Center for Neighborhood Technology

From the grand opening of a grocery cooperative in Rogers Park this July to a trade school and art hub project in Lawndale still on the drawing board, equitable transit-oriented development (ETOD) is inspiring some $350 million in new development projects across Chicago. Community-based organizations have the vision and local knowledge of what their neighborhoods need. Policy and planning organizations bring expert assistance to help make those visions reality. A new story on our website shows how public support for both through the city of Chicago’s Equitable Transit-Oriented Development Policy Plan is starting to show results, with local and emerging developers making their mark in historically under-invested neighborhoods in the far south, southeast, west, north, and northwest sides of Chicago. Read the story here https://lnkd.in/g2SZQkXB

Last week we hosted our second Visionary Voices event moderated by Nina Idemudia, AICP, exploring the dynamic role of a "think AND do tank" in driving innovation and actionable change. This engaging panel featured several professionals who are at the forefront of integrating research with practical implementation. Panelists Chandra Christmas-Rouse, Katanya E. R., and Robyn Wheeler Grange shared their experiences and insights on how this unique model accelerates progress within our public institutions and fosters tangible improvements in our communities. Discussion covered strategies, challenges, and successes of these experts in creating sustainable, equitable solutions for the future. Thank you to everyone who attended last week's #VisionaryVoices event, we hope to see you at our final Visionary Voices event for 2024, more details soon!

If you’re a Black resident or someone who takes public transit in and around North Lawndale -- please fill out our brief feedback form (and please help us spread the word as appropriate)! You can share comments and pictures on the form highlighting both the best AND worst of public transportation in the area and tell us what change you most want to see for riding the bus or train. Illinois Department of Transportation is funding a study to learn the perspective of Black North Lawndale residents and Black people who often travel in or through North Lawndale and Center for Neighborhood Technology is assisting University of Illinois Chicago, the University of Notre Dame, Equiticity and the NORTH LAWNDALE COMMUNITY COORDINATING COUNCIL on the project. Link to the 4 question form: https://lnkd.in/gsuJjHjF You can also text comments and pictures to 773-245-3603 (phone # is not staffed) or [email protected]

CNT is honored to receive the Best Practice Award from the American Planning Association - Illinois Chapter 2024 project awards for our Civic Innovation Hub (CIH). The CIH organizes residents and local governments of the Calumet Region to achieve community-led results on critical social, economic, and environmental infrastructure. Our 8 sessions with resident-led cohorts focused on resilient stormwater management, with a final product of a completed capstone project centered on the Calumet Region community. We are in the process of implementing these community capstone projects through our RainReady project, securing funding through our partners, and more. Read more about the Civic Innovation Hub and our next steps at https://lnkd.in/g6exuMpt Thank you to Ramont Bell at Faith in Place, Maggie Catania from the Calumet Collaborative, and Rachel Scarlett, Ph.D. from the Field Museum’s Keller Science Action Center for their help and contribution throughout the project. Finally, a huge thanks to everyone at CNT who made this project possible!

Thank you to Argonne National Laboratory for inviting Nina Idemudia, AICP to co-present on the panel Urban Climate Science – Addressing Environmental Justice and Community Resilience today at the RECESS24 National Black and Brown Clean Energy Conference in Detroit.

More details on how states, local, Tribal, or territorial governments, metropolitan planning organizations, or nonprofits can request support from the Build America Bureau at the U.S. Department of Transportation Reconnecting Communities Institute project to help communities harmed, isolated, and cut off from opportunity by transportation infrastructure:

There are still some spots remaining, don't forget to sign up for our second open house event: Visionary Voices for Accelerating Innovation in Policy and Practice, 4 to 6 pm. Wednesday, September 11 at the Center for Neighborhood Technology office! This panel will explore the dynamic role of a "think AND do tank" in driving innovation and actionable change. Our second panel features Chandra Christmas-Rouse, Metropolitan Planning Council, Katanya E. R., Greening America’s Cities Fellow, Bezos Earth Fund, and Robyn Wheeler Grange, Argonne Labs, moderated by our very own Nina Idemudia, AICP, all at the forefront of integrating research with practical implementation. Sign up now and get ready for an afternoon of insightful and interactive discussion: https://lnkd.in/gRNG8Bid

We'e excited to be part of the Reconnecting Communities Institute, a new U.S. Department of Transportation center for learning to help resolve longstanding situations in which they were harmed, isolated, and cut off from opportunity by transportation infrastructure. With the project leaders The Cadmus Group and others, we will provide technical assistance to grantees and prospective grantees as part of this project. Learn more about RCI and how you can request support for your community here: https://rciconnect.org/

On Tuesday it was announced that $15,000,000 in federal funding is coming to Chicago through the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for Charge Up Chicago! Chicago Community Resources and Charging Infrastructure Implementation (CUC) project. The Charge Up Chicago project is led by a coalition of City of Chicago departments, the Center for Neighborhood Technology, OAI, Inc., and local CBOs and local partners. Here’s what our CEO, Nina Idemudia, AICP had to say: “Since our founding in 1978, CNT has aimed to foster more just, inclusive, and sustainable infrastructure development that serves all community members, with an emphasis on communities that have been historically divested from and underserved. We applaud this award as it ensures that CBOs, particularly those working in environmental justice communities, are key stakeholders who possess the knowledge and expertise to guide the City's EV charging investments in a way that equitably distributes the benefits of EV charging." You can read more about the funding and the Charge Up Chicago project here https://lnkd.in/gf3fyHEZ

Happy 1-year anniversary to Nina Idemudia, AICP as CNT's CEO! And head on over to her profile for her comments on our very full first year with her leadership! https://bit.ly/4dPzfIp