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Steering Committee

An image of the steering committee meeting.

Letter from the Resilient Chicago Steering Committee

It has been an honor to witness the evolution and participate in the development of Resilient Chicago, and we are excited to play an active role in shaping how this strategy will come to life over the coming years. Together we represent thirty-seven different public, private, non-profit, and philanthropic organizations. We have provided input according to our expertise and passion, shared insight from our experiences, and offered guidance on the direction of the strategy to address the most pressing challenges facing Chicagoans today and into the future.

With Mayor Emanuel’s announcement that he will not seek another term, there will be new leadership at City Hall. As members of the Steering Committee, we feel it is important for the City to commit to continued implementation of the strategy through the leadership transition. From the earliest conversations with Chicagoans expressing their needs to the latter stages of identifying initiatives to meet these needs, we believe the final strategy presents an opportunity to strengthen Chicago on several critical fronts.

The various initiatives outlined in the strategy will continue to be advanced by City departments and agencies such as the Office of Emergency Management and Communication (OEMC), Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), and the Department of Water Management (DWM). In addition, our Committee members, including the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC), the Sierra Club, and Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) will carry on key collaborations with City departments to implement the strategy. In addition to the groups mentioned above, all entities involved in the Steering Committee are committed to ensuring the strategy’s successful implementation by sharing its vision with our platforms, continuing conversations amongst the Committee, and engaging other organizations and community members to support its implementation.

We are proud to be a part of the City’s effort to address Chicago’s challenges through strengthening existing initiatives and forming new connections. The strategy provides a framework for improving Chicago’s resilience for years to come, and we look forward to continuing the work together.

Sincerely,

The Resilient Chicago Steering Committee

Name Organization
Alicia Tate-Nadeau Office of Emergency Management & Communication
Andrea Zopp, Tiffany Hamel-Johnson World Business Chicago
Anne Pramaggiore, Fidel Marquez, Angel Perez ComEd
Brad McConnell Accion
Brenna Berman, Alex Frank, Jamie Ponce City Tech Collaborative
Bob Reiter Chicago Federation of Labor
Carlos Nelson Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation
Celena Roldán, Adam Runkle American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois
Charles Matthews, Eva-Dina Delgado Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas
Cristina Pacione-Zayas Erikson Institute
Danielle DuMerer Department of Innovation & Technology
David Reifman, Kathleen Dickhut, Michael Berkshire Department of Planning and Development
Dorri McWhorter YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago
Dorval Carter Chicago Transit Authority
Dr. Helene Gayle, Michael Davidson Chicago Community Trust
Ellen Alberding, Elizabeth Cisar Joyce Foundation
Evelyn Diaz Heartland Alliance
Ghian Foreman Greater Southwest Development Corporation
Jack Darin Illinois Sierra Club
Jack Lavin, Danielle Stanley Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
Jeff Bartow Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP)
Joseph Szabo, Kristin Ihnchak, Nora Beck Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
Julia Stasch, Mijo Vodopic MacArthur Foundation
Julie Morita, Megan Cunningham Department of Public Health
Karen Tamley, Laurie Dittman Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities
Lisa Morrison Butler Department of Family & Support Services
Luis Gutierrez Latinos Progresando
Mark Kelly, Lisa Laws Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
Marisa Novara, Josh Ellis Metropolitan Planning Council
Pastor Vic Rodriguez Villita Community Church
Ralph Affrunti Chicago Building Trades
Randy Conner Department of Water Management
Rebekah Scheinfeld, Kevin O’Malley Department of Transportation
Robert Rivkin Mayor’s Office
Shaina Doar Sidewalk Labs
Steve Caluris, Patrick Quinn Chicago Police Crime Prevention and Information Center
Theaster Gates University of Chicago