If you are interested in serving on this committee, please download the application from the link below and submit the completed form by July 1, 2012.  Applications can be emailed to stephanie@evanston150.org or delivered to: Evanston150 c/o Evanston Community Foundation 1007 Church Street, Suite 108, Evanston, Illinois 60201

working group application

Evanston150 Steering Committee and Jury photo by Karen Kring

We’ll also present ways in which organizations and community members can become involved in celebrating and planning the 150th anniversary of Evanston in 2013. A team of 15 – 20 volunteers is sought to help with event planning and branding of events already on the calendars of Evanston organizations in 2013.

If you are interested in serving on this commitee, please download the application from the link below and submit the completed form by July 1, 2012.

working group application

Applications can be emailed to stephanie@evanston150.org or delivered to:

Evanston150 c/o Evanston Community Foundation 1007 Church Street, Suite 108, Evanston, Illinois 60201

Meeting Details:

What: Celebrate! 2013 Partners Meeting

Date: June 7th

Time: 7 – 9 p.m.

Location: Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave., 4th Floor, Room #4900 (Parasol Room)

Hope to see you June 7th at 7pm!

Northwestern University's Paul Arntson Helps Teams Get to Work. Photo by Jennifer Sultz.

120 community members packed the Evanston Public Library on January 7th for Evanston150′s Get to Work Workshops.  Leadership expert Paul Arntson of Northwestern University and Community organizing trainer Judy Hertz of the Midwest Academy walked participants through the steps of building a team and an action plan aimed at bringing the community’s 10 visionary ideas to reality.

Handouts from the workshop are available to individuals interested in joining an Evanston150 project team courtesy of Paul Arntson and Midwest Academy.

Paul Arntson_Evanston 150 Leadership Presentation

Judy Hertz_Evanston 150 Action Plan Handout

Monday, Jan. 23 at 6:00 pm Edible Evanston at the Ecology Center at 2024 McCormick Blvd.

Wednesday, Feb. 1st at 5:30 pm Water, Water Everywhere meets at the McGaw YMCA at 1000 Grove St. in the Skydeck room.

To share info on an upcoming idea meeting, please send date, time, location and name of group to stephanie@evanston150.org.

Communications Contacts for the Ten Idea Projects are:

A Market for All Seasons – year-round farmer’s market)
Contact: Dennis Clarkson  (dclarkson2534@aol.com)

Learn to Work  – vocational co-op technical school
Contact: Mindy Wallis  (mindywallis@gmail.com)

The More You Know -  neighborhood literacy centers with free WiFi
Contact: Lesley Williams (lawilliams@cityofevanston.org )

Here’s to Health   -  community health center
Contact: Kate Mahoney (kmahoney@peerservices.org)

Little and Learning -  universal preschool
Contact: Connie  Porteous  (cporteous@comcast.net)

Walk N Roll  -  improved safety and enjoyment for pedestrians and bicyclists
Contact: Susan Munro (sbmunro47@gmail.com)

Water Water Everywhere – enhanced water recreation, and all children will learn to swim
Contact: Pam  James  (pmsj84@hotmail.com)

Green and Clean – make Evanston one of the greenest cities in the U.S.
Contact: Bill McDowell (wmcdowell@concepta.us)

Edible Evanston – sustainable local food sources
Contact: Cynthia  Kasper (cynthia@cynthiakasper.com)

Teen Town  – a world-class youth development center
Contact: Brian Scott Williams (BrianScottWilliamsis@gmail.com)

Wall of Ideas photo by Burlingham.com

View the Final 10 Ideas and descriptions announced Nov. 10, 2011.

See the most Popular 30 Ideas from the Oct. 15 & 16 Public Voting events.

Evanston150′s Selection Jury chooses the Top 100 Ideas for our future.

Review the complete Book of 2,201 Ideas and the Table of Contents.

Photo by Joe Cyganowski~For Sun-Times Media

Read media coverage of Evanston150′s Black Tie & Blue Jean Party on November 10 at the Levy Center.

The Evanston Review / Chicago Sun-Times:

Evanston150 Makes No Small Plans

Citizens Get to Work on 10 Ambitious Ideas

TribLocal / Chicago Tribune:

Time for Work: Evanston150 Unveils 10 Big Ideas for the Future

Evanston Now:

Party Lets Big Idea Fans Get to Work

Evanston150 Unveils Top 10 Big Ideas

The Daily Northwestern:

Evanston150 Unveils Top 10 Ideas for the Future

Evanston150 Reveals Selection Jury Members

Paul Arntson

Get smarter, more organized and more productively involved in your community in 2012!  All interested Evanston residents, students and workforce (yes this includes Northwestern and ETHS students, retired and semi-retired professionals and everyone in between) are invited to attend the Get to Work Workshop, focused on making the 10 visionary ideas produced by the Evanston150 process a reality.  The workshop takes place on Saturday, January 7th from 9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the Evanston Public Library, at 1703 Orrington Avenue in Evanston. Join other workshop attendees for bagels, coffee and conversation from 9:00 – 9:30 a.m. The workshop will last from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  (Groups are welcome to stay longer to continue work at the Library if they choose.)

Judy Hertz

We are fortunate to have landed two brilliant and renowned community leadership and organizing experts to facilitate the workshop: Paul Arntson of Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy and Judy Hertz of the Midwest Academy.

You will learn invaluable techniques and tools for building a team, making decisions and creating an action plan, plus have group work time to spring ahead on idea implementation.The workshop is free and open to members of the 10 idea teams and community members interested in joining a team.  Reservations are not required. For more information visit www.evanston150.org or call 847-347-2013.

Teen Town project members begin brainstorming about next steps. Photo by Karen Kring.

300 community members, many dressed in formal wear with jeans, turned out for Evanston150′s Nov. 10 Black Tie and Blue Jean Party at the Levy Senior Center located at 300 Dodge Avenue, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.   The purpose of the event was to celebrate the 10 visionary ideas that were the result of the project, and to hand them off to the community for implementation.  Serving as master of ceremonies was acclaimed storyteller and Northwestern University Theater Professor Rives Collins.  The festivities kicked off with jazz music by the Stuart Rosenberg Band, and refreshments provided by local restaurants Andy’s Frozen Custard, Dave’s Italian Kitchen, Potbelly Sandwich Shop, Tiny Dog Cupcake and Whole Foods.  The Natural Trumpet Ensemble of the Music Institute of Chicago heralded the beginning of the presentation portion of the evening.

During the presentation emcee Rives Collins said, “As a storyteller, I am very pleased to be here tonight to help the Evanston community convey the story of who we are and what we aspire to accomplish for our future. The purpose of these big ideas is not only to punctuate an anniversary but to positively impact our community for many years to come. Starting right here and now, these 10 ideas will be transformed into 10 projects that will truly shape the stories Evanston will tell about itself for generations.”

Actors from Evanston’s Piccolo Theatre and the Music Institute of Chicago trumpeters accompanied the 10 presenter pairs, comprised of a Steering Committee member and a Funding Sponsor, who guided by the cheers and shouts of youngsters in the audience, selected one of the 10 colorfully packaged toolboxes from the stage to unwrap and present to the community.   The Piccolo Commedia Dell’ Arte actors carried the toolboxes with signage to one of the round idea tables at which community groups would be asked to gather and begin work later in the evening.

Download the List of Ten Ideas. The 10 Ideas, in no particular order, are as follows:

THE MORE YOU KNOW: CITY OF INFORMATION
Establish fully functional neighborhood literacy centers in geographically different areas of Evanston. In addition to providing conventional library services and events, these facilities will promote community learning with a focus on technology.  This project will also establish free wi-fi city-wide in order for residents to have access to information everywhere!

HERE’S TO OUR HEALTH
Establish a community health center to provide high quality and affordable medical, dental, and preventive care for all, regardless of ability to pay, for those who are uninsured and underinsured.  The center will provide laboratory and x-ray services, patient case management, pharmacy services, translation and transportation assistance.

EDIBLE EVANSTON
Develop sustainable local food sources by creating urban farms, community gardens, greenhouses, and composting sites.  Through these sites, provide educational opportunities for individuals to expand their knowledge of nutrition, growing food, and composting.  Incorporate a long-term commitment to development and preservation of open green spaces in the urban environment.

WALK ‘N ROLL EVANSTON
Commit to safety and enjoyment for pedestrians and bicyclists in Evanston. Create more bike lanes and walking paths, educate drivers and bikers about their use, add borrow-a-bike stations throughout the city. Provide more locations to lock and store bikes, add fountains to beautify existing paths, and designate certain streets or blocks as car-free.  Transform certain areas, including converting Mayfair Rail Spur, into a pedestrian and bikeway, extending the bike path connecting Rogers Park and Evanston, and connecting the lakefront path with the canal path.

GREEN AND CLEAN
Make Evanston one of the greenest cities in the United States. Become carbon neutral, conserve water, and create sustainable sources of energy.  Balance carbon released with an equivalent amount absorbed through planting trees and vegetation.  Promote responsible water use and conservation by installing rain gardens, green roofs, and permeable pavement.  Research and develop renewable energy sources while simultaneously increasing energy efficiency in existing buildings.

TEEN TOWN
Create a world-class youth development center focusing on appropriate opportunities for holistic growth. Provide a positive youth development space for activities such as career counseling, tutoring, job training, financial literacy, apprenticeship programs, technology, and exploration. Include volunteer and internship opportunities.  Encourage leadership development through physical, social, artistic, and cultural activities, such as the implementation of Il Sistema, a children’s music education program.  Provide community gathering and recreational spaces.

LEARN TO WORK AND WORK TO LEARN
Develop a vocational/co-op technical school serving a diverse population of students and residents. The school will integrate classroom study with practical work experience, providing training that connects to opportunities for employment in Evanston and the surrounding region.

A MARKET FOR ALL SEASONS AND REASONS
Establish a year-round indoor/outdoor community market as the centerpiece of a revitalized public space. This market will connect our community with local farmers and artisans, strengthening our local economy, and will serve as a vibrant community gathering place.  Its essence is two-fold: to energize our public spaces, and retain dollars within our community.

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE
Ensure that ALL Evanston residents have access to water recreation by providing free beach access, building a state-of-the-art green technology, outdoor water pool/water park.  Develop Evanston’s canal as a “second coast” space by cleaning and enhancing the waterway for more recreational activities.  Teach all children to swim.

LITTLE AND LEARNING
Provide the foundation for success in school through high-quality affordable, universal preschool experiences for 3 and 4-year olds so that all Evanston children are ready for kindergarten and prepared for success later in life.

Steering Committee member Sara Schastok thanked the sponsors whose funding support engaged Evanston in imagining its future. “And we know Evanston has responded,” said Schastok. “Over the past eight months, Evanston150 has had 6,400 unique website visitors, 2,200 e-mail list sign ups, and 2,060 attendees at events and brainstorming sessions. An additional 122 partner organizations and volunteers helped spread the word and staff events.”

Steering Committee member Jay Lytle concluded the presentation saying, “Okay! Now it’s blue jeans time. It’s time to get down to work. Pick the idea of your choice. The Steering Committee has two goals, to take on these ideas and see them done or underway by 2013, and in the process to see us all find new friends within our common causes. Find your table and let’s make this happen!”

Community members who were unable to attend the Nov. 10 event can still get involved.  Check back soon on the website for contact information for the 10 idea groups.

Evanston150 and the Evanston Community Foundation will present a Get to Work Workshop Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012 from 9:30 am – 12:30pm  at the Evanston Public Library focused on team building and getting to work on making the ideas a reality.  Northwestern professor and leadership expert Paul Arntson will kick off the morning.

photo by: Kaitlin Svabek/Daily senior staffer Daily Northwestern

Over 500 community members weighed in on the best 100 ideas for Evanston’s future in a weekend of voting sessions Oct. 15 & 16.  For more info on the public voting see the media articles below:

Evanston Review Voters Pick Top 30 ideas for 150th

TribLocal Community narrow 100 ideas to 30

Evanston Now Top 30 Ideas

Daily Northwestern Public Vote feature

ABC – 7

Electronic Vote Keypad photo by Karen Kring

Over 500 community members weighed in on the top 100 ideas to make Evanston a better place to live, work and play, during a series of seven public voting sessions held at the Century Cinema, Evanston Township High School and Saint Francis Hospital. The 100 ideas up for vote were selected by a 21-member volunteer selection jury from a pool of over 2,000 ideas submitted by the public between March and July of 2011.

Evanston150 Steering Committee Member Sara Schastok said, “It was gratifying to see the wide range of Evanstonians turn out to have a say in the future of their community. The volunteer selection jury did an outstanding job of identifying 100 bold ideas that represent the variety of viewpoints in our diverse community. The group nature of the voting sessions helped to further community dialogue about what’s next for Evanston, and the electronic format provided a solid system for rating and prioritizing ideas.”

Schastok added “The voting process could not have run as smoothly as it did without the tremendous volunteer efforts of so many community residents who staffed and facilitated the voting sessions, and of course without the support of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) who provided the polling software, electronic keypads and training to our Steering Committee.”

The top 30 ideas as determined by the popular vote are:

• Create year-round indoor/outdoor farmers market.
• Provide free wireless internet access throughout Evanston.
• Make Evanston a truly bike-oriented city.
• Create a pedestrian/bikeway on Old Mayfair rail spur.
• Make Evanston an award winning walkable city.
• Create urban farms in neglected space.
• Build vocational/technical school with regional employment opportunities.
• Become one of the greenest cities in the United States.
• Promote responsible water use and conservation.
• Offer free community gardens, greenhouses, and composting sites.
• Establish comprehensive low-income health and wellness clinic.
• Consolidate City and Township governments.
• Provide universal preschool for all.
• Consolidate school districts 65 and 202.
• Keep lakefront commercial free.
• Expand residential urban gardening and composting.
• Free beach access for Evanston residents.
• Make D65 & D202 top school districts in the United States.
• Plant 2,013 trees.
• Develop self-sufficient and sustainable energy resources.
• Become a carbon-neutral city.
• Extend bike/walking paths between Evanston and Chicago.
• Increase energy efficiency in buildings.
• Establish branch libraries throughout Evanston.
• Establish dental clinic for low-income families.
• Develop co-op technical school for under-served youth.
• Institute Evanston community day of service.
• Bury all overhead utility cables and wires.
• Install permeable pavement throughout Evanston.
• Create a youth career and leadership center.

The top 30 ideas are now under review by the Evanston150 Selection Jury. They will select the final 10 visionary ideas, with broad acceptance, the potential for long-term impact, and specific, actionable and measurable results. The final 10 ideas will be announced at the Black Tie & Blue Jeans themed celebration on Thursday, November 10 from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. at the Levy Center, located at 300 Dodge Avenue.