Friends Of The Chicago River

DESCRIPTION:THIS AGREEMENT PROVIDES FUNDING UNDER THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA) TO FRIENDS OF THE CHICAGO RIVER. SPECIFICALLY, THE PROJECT WILL ENSURE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ARE WORKING MORE DIRECTLY WITH GOVERNMENT STAKEHOLDERS TO ADVANCE A VISION FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MORE EQUITABLE CLIMATE, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND WATERWAYS RELATED TO CITY POLICY. THE PROPOSED WORK REPRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DEEPENING ESTABLISHED COMMUNITY, NONPROFIT, AND GOVERNMENT COLLABORATIONS TO ADVANCE INNOVATIVE POLICIES THAT CAN REPAIR PAST INJUSTICE AND CATALYZE THE NEXT PHASE OF COMMUNITY AND WATERWAYS HEALTH. ACTIVITIES:THE ACTIVITIES INCLUDE FULL RIVER TASK FORCE QUARTERLY WORKSHOPS, MONTHLY RIVER EDGE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW WORKING GROUP MEETINGS, RIVER ADVISORY WORKING GROUP MEETINGS, BI-WEEKLY DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION MEETINGS, QUARTERLY AGENCY STEERING COMMITTEE MEETINGS, HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES, SITE VISITS, WALKING TOURS AND VISIONING SESSIONS, TRAININGS, FOCUS GROUPS, ACTIVITIES FOR YOUTH, STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMS, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES TO BE DETERMINED BY LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS. SUBRECIPIENT:THE SUB-RECIPIENTS/SUBAWARDS WILL PROVIDE THE RIVER TASK FORCE WITH ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES SUCH AS, GATHERING UPDATES FROM GOVERNMENT AGENCY STAFF FOR SHARING WITH STAKEHOLDERS PRIOR TO FULL RIVER TASK FORCE MEETINGS AND OTHER ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES, COORDINATING AND FACILITATING CONSENSUS FOR RIVER STAKEHOLDER FEEDBACK BY COMPILING AND SUMMARIZING INPUT GATHERED FROM THE FIVE COMMUNITY PARTNERS INTO BRIEFING DOCUMENTS FOR GOVERNMENT PARTNERS, CONDUCTING GOVERNMENT AGENCY STAFF COORDINATION MEETINGS AND COMMUNICATIONS TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES REGARDING RIVER TASK FORCE MEETINGS AND TASKS, AND ENSURING THAT COLLECTED INPUT IS RECEIVED BY AGENCY STAFF, COMMISSIONS, AND ELECTED/APPOINTED OFFICIALS FOR INCORPORATION INTO PLANS, PROJECTS, AND POLICIES.OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE IMPLEMENTING NEW POLICIES, PROJECTS, AND/OR ORDINANCES THAT INCORPORATE RIVER TASK FORCE RECOMMENDATIONS, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF CONSTITUENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN A COMMUNITY-BASED PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH INITIATIVE THAT INFORMS A GOVERNMENT PROCESS AND/OR PRIORITY, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF RESEARCH AND DATA COLLECTION SUMMARIES PUBLISHED AND SHARED WITH GOVERNMENT PARTNERS WITH DATA REFLECTING COMMUNITY OPINIONS AND PREFERENCES, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF EDUCATIONAL FORUMS AND/OR MEETINGS HELD BETWEEN GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS AND 11 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND INCREASING THE NUMBER OF RIVER EDGE DEVELOPMENTS OR OTHER PROJECTS REVIEWED AND RECEIVED BY THE COLLECTIVE RIVER TASK FORCE. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE INCREASED NUMBERS OF RIVER TASK FORCE MEETING ATTENDEES AND PARTICIPATION OF INDIVIDUALS FROM DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, EXPANDED KNOWLEDGE OF CITY OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, FEDERAL, AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC PROCESSES AMONG DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, MEASURABLY STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS AND TRUST BETWEEN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES AND CITY OF CHICAGO DEPARTMENTS, TRANSPARENT PROCESSES FOR CITY DECISION-MAKING ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION POLICIES AND GREATER CITY FOCUS ON INCLUSIVITY, INCREASED ACCOUNTABILITY AND COMMUNITY INPUT INTO CITY DECISION-MAKING ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION POLICIES, ENHANCED CAPACITY IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES TO BE INVOLVED IN LOCAL, STATE, FEDERAL, AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL PUBLIC PROCESSES, AND NEW ENVIRONMENTAL AND/OR CLIMATE POLICIES DEVELOPED THAT ARE RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITY NEEDS. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES ARE DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.

GREAT LAKES RESTORATION INITIATIVE FOREST PRESERVE RESTORATION AT WAMPUM LAKE

DESCRIPTION:THE FRIENDS OF THE CHICAGO RIVER WILL DESIGN, DEMONSTRATE, AND DISSEMINATE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PRACTICES, METHODS, AND TECHNIQUES, THAT WILL SERVE TO INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND ENCOURAGE BEHAVIOR THAT WILL BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT IN THE CHICAGO-CALUMET RIVER WATERSHED. THE GRANTEE WILL BUILD UPON PREVIOUSLY-FUNDED WORK BY BOLSTERING PROGRAM OUTREACH IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, PARTNERING WITH SCHOOLS TO EXPAND THEIR CAPACITY TO ENGAGE WITH THE RIVER AS A SITE FOR STEM LEARNING, AND EMPOWERING DIVERSE COMMUNITIES TO ENGAGE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CONCEPTS.ACTIVITIES:ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED DURING THIS PROJECT PERIOD INCLUDE DEVELOPING PRESENTATIONS, SHARING CURRICULUM, HOSTING WORKSHOPS AND CONDUCTING FIELDTRIPS TO THE CHICAGO RIVER.SUBRECIPIENT:SUB AWARDS WILL SUPPORT TEACHER ENGAGEMENT IN THE NETWORK THROUGH STIPENDS TO SUPPORT TEACHER TRAINING, WORKSHOP ATTENDANCE, CURRICULUM MANAGEMENT, AND PURCHASING LEARNING MATERIALS THAT SUPPORT BOTH LABORATORY AND FIELD LEARNING..OUTCOMES:DELIVERABLES INCLUDE CONDUCTING OUTREACH AND PROGRAMMING WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS, HOSTING TEACHER WORKSHOPS AND STEWARDSHIP FIELD TRIPS. EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE A DEEPER APPRECIATION OF THE CHICAGO RIVER, INCREASED INTEREST IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, MATHEMATICS AND ENGINEERING FIELDS AND INTEREST IN BECOMING A STEWARD OF THE RIVER. OUTCOMES WILL BENEFIT STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE CHICAGO-CALUMET RIVER WATERSHED.

CHICAGO RIVER ECO-WARRIORS IS AN ENHANCEMENT AND EXPANSION OF A CONSTITUENCY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT WILL WORK TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY IN STEWARDSHIP

THE FRIENDS OF THE CHICAGO RIVER WILL TARGET TEACHERS AND STUDENTS THROUGH THIS PROJECT TO ULTIMATELY INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OF THE CHICAGO RIVER. THE GOAL FOR TEACHERS IS TO DEVELOP ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND TRAIN THEM TO COMMUNICATE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THE CHICAGO RIVER. THE GOAL FOR STUDENTS IS TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS THROUGH PLACE-BASED EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING.

CHICAGO RIVER SCHOOLS NETWORK

THE MCCORMICK BRIDGEHOUSE & CHICAGO RIVER MUSEUM WILL CREATE A MOBILE CART WITH HANDS-ON, IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS TO EXPAND PROGRAMMING TO THE OPEN-AIR PLAZA IN FRONT OF THE MUSEUM. TO EDUCATE VISITORS ABOUT THE CHICAGO RIVER ECOSYSTEM, THE MUSEUM WILL DEVELOP AND DELIVER THREE LIVE SCIENCE EXPERIENCES UTILIZING THE MOBILE OUTDOOR CART, WHICH WILL INCLUDE A 3-D MODEL OF A WATERSHED. ADDITIONALLY, THE MUSEUM WILL CONTRACT WITH PHOTOGRAPHERS AND A GRAPHIC DESIGNER TO GENERATE CONTENT FOR EDUCATIONAL DISPLAYS AND CURRICULUM. BY CREATING A MOBILE CART WITH HANDS-ON, IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES AND EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS, THE BRIDGEHOUSE MUSEUM WILL REACH MORE DIVERSE AUDIENCES ON THE PLAZA, WHICH EXTENDS ONTO THE CHICAGO RIVERWALK.