board of the Pension Real Estate Association and was its president. Mary is also a former president of the National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries. She was named a fellow of the Homer Hoyt Institute in 2000, is a docent for the Chicago Architecture Foundation and is a member of the board of the Metropolitan Planning Council of Chicago.

The New York Times recently reminded us — or told us for the first time — that Chicago is not immune from the climate crisis. The article “A Battle Between a Great City and a Great Lake” explains how Lake Michigan, that expansive, beautiful source of freshwater, has been fluctuating between not enough water and too much. When levels are too high, it wreaks havoc along the lakeshore, including on houses, offices, and residential buildings. It can also force nasty, untreated water from the Chicago River into the Lake. Host Jacoby Cochran talks to Justin Keller from the Metropolitan Planning Council about what this all means. Guest: Justin Keller-Manager, Metropolitan Planning Council Follow us on Twitter: @CityCastChicago Sign up for our newsletter: chicago.citycast.fm City Cast is growing! We'll be in 8 new cities! Check out where, and how you can join us. Read more about it here.

House Warming Podcast, Episode 009: Lead Pipes Belong Only in History Books with Justin Keller from the Metropolitan Planning Council and Jeremy Orr with the Natural Resources Defense Council    In this episode, Sarah talks with Justin Keller and Jeremy Orr about lead service lines and state legislation that could put an end to this public health threat.Justin Keller, AICP,  joined the Metropolitan Planning Council as a member of the Water Resources program in 2018. He manages various aspects of MPC's water supply and stormwater work, including the Drinking Water 1-2-3 Academy, municipal Technical Assistance program, and the Calumet Stormwater Collaborative. He is an urban planner with a degree from the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago and is Treasurer of the American Planning Association's Chicago Metro Section.Jeremy Orr is a Senior Attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council where he focuses on drinking water and source water protection issues, working to ensure that everyone has access to safe, sufficient, and affordable drinking water. With a background in grassroots community organizing and public interest law, Orr most recently served as the national state program director for the Peoples Climate Movement and as an environmental justice coordinator for the Transnational Environmental Law Clinic.Read MPC's summary of the Illinois Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification bill here:  https://www.metroplanning.org/uploads/cms/documents/illinois_lead_service_line_replacement_and_notification_act.pdfSubscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to podcasts.  Support the show (http://patreon.com/housewarmingpod)

Metropolitan Planning Council President MarySue Barrett joins John Williams to explain why she thinks public transit in Chicago should offer free or reduced fares.

Metropolitan Planning Council President MarySue Barrett joins John Williams to explain why she thinks public transit in Chicago should offer free or reduced fares.

Sun-Times City Hall reporter Fran Spielman is joined by MarySue Barrett, retiring president of the Metropolitan Planning Council. Barrett said something dramatic needs to be done to rebuild rider confidence after a year-long, work-at-home stretch that left all three mass transit agencies reeling.

Mary Ludgin is one of the best big-picture, strategic minds in the commercial real estate investment business. She is the Head of Global Research at Heitman, a global real estate investment management firm with $45.5 billion in assets under management. The initial interview focused mostly on the effects of COVID on the built environment, with a fascinating discussion on ripples of the COVID crisis post-vaccine, both from a national and global perspective. Recorded a week prior to the George Floyd killing and the resulting national outcry, Matt had a follow-up conversation with Mary on June 3rd to discuss issues relating to social and racial equity in our country, the current unrest, and opportunities for the real estate industry to do better.Mary is Heitman's Senior Managing Director, Head of Global Research and an equity owner of the firm. She is a member of the firm's Board of Managers, Global Management Committee, North American Private Equity Valuation Committee, and Private Equity and Debt Investment Committees. She is the author of numerous articles and research studies relating to real estate markets, portfolio management and strategy. Prior to joining Heitman, she was an urban planner for the City of Chicago and she worked in retail site location.Mary received an AB from Vassar College and an MA and PhD from Northwestern University. She is a Governing Trustee of the Urban Land Institute and sits on its Global Board of Directors. Mary also chairs ULI's Chicago District Council. Among other professional affiliations, she served two terms on the board of the Pension Real Estate Association and was its president. Mary is also a former president of the National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries. She was named a fellow of the Homer Hoyt Institute in 2000, is a docent for the Chicago Architecture Foundation and is a member of the board of the Metropolitan Planning Council of Chicago.Leading Voices in Real Estate has tried to present conversations with leaders in the real estate world from a diverse set of backgrounds, with different perspectives, and from all sectors of the industry. We will be working to bring more leaders of color into the conversation and will be thinking, with all of our guests, how our industry can better address inequities internally within our companies and in the work that we do.

Chicago's Million Dollar Blocks is an amazing website that details over a five year period how much money the State of Illinois spends on incarcerating people per block in Chicago. In this episode we feature an interview with researcher and author Dr. Dan Cooper from the Metropolitan Planning Council, who together with his colleague Dr. Ryan Lugalia-Hollon and the technologists at Datamade, created a fascinating website that details the horrific amount of money we spend on our failing justice system. The public is largely ignorant of the vast amounts of money spent every year on our criminal justice system. The scariest aspect of this site the hundreds of millions of dollar spent each year only account for costs associated with incarceration through the Illinois Department of Corrections. It does not account for costs related to operating any of the other levels of the justice system. Adding in these costs would surely turn the hundreds of millions of dollars in to billions of dollars a year. Please remember just how little in return we are getting for this enormous investment each year. Here is a quick summary of the other steps: Office of Emergency Management & Communications Chicago Police Department Cook County State's Attorney's Office (Cook County JailCook County Public Defender's OfficeCook County Criminal CourtCook County Circuit Court Clerk There is no real reliable data that would allow us to track costs reliably across the justice system for a single case to be responded to, investigated, prosecuted, defender, possibly incarcerate pre-conviction in Cook County Jail, and then deliver to Cook County Jail upon conviction. We do have one terrifying statistic from the Chicago Council of Lawyers. They reported that they were told by the Circuit Clerk's Office that it costs the office $2,600 just to open a court file in every single criminal case that appears in Cook County's criminal courts. Multiple that by the hundreds of thousands of cases that go through courts each year and you can see just including a single additional level of the justice system and the costs spiral to astronomical levels.

Mike Stephen discusses the racial disparity of COVID-19 with Duaa Eldeib of ProPublica Illinois, learns about the impact of the pandemic on the state’s environmental policy with Jen Walling of the Illinois Environmental Council, and chats about the pandemic’s effects on small business and self-employed workers with Dan Cooper of the Metropolitan Planning Council. And in the OTL Wrap Party segment, Producer Collin gives us his review of Alinea's take out experience. The local quarantine music this week comes from Sugar Still.

Bill Cameron welcomes in MarySue Barrett, President of the Metropolitan Planning Council. Barrett and Cameron discuss how the city of Chicago will emerge out of the Covid-19 crisis. Welcome into the Round table discussion Ray Long of the Chicago Tribune, Greg Hinz of Crains, Heather Cherone of the Daily Line, and Fran Spielman of the Chicago Sun-Times. The Covid-19 crisis has everyone, except Bill and Greg sheltered in place reporting at home. How are the residents of Chicago behaving with the closing of the lakefront and the 606? Will the seriousness of Covid-19 be taken more seriously? How does Governor Pritzker compare to Governor Rauner? This week’s Community Spotlight is with Lauren Cohn. She speaks with Michael LaVitola, CEO of Foxtrot Ventures. Foxtrot offers contact-less delivery of Household goods, and groceries in the loop during the Covid-19 crisis. For more information visit foxtrotco.com

A new report finds the region’s public transit lacking in several respects. GUEST: Audrey Wennink, transportation director at the Metropolitan Planning Council

Yollocalli popped up and broadcasted live at the Chicago Humanities Festival- Creative Chicago Revisit. In this show, the youth interviewed Tiff Beatty, CHF Director of Programming, Kenyatta Forbes, the creator of the card games Trading Races and Trading Rappers, and Tonika Johnson + Paola Aguirre about The Folded Map Project. *Creative Chicago, at the Chicago Humanities Festival is presented with the generous support of the Terra Foundation for American Art, and in partnership with the Joyce Foundation, and the Metropolitan Planning Council.

In this special episode of Buildings on Air we turn to the Chicago River, asking our guests about the past, present, and future of our cities waterways. This episode was recorded from the Michigan Avenue Bridgehouse in the heart of downtown, and produced in collaboration with the Tender House Project. It originally aired on WLPN-LP Lumpen Radio on October 5th, 2019.Guests on today's program include Patrick McBriarty of Chicago Maritime Arts, Ward Miller of Preservation Chicago, Mejay Gula of Tender House Project, Joanne So Young Dill and John Quail of Friends of the Chicago River, and Chloe Gurin-Sands of Metropolitan Planning Council.

MarySue Barrett, President of Metropolitan Planning Council (www.metroplanning.org). Excessive state taxes, spending by schools in Illinois and finding ways to make them balance buy creating better budget & spending plans while improving the services offered. Cook County has a new Assessor who is working towards improvements in the office while maintaining the operation of the office and its responsibility to accurately and fairly asses property values and their associated tax responsibility. With a Chicago budget deficit hole projected to be over $838 million, Mayor Lori Lightfoot might be forced to increase taxes to help close the gap. This Week the ‘Most Experienced Round Table in Chicago Media’ gathers to discuss news of the week. The budget hole leads the discussion as the media team offers a historic review of the situation and the possible solutions that might upset residents as services are reduced while taxes are increased. Public school teachers in Chicago have authorized a strike and while we’ve seen it before; Mayor Lightfoot needs to find a solution before the picket lines are setup at CPS locations. Nationally, the move to impeach President Trump seems to be licking up speed and Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi feels that the whole thing can be wrapped up by Thanksgiving. John Dempsey checks out Chicago Mayor Lightfoot’s announcement of elimination of late fines and clearing debts of patrons for previous occurrences. With the announcement, Chicago becomes the largest city, and largest public library system in the U.S., to join the growing movement of eliminating overdue fines. Such fines have increasingly been found to be an ineffective tool in encouraging the return of library materials. Library patrons will still be responsible for returning books, and those who that do not return their books will still need to either replace, or pay for the value of, any materials not returned.

Craig Dellimore talks with MarySue Barrett of the Metropolitan Planning Council, Gloria Castillo of Chicago United, and Ghian Foreman of the Greater Southwest Development Corporation about the many challenges facing whoever takes over as the next Chicago Mayor. They also talk about how voters should judge the wide field of candidates.

Mary Sue Barrett of the Metropolitan Planning Council joins Craig Dellimore for a frank discussion about how many people…and especially a lot of people of Color…are falling short of making a LIVING wage…and being left out of all of the job growth in the region.

Where do we stand on the now-familiar and paradoxical narrative surrounding gentrification? While high end development booms have pushed out locals and increased prices in neighborhoods like Pilsen, Brooklyn, and London's Elephant and Castle, gentrification also provides new economic opportunities. And despite many pointing the finger at young creatives and professionals as drivers of gentrification—introducing a tsunami of overpriced coffee shops, condos, and corporate chains—new trends indicate that they are also being priced out. What are the long-term effects of gentrification on communities, and is urban revitalization possible without it? Are young people causing gentrification, or have they also been disproportionately affected by an unaffordable housing market, growing rent rates, and overpriced grocery stores? SPEAKERS: Ghian Foreman, Executive Director, Greater Southwest Development Corporation; Karl Friedhoff, Fellow, Public Opinion and Asia Policy; Marisa Novara, Vice President, Metropolitan Planning Council; Tim Swanson, Chief Design Officer, Skender. Moderated by Taylor Marr.  

How should the next generation of leaders approach the interconnected challenges of the 21st century? Debates over global challenges—from dousing the fires of populism and securing US elections, to tackling water scarcity and assisting in conflict zones—are dominating news cycles and impacting our lives. In a unique programming offering, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs' Emerging Leaders class of 2018 will draw from professional and personal experiences and share a series of short, dynamic presentations on an array of today's critical issues and trends.  Each year, the Council selects a highly competitive cohort of Chicago's up-and-coming professionals to participate in its Emerging Leaders Program. Emerging Leaders become part of a network of globally fluent individuals who will continue to raise the bar for Chicago as an influential international city. Hear several members of class 2018 present their policy prescriptions on: Cultural Competency Training for Law Enforcement Securing US Elections Leveraging US Funds in Conflict Zones Managing Water Conflict Compulsory Voting in the US Immigration Restrictions Hurt Healthcare in the US Bridging Divisions in the US through Mandatory Service Increasing Exports from Chicago to the World SPEAKERS: Amrith Kaur Aakre, Legal Director, Sikh Coalition; Lauren Bean Buitta, Principal, Stele Consulting, LLC; Joel Braunold, Executive Director, Alliance for Middle East Peace; Josh Ellis, Vice President, Metropolitan Planning Council; Adrienne Irmer, Former Legislative Coordinator, Cook County Government; And other participants

Ken Davis is joined by the Metropolitan Planning Council’s Alden Loury and Sun-Times reporter Mick Dumke. They discuss a recent Dumke story about the spike in Chicago Police arrests of parolees for “unlawful contact” with people the police identify as gang members. They also discuss an MPC report that quantifies the cost of segregation in Chicago, expressed in lost wages, missed education opportunities and disparate law enforcement procedures. In addition, they analyze MPC data pointing to severe job losses that occur a few years after significant white population loss in individual suburbs, and consider a suggestion that some tax-strangled south suburbs might want to consider allowing the City of Chicago to annex them. This program was produced by Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV).

This week we’re back at the Shared Use Mobility Summit in Chicago this last October.  In what feels like a bit of a time warp, Laura Washington of the Chicago Sun Times hosts a panel featuring The Metropolitan Planning Council’s MarySue Barrett, the Shared Use Mobility Center’s Sharon Feigon, and Transportation for America’s James Corless. The panel discusses what they think federal policy will be like with a new administration and what to expect from a Republican Congress.  There’s a lot of valuable information for thinking about our current infrastructure spending discussion including partnerships and programs even though there was no knowledge of the eventual November winner. 

November 19, 2013 A growing number of cities across the country have begun to acknowledge their waterfronts as valuable community assets through plans, capital investments, and development regulations. The Cal-Sag Channel and Little Calumet River wind through the ecologically rich, but economically challenged Calumet region in Chicago's south suburbs. The region has received attention lately through the state's Millennium Reserve initiative, a new land bank and transit-oriented development fund, and possible national park designation for the Pullman neighborhood, and it's poised to take advantage of its rich water assets. At the center of much of this activity is the City of Blue Island, Illinois, an inner-ring suburb straddling both banks of the Cal-Sag Channel. Jason Berry, from the City of Blue Island, and Abby Crisostomo, from the Metropolitan Planning Council, discussed a number of water-oriented planning activities happening in Blue Island — from neighborhood-based approaches to green infrastructure and stormwater management, to community engagement in the creation of a waterfront plan, to regional-scale planning for an intercollegiate rowing center and more. They highlighted the lessons learned for integrating the recognition of water as an asset into community planning.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013 While the greater Chicago region has historically had access to ample fresh water, it can no longer assume that water supplies are infinite. Without coordinated planning and policy, the Chicago region may be in jeopardy of forfeiting future growth and prosperity. Fortunately, a lot has happened since the 2010 release of Water 2050: Northeastern Illinois Water Supply/Demand Plan that bodes well for water supply planning and management in northeastern Illinois, including the creation of the Northwest Water Planning Alliance, momentum toward a modernized state plumbing code, and the creation of the Clean Water Initiative. At the same time, there remains a lot of work to, including developing a sustainable revenue stream to support ongoing regional water supply planning. Josh Ellis, from the Metropolitan Planning Council, will summarize the current state of water supply planning in the Chicago region, and highlight opportunities for moving Northeastern Illinois toward a more sustainable water supply paradigm.

Guest Josh Ellis of the Metropolitan Planning Council discusses water use in our region

Guest Josh Ellis of the Metropolitan Planning Council discusses water use in our region

Guest Josh Ellis of the Metropolitan Planning Council discusses water use in our region

Guest Josh Ellis of the Metropolitan Planning Council discusses water use in our region

Gary and Region Investment Project March 15, 2011 Gary and other urban areas in Northwest Indiana have weathered decades of disinvestment. Yet they possess significant — if underused — assets, including national parks, miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, transit hubs, historic landmarks, and a strong workforce. While it would make a natural poster child for what is often called "right-sizing," this region is often overshadowed by cities like Detroit, Flint, and Youngstown in this emerging national dialogue. Nevertheless, the Gary and Region Investment Project (GRIP) is an important sign of how Northwest Indiana is crafting a regional approach to forward key transformative projects with the aim of stabilizing and reinvesting in the urban core. Joanna Trotter from the Metropolitan Planning Council and Hubert Morgan from the Northwest Indiana Regional Planning commission gave an overview of GRIP and provided an update on progress to date.