Our Impact
Strategic Intentions
2021 and beyond!
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Serve as a community voice on environmental issues
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Develop an annual advocacy agenda to advance and support key advocacy issues
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Participate in local, state and federal lobby days
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Connect community partners and public officials, with a priority in Edgewater, but also across the city and at the state and federal levels
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Reach out and engage with elected officials toward advocacy goals
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Participate in large-scale efforts to promote action on climate
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Educate the public and become a repository of green information resources
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Advance tangible solutions for environmental challenges in our community
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Together, model and implement initiatives in green building and infrastructure, waste reduction, sustainable transportation and renewable energy
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Enhance biodiversity and resiliency by cultivating and maintaining local natural ecosystems
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Become a model for other Chicago communities
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Explore pilot projects, including creating a verdant circular economy
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Create a data baseline and consolidate, update and maintain environmental measures
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Align program activities with available resources
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Consider formalizing a leadership structure to ensure continuity, management of workload and provide further opportunities for involvement
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Ensure equity, inclusion, environmental justice and anti-racism are at the forefront
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Develop an annual expense budget to reflect program priorities
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Identify an annual fundraising goal to match expense budget
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Seek opportunities to raise organizational profile, expand email list and increase social media engagement and web traffic
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Provide opportunities and resources for direct action by community members
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Continue the garden grants and tree-planting program
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Continue clean-and-green days and invite more participation
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Maintain stewardship of Osterman Beach dunes area and identify new opportunities to restore green space
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Welcome new opportunities for direct action
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Focus on intentional partnership development to advance the above green initiatives
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Scan Edgewater for potential partnerships with schools, block clubs, faith-based organizations, other nonprofits and businesses
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Share new strategy and brand with current partners via one-on-one stakeholder conversations
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Continue to be a resource to any organization and remain open to input from any individual or organization looking to bring environmental issues to EEC’s attention
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Accomplishments
10-year Anniversary Summary (2010-2020)

Community Voice
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Hosted 50+ public events bringing experts and the community together on climate, composting, energy, and water
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Forged partnerships with 40th, 48th, and 50th Ward city council offices, as well as state and federal elected officials
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Participated in annual lobby days in Springfield with Illinois Environmental Council
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Organized annual bike and walking tours highlighting sustainability, preservation, and energy use
Stewardship
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Organized Clean and Green Earth Days, in collaboration with local elected officials, bringing volunteers together with one objective: cleaning local parks, school, and public spaces
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Spearheaded Green Schools initiative with 15 local schools, in collaboration with Ald. Osterman and IL State Senator Steans
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Planted 150+ trees and awarded 50+ corner garden grants to beautify our neighborhood, enhance the urban canopy, and create habitat for wildlife
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Restored native dune habitat at Osterman Beach, including the planting of more than 1,500 plants


Transportation
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Participated in Lake Shore Drive Visualization Task Force
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Collaborated on concept design for the extension of the lakefront bike/pedestrian path from Hollywood to Thorndale
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Supported efforts to make electric vehicle charging available to all communities in Chicago
Waste Reduction
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Hosted 25+ residential recycling presentations for small- and mid-sized buildings
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Established contact with 60 recycling block captains
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Ensured that a 2 x 2 block area in Edgewater North was 100% compliant with new Chicago recycling ordinance
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Supported and advocated for community composting programs


Energy
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Supported a rotating loan for nonprofits to install solar panels, including at the Edgewater Historical Society
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Conducted light efficiency survey of buildings, parks, and other publicly-lit areas in Edgewater
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Supported diesel fuel emission reduction as part of the city’s diesel contracting ordinance
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Participated in Citizens’ Climate Lobby group advocacy to place a fee on fossil fuel collection