Archive for the 'General News' Category
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010
CNT lost a cherished colleague and co-conspirator for the Common Good, Jan Metzger, who died after a two year battle with cancer on February 22, 2010. Jan joined CNT in 1995, bringing to CNT her smarts, community activism, and ability to make change from the local to the national levels.
Jan was a committed, feisty, and strong woman who was a dedicated resident of Wicker Park – she was a long-time member of Association House board and recently retired as the President of Special Service Area #33. Under Jan’s leadership, the neighborhood developed a community plan that met the needs of new and old-time residents. Read more »
Posted in Featured, General News | No Comments »
Friday, February 5th, 2010
We are firing up the grills this afternoon to honor our dear friend and colleague, Shelby Johnson, who died last week after a short illness. Shelby was the heart and soul of CNT.
Working in a LEED Certified Platinum building, you have to maintain a “green’ and healthy environment. Shelby was the person who did that for CNT. Shelby worked for 13 years at CNT as our maintenance person. As we grew and renovated our old weaving factory building, he was the key person who kept it clean with the appropriate cleaning solutions. He was our chief recycler, painter, graffiti buster, indoor gardener, and all around go-to-guy. And most of all he was the person who loved to bring us all together over barbeques. He was always ready to get the grill going in our Rain Garden and he would cook up a storm of wings, turkeys, hamburgers, tofu burgers, and vegetables. Read more »
Posted in General News | No Comments »
Thursday, January 21st, 2010
Today, President Obama addressed a delegation from the U.S. Conference of Mayors on strengthening the economy and creating jobs in communities large and small.
It is clear from his remarks that the President is committed to investing in sustainable communities. He recognized the relationship between transportation, housing, and energy policy. President Obama is making strides to put forth federal policies and spending that put people to work and “help rebuild and revitalize our cities and metropolitan areas for the future.” Read more »
Posted in General News | No Comments »
Thursday, December 31st, 2009
2009 was a remarkable year for CNT! We’ve capitalized on the many unique opportunities to research, invent, and test strategies that use urban resources more efficiently and more equitably. We’ve lent our expertise to the federal administration on creating the cross-cutting interagency, “Partnership for Livable Communities”, and participated in groundbreaking federal initiatives like the announcement of a national high speed rail master plan. Our local policy efforts have ‘trickled up’ to the national level, with the “Green Infrastructure for Clean Water Act of 2009” following the passage of the Illinois counterpart. We’ve continued our work at the ‘ground level’, replacing about 2,300 square feet of pavement with native plants and permeable surfaces, and conducting energy audits for 8,250 units in 260 multifamily buildings.
In 2010 we hope to scale up our strategies at expanding transportation options, reducing stormwater runoff and creating higher performing, energy-efficient, buildings. We wish you the best as well and hope you will continue to support our work. Whether you read our blog, subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, peruse our photos or simply believe in our work – thank you. Your support fuels us! (photo by doug88888)
Have a fantastic New Year!
Posted in General News | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
Maurie was a truly unusual engineer. He was an innovator. When he woke up in the morning, the questions he asked himself were: How can we use less energy? How can we generate electricity more efficiently? How can we invent something new?
In 1981, Maurie joined the Chicago Energy Commission, a blue ribbon panel sponsored by the Center for Neighborhood Technology and Business and Professional People in the Public Interest. Maurie was that rare engineer that was interested in public policy. He helped frame an economic development agenda for Chicago around energy conservation. This is something that is only now, more than 25 years later, getting the attention it deserves.
During the same period, Maurie and Scott Bernstein, the founder of CNT, identified the Union Station Steam Plant, at Roosevelt Road and the Chicago River, as an opportunity for innovation. Why not turn this 1920s-era steam plant into a state-of-the-art cogeneration facility that generates steam, electricity, and chilled water – and become the comprehensive energy source for the building along the Amtrak right of way?
Read more »
Posted in General News | No Comments »
Friday, December 4th, 2009
Earlier this year, when CNT received a “MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions”, leaders called our work,…quality, provocative, and effective. Simply put,“CNT is the go to place for new ideas.”
For over 30 years, CNT has been blazing new paths and finding fresh solutions and innovations to urban sustainability.
Your support is important to us so that we can continue to carry out our unique vision of healthy cities that use resources efficiently and lead to national, regional and household prosperity.
Read about our 2009 key accomplishment and make an investment in sustainable communities today!
Posted in General News | No Comments »
Monday, November 23rd, 2009
JPMorgan Chase’s charitable arm has pledged to dole out $5-million to grass-roots charities chosen by Facebook users, USA Today reports.
Participants in the Chase Community Giving contest can vote through December 11 for an eligible nonprofit group and encourage other users of the social-media site to follow suit. The top vote-getter will be awarded $1-million, with five runners-up getting $100,000 each and 100 other finalists receiving $25,000 apiece.
Please consider supporting CNT through the Chase Community Giving contest! And as always, you can also support CNT with a secure online donation!
Posted in General News | 2 Comments »
Monday, November 16th, 2009
We at CNT are stunned and deeply saddened by the death of Michael Scott. He was a remarkable civic leader who cared greatly for the disadvantaged, especially children—whether residents of Lawndale or students at Fenger High School.
Michael’s early leadership helping to develop the Lawndale community led to his interest in, and the subsequent founding of, CNT. He served on our board for more than 10 years, holding the position of President twice.
He was a strong supporter of innovation who was never satisfied with the status quo and who will be dearly missed by CNT, as well as the broader Chicago community. Our thoughts and condolences are with Michael’s family and close friends.
Posted in General News | No Comments »
Monday, November 2nd, 2009
CNT applauds Governor Pat Quinn’s creation of Economic Recovery Commission, a panel charged with providing guidance for dealing with the current economic downturn while also preparing plans to ensure the long-term health and prosperity of Illinois’ economy.
“It is the best way to be ready and smart about upcoming economic opportunities to address the state’s unemployment rate and to accelerate the recovery and make it work for all communities and residents of Illinois,” stated CNT’s President Scott Bernstein who was appointed to the Commission. “We can take a leadership role in a 21st century approach that makes Illinois and its communities leaders in taking on tough economic and environmental issues simultaneously.” Read more »
Posted in General News, Scott Bernstein | No Comments »
Friday, October 2nd, 2009
The Chicago 2016 bid fueled a renaissance of ideas—inside and outside the official bid process—on how to transform our region for the better. Now, even though Chicago won’t be hosting the 2016 Olympics, these new ideas are giving the City the opportunity to build a world-class, environmentally sustainable city—one that can pay both economic and environmental dividends. Creating a cutting-edge, environmentally sustainable city isn’t just about creating something that “our grandkids will thank us for.” By investing in the infrastructure and innovation that would have demonstrated Chicago as a model of sustainability for the Olympics, we can also address long-standing, confounding problems that have kept many Chicago neighborhoods from offering a high quality of life, affordable for everyone.
Read more »
Posted in General News | 1 Comment »
