Our free online Cafes and webinars provide access to the latest thinking about the region's most pressing conservation issues. All are welcome to attend and Alliance partners are encouraged to submit Cafe ideas to share ideas and pose questions.  

Register for upcoming Cafes or propose a Cafe topic. Or view all of our recorded meetings, including recorded Green Vision Initiative Team and Executive Council meetings, as well as all webinars on our YouTube channel.

2025

• CWA Cafe: Sustainability Lessons from Indigenous practices (July 2025) Watch webinar; download pdf
  Presenter: Xu Zhang, Urban Designer, Landscape Architect, Smith Group. Soil Conservation from Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) Indigenous cultures have maintained a deep connection with the land, plants, animals, and community for thousands of years. Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) is the collection of knowledge and practices that indigenous and local people have developed over time through their interaction with the environment. However, modernization and industrialization have led to the decline of many traditional practices. TEK provides valuable insights into sustainable land management, particularly in soil conservation. Despite being essential to our daily life, soil health is often overlooked. With soil erosion occurring at an alarming rate, integrating traditional practices offers a promising path toward enriching soil and enhancing carbon sequestration.

• CWA Cafe: Regional Agriculture: Looking Ahead & Acting Today - Working With Ag. Committee Update (May 2025) 
  Watch Webinar; download pdf 
  This Cafe features two presentations from Ag Committee members. One looks at climate changes shaping agriculture in the Great Lakes over the long term. The other introduces a project, getting started in Will County, to enable robust Alliance partner participation in the building of a thriving regional farm economy for all of Chicagoland. Committee co-chair Tim Brennan will survey the landscape of climate forces that are making this perhaps the most important growing region in the U.S. HNA Networks Bob Heuer will talk about the Northeastern Illinois “Good Food for All” Research Triangle Project and the opportunity taking shape to turn State-owned Peotone airport “footprint” land into a “Regenerative Agriculture Research and Development Center.” The two talks are intended to advance the Alliance Working With Ag Committee’s 2025 agenda.
  Presenters:
  Tim Brennan, Farm Foundation, Bob Heuer, Director HNA Networks

2024

• VOTE YES! Advocating for Our Forest Preserve and Conservation Districts (October 2024)
  Watch Webinar; download pdf 
  In today’s digital age, providing natural areas where children can play and be physically active is more important than ever. Our Forest Preserves and Conservation District play a vital role in promoting our community's physical and mental health. With land prices rising and the amount of natural lands dwindling, we must act now to preserve our last remaining open spaces for our children and our grandchildren before they are lost to development.
  Residents in DuPage, Kane, Lake, and McHenry can vote “YES” on a proposition that will protect drinking water and the water quality of our rivers, lakes, and streams, restore wildlife habitat, and improve park access for all people this November 5th!
  Learn More about the Ballot Measures at:
  • VoteYesDuPageForest.org
  • VoteYesKaneForest.org
  • VoteYesLakeFP.com
  • VoteYesConserveMcHenry.org

• Going From Unfundable to Undeniable (September 2024)
  Watch Webinar; download pdf
  The case study highlights portable principles for the use of nature-based solutions to achieve timely implementation of ambitious flood reduction and water quality plans. The total investment in this community resiliency project is in excess of $105 million and it was the nature-based vision that lifted it from ‘unfundable to inevitable.’

• Funding for Habitat Creation (September 2024)
  Watch Webinar; download pdf
  Learn about small grants and award programs focused on environmental stewardship projects!This cafe will feature speakers from different rights-of-way organizations that offer small grants (under $10,000) for habitat creation projects, as well as a speaker from the Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group, which fosters cross-sector collaboration to promote creating habitat on energy and transportation lands. The speakers will speak about the grant programs, offer their advice about what they look for in a successful grant proposal, and discuss what sorts of habitat projects can be completed with a smaller budget.

• IDNR's New Climate Action Plan: Building Climate Resiliency Together (August 2024)
  Watch Webinar; download pdf
  
  
• ICJC Clean and Equitable Transportation (May 2024)
  Watch webinar; download pdf
  
  
• Advocating for Migratory Birds (April 2024)
  Watch Webinar; download pdf
  The Bird Friendly Chicago coalition (Chicago Bird Alliance, Chicago Bird Collision Monitors, Chicago Ornithological Society) began its work in 2016 to enlist the support of city officials to adopt bird-friendly building design regulations for the protection of the millions of migratory birds that travel through our area each year.  The group developed specific design guidelines for new and major building renovations they hoped would be advanced as a city ordinance but were directed to instead incorporate these measures into the Department of Planning and Development's newly revised Sustainable Development Policy.  After years of delays (during which more and more deadly buildings have been constructed) the new policy is slated to be released in 2024 but with the fear that the DPD's approval process will not make bird safety design guidelines mandatory but only an optional way to earn points which will fail to guarantee protections for birds.  
  Chicago has been ranked the most dangerous city in the United States for migratory birds and the Bird Friendly Chicago collaboration (now joined by the Feminist Birders Club) is mobilizing the citizens of Chicago to compel the city to take action to stop the preventable death and injury of tens of thousands of birds each year by implementing required bird-friendly building design measures.
  Presenters: Annette Prince, Director of Chicago Bird Collision Monitors and chair of Bird Friendly Chicago; Carl Giometti, Chicago Ornithological Society; architect and Bird Friendly Chicago team member
  

• A Critical Migratory Bird Corridor (April 2024)
  Watch Webinar; download pdf
  One-quarter of North America’s nocturnal migrating birds move north through the Chicago Wilderness Region in the spring; then they do it again, heading south in the fall in even larger numbers that include birds born that summer. This twice a year round-trip transect makes the Chicago Wilderness Region a critical corridor. And the numbers don’t lie: Most of these migrants are experiencing significant population declines! This Café from the Bird Conservation Network (BCN) explores the question: How should our current landscape, both managed natural lands and human spaces, be made safer and more ‘user-friendly’ for stopover migrants and breeding species alike? Lowering the human source mortality risks within the region and implementing additions to land management practices can do that, even amidst the growing impact of climate change. Join us to learn about what makes the CW Region uniquely important for migrant birds and tangible steps that you can take to help them. Follow up discussion sessions, focusing on specific elements of this overall tapestry of needs and solutions, are being planned.
  Panel: Eric Secker, past President of BCN; Bob Fisher, BCN Communications Chair

• Going to Referendum: Mobilization for Local Conservation and Forest Preserve Districts (March 2024)
  Watch webinar
  During the November 2022 election, the Forest Preserves of Cook County experienced a major victory when voters agreed to pass a referendum allocating more funding to the Forest Preserves. This would not have been possible without the Vote Yes for Clean Air, Clean Water, and Wildlife coalition. A group of over 160+ environmental, conservation, and community-based organizations came together to lead the campaign across the finish line. This year, several other Chicago-area conservation and forest preserve districts may be attempting similar ballot measures. Experts from the Vote Yes for Clean Air, Clean Water, and Wildlife campaign are hosting this session to share best practices and lessons learned.
  Moderators & co-presenters: Emily Reusswig (Vice President of Conservation Policy, Openlands); Benjamin Cox (Executive Director, Friends of the Forest Preserves); Caroline O’Boyle (Assistant Vice President & Illinois Director, Trust for the Public Land); Brook McDonald (President and Chief Executive Officer, The Conservation Foundation)

• The Current and Future Challenges Of Wildlife Management (March 2024)
  Watch Webinar; download pdf
  A lot of critical habitat management is best undertaken in the winter months when the ground is frozen and the herbaceous plants are dormant. However, scheduling activities such as invasive woody removal, especially when done by machines and prioritizing project areas that will remain accessible regardless of ground conditions have become challenging and our winter weather is increasingly unpredictable. Each of our panelists will speak for 5-10 minutes each on the challenges they face and some of the tactics they are using to address these challenges. After that, we will form break-out rooms to discuss these challenges and tactics to give everyone a chance to share what they face and their solutions. We will work to capture these solutions in a way that can readily be shared with our colleagues across the region.
  Panel: Keith Gray–Integrated Lakes Management; Nick Fuller–Forest Preserve District of DuPage County; Troy Showerman–Forest Preserves of Cook County; Dave Cassin–Lake County Forest Preserve District; Scott McCormick–Homer Tree Service; Eric Ness – USDA, APHIS Wildlife Services
  

• Helping Migratory Birds in our Region - Illinois Coastal Stopover Tool  (Feb 2024)
  Watch Webinar; download pdf
  The coastal region of Illinois, a five-mile band hugging the shore of Lake Michigan is tremendously important for millions of birds that migrate through our area every spring and fall, stopping over at important stopover natural habitats that many people and partners manage, to rest and refuel on their migration journey. Audubon Great Lakes is excited to introduce a new interactive web tool to inform the enhancement of coastal habitat for birds during this critical migratory stopover period. 
  

• Wisconsin’s Farmer-Led Watershed Councils & Lessons for Illinois (Feb 2024)
  Watch webinar; download pdf
  This cafe will show attendees how farmers in the two neighboring states are adopting effective methods to improve performance in the shared goal of reducing nutrient runoff into the Mississippi River watershed. In recent years, members of the Illinois Sustainable Ag Partnership have looked at the State of Wisconsin-funded, farmer-led watershed program as something to be replicated. That may now be possible because of the Illinois General Assembly’s 2023 passage of a new farm conservation funding program (Senate Bill 1701).

• Conservation for All (January 2024)
  Watch webinar; download pdf
  What does “conservation for all” really mean, and how do we get there? Especially if you’re at a smaller organization with less funding, transitioning from training to action can seem daunting. At McHenry County Conservation District, we have spent the last few years coming up with creative ideas to work towards diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) based on feedback and ideas from our staff, volunteers, partners, and members of the public. We are not DEI experts, but most likely neither are you. Stewardship ecologist Jackie Bero will share highlights of practical projects from the perspective of people who believe that DEI is something everyone can do. Host: Jackie Bero, McHenry County Conservation District

2023

• Emerging Markets: Agricultural Wetland Mitigation Banking in the Alliance Region (December 2023)
  Watch webinar; download pdf
  Mike Glester the Director of Operations for Magnolia Land Partners where he helps to develop solutions to ecological problems using market-based approaches. One program that Magnolia has pioneered is Agricultural Wetland Mitigation Banking. This program addresses wetland mitigation needs for agricultural producers when they have impacts affecting wetland compliance with USDA programs. Additionally, this program provides a unique revenue option for landowners interested in enrolling their properties into a wetland program. This growing project is a great example of how novel environmental solutions are developing in the region and how private companies can show the here-and-now benefits of ecological solutions.
  
  
• Workforce Development Consultation – UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (November 2023)
  Watch webinar
  
  
• Gathering Spaces: The Case for Art & Culture Centered Urban Green Space Design (November 2023)
  Watch webinar; download pdf
  A panel discussion and exchange with authors of the newly published book, Gathering Spaces: A Practical Guide for Art & Culture Centered Urban Green Space Design. The authors are excited to share their stories of the Burnham Wildlife Corridor Gathering Spaces that they hope spark similar efforts across the Chicago Wilderness region.
  Presenters: 
  Jacob Campbell, Chicago Region Social Science Manager, Field Museum
  Naureen Rana, Chicago Park District, Department of Cultural & Natural Resources, Chicago Park District
  Mike Dimitroff, Manager of Art Initiatives, Chicago Park District
  Arlene Crawford, Visual Artist, Curator, Educator, Muralist and Cultural Activist
  Alfonso Piloto Nieves Ruiz, Visual Artist, Sculptor, Art Teacher
  Mario Longoni, Lead Environmental Social Scientist, KSAC, Field Museum
  Dorian Sylvain, Visual Artist  
  
  
• Place-based, relational approaches to science, management, and policy: profound mechanism (Oct 2023) Watch webinar; download pdf
  Place-based, relational approaches offer a profound mechanism to transmit knowledge, to engage adaptive and resilient behavior, to develop trust, and, critically, to redefine partnership across diverse worldviews. We look forward to a conversation centering on the capacities for relational pathways and the integration of diverse knowledge forms to drive adaptive action (human behavior), while transcending outdated "information deficit" models within conventional notions of research, partnership, science communication, policy, and education.
  Speaker: Scott Laursen, Climate Change Adaptation Extension Specialist, Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center (PI-CASC)
  
  
• Building Natural & Working Land Partnerships in Northeastern Illinois' Will County (October 2023) Watch webinar; download pdf
  This cafe will convene and present a discussion about land resource management and agri-food business models in relation to climate-wise solutions to check 20th century growth patterns on the outskirts of metropolitan Chicago. The focus is on Will County. Located south of Cook and DuPage Counties, Will County is on course to lose more farmland by 2040 than any other U.S. county besides Maricopa County in Arizona (2022 American Farmland Trust.) Discussion will center on partnerships, trends, models, and market opportunities to put Will County agriculture on equal footing with other forms of economic development in the face of a changing climate.
  Presenters: Ted Haffner, CWA Taking Climate Action Initiative Lead
  Bob Heuer, Director, HNA Networks
  Judy Ogalla, Will County Board Chair
  Maria Abney, Financial Advisor, Owner-Operator of Farmland Fabrication, and Immediate Past President of Monee Chamber of Commerce
  
  
• Act for Oaks! The Oak Ecosystem Recovery Plan and You (October 2023) Watch webinar
  In 2015, Chicago Wilderness Alliance, Chicago Region Trees Initiative, and The Morton Arboretum developed the Oak Ecosystem Recovery Plan, a comprehensive approach to protecting, preserving, and restoring one of the Chicago Wilderness region's iconic and tremendously important habitats. Learn about the challenges facing oaks in a volatile and changing climate. Discover opportunities for action and multiple levels. And join our robust partnership of public land managers, local governments and agencies, tree care industry professionals, conservation nonprofits, and private landowners. 
  Speakers: 
  Brandon Hayes, Bold Bison Communications
  Kurt Driesilker, The Morton Arboretum
  Casey Sullivan, Argonne National Laboratory
  Bob Fisher, Bird Conservation Network
  Sarah Surroz, Openlands
  
  
• Protecting Landscapes for Biodiversity Conservation Initiative and Landowners (August 2023) Watch Webinar; download pdf
  Learn about the ongoing work of CWA's Protecting Landscapes for Biodiversity Conservation Initiative and how landowners can get involved. There is no way to get to the goal of 30% of land protected by 2030 without the dedication and generosity of private landowners. If you have thought about conserving your land through a conservation easement, donation, sale, or other mechanism, join us to learn more about the various options and organizations you can partner with.

• USEPA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative- Engagement for Action Plan IV. (July 2023) Watch webinar; The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative was launched in 2010 to protect and restore the largest system of fresh surface water in the world-the Great Lakes. Come learn about a five-year action plan which will outline priorities and goals in the areas of toxic substances and areas of concern; invasive species; nonpoint source pollution impacts on nearshore health; habitat and species; and foundations for future actions. Hear about how you can provide input on the plan.

• Natural Solutions Tools (June 2023) Watch webinar; download PDF
  Staff from the Trust for Public Land and Friends of the Chicago River will teach attendees how to quickly and easily create detailed data reports summarizing climate, health, equity and biodiversity data for nearly any of the 1.5 million parcels in the 1,300 square mile Chicago watershed region. Attendees will also learn how to easily visualize at the regional, city, neighborhood, and parcel scale where the highest priority locations are for implementing nature-based solutions. A project of the Greater Chicago Watershed Alliance with tool development led by the Trust for Public Land and Friends of the Chicago River with input from Watershed Alliance members and numerous other stakeholders.
  
  
• CommuniTree: An Urban Forestry Program Based on Collective Impact (June 2023) Watch webinar; download pdf
  Based on the collective impact model, the CommuniTree urban forestry program in the Calumet Region has been addressing the need for more urban forestry capacity. We will be discussing how the program was developed and how it is addressing the urban forestry needs of Northwest Indiana, with special attention placed on how conservation corps can be utilized to raise tree canopies, provide meaningful work and diversify the field of conservation.
  Presenters: 
  Leo Sawyers The Student Conservation Association Program Director for NW Indiana
  Drew Hart US Forest Service Natural Resources Specialist
  
  
• Imani Green Health Advocates (June 2023) Watch webinar; download PDF
  The Imani Green Health Advocates is a career development initiative created by Trinity United Church of Christ, Advocate Health Care, The Nature Conservancy, and others. For the past 6-years, IGHA has facilitated the conversation that focuses on the connection between human health and environmental health. The program has two cohorts, community health, which focuses on job training youth to become community health workers, teaching them how to advocate for patients' rights, engaging at-risk community members in bettering their health, and providing free food and education through the Advocate Aurora Food Farmacy. Our second cohort is conservation, which collects tree health data in various South Side neighborhoods, implements our free tree replacement program, Treesilience, and are CRTI Tree Ambassadors, aiming to plant more street trees in low canopy communities. Together these two cohorts engage the communities in learning that environmental health is a key factor in the well-being of Black and Brown communities.
  Presenter: Ajiah Gilbert, Program Leader, Imani Village
  
  
• Emerging and Intergenerational Thought Leaders: Introducing Professional Opportunities and Uplifting Your Voices on Topics Around Sustainability. (June 2023) Watch webinar
  We will introduce professionals and their pathways, opportunities in the industry, and talk about the current understanding of climate protection, sustainability, and equity. We will be challenging societal norms an aiming to redefine how we engage with society through this new narrative of sustainability solidarity. We will introduce the concepts of our systematic approach to sustainability and then, engage in a polling activity to identify regional key focus areas for an intergenerational sustainability action plan.
  
  
• Occupational Therapy Supports for Natural Resource Volunteers (June 2023) Watch webinar; download pdf
  This presentation will help you promote the health and safety of adult volunteers working in physically demanding natural resource conservation and restoration activities. Many organizations rely on the work of volunteers, many of whom are retired adults, to complete restoration work. This population has unique needs that can change as individual volunteers continue to age. The presentation will focus on some of the needs of this volunteer population and provide ideas for occupational therapy resources to help support these individuals and promote their health and safety. Geared toward volunteer leaders and volunteer program coordinators, the presentation will cover the principles of safe body mechanics and ergonomics, suggestions for adaptive tools and equipment, as well as specific stretches and tips for reducing musculoskeletal injuries. The presentation will share how these strategies were implemented at The Morton Arboretum and provide recommendations on how they can be adapted to support volunteers at other organizations.
  Presenters: Carolyn Packard, OTS, Midwestern University
  Emilian Geczi, Manager of Early Childhood Programs, The Morton Arboretum
  Spencer Campbell, Program Coordinator of Collections Volunteers, The Morton Arboretum
  
  
• Public Funding Initiatives, Chicago Wilderness Alliance (June 2023) Watch webinar; download pdf
  Conservation across the nation is benefitting from an influx of public funding opportunities, thanks to recent wins such as the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The Chicago Wilderness Alliance is exploring ways to serve the region and partner organizations in the coordination of strong federal funding requests to benefit our lands, waters, wildlife, and people.
  
  
• Conservation Opportunities with the Chicago Bears at Arlington Heights (May 2023) Watch webinar; download pdf
  This café is an opportunity to begin the conversation how to incorporate conservation efforts during the build of the potential Chicago Bears new stadium at Arlington Heights.
  
  
• Building Agricultural Infrastructure the Chicago Wilderness Area to Support Sustainability (May 2023) Watch webinar
  Over 4.4 million acres of land within the Chicago Wilderness Alliance four-state region are currently used for agriculture.  Some of those lands are under threat from development, while others are struggling to remain viable due to climate change, market trends, and consumer preferences.  For local agriculture to not only survive, but to thrive over the next few decades, we must look beyond mere sustainability to systems of agriculture that regenerate the soil, water and nutrients that provide the food fuel and fiber we all rely on.  Before that can happen, though, there must be a new system of infrastructure that supports a wide range of practices, products and services for farms of all sizes to evolve and grow.  Join Green Initiative Growing with Agriculture leaders Dan Suarez of Chicago Audubon and Tim Brennan of Farm Foundation as they examine the challenges and opportunities in building new infrastructure to support regenerative agriculture in our region. 
  
  Presenters: Tim Brennan, Vice President, External Relations, Farm Foundation
  Liz Moran Stelk, executive Director, Illinois Stewardship Alliance
  Janice Hill - Farm, Local Foods and Land Use Professional. Kane County, Illinois
  Paul Krysik Chicago, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Windy City Harvest Botanical Garden
  
  
• Emerging Professionals Cafe (April 2023) Watch webinar
  The Emerging Professionals Cafe series is a low-pressure way to join others who are early in their environmental, conservation, or ecological careers to swap stories and learn from each other. Together, we'll brid(ge gaps between existing and emerging professionals, provide guidance and support for folks entering environmental career paths. We'll also open up dialogue on frustrations and issues facing our field and talk about what support you'd like to see in future Cafes. Panelists: Dani Abboud, Director of Community Programs and Partnerships at Brushwood Center; Katie Fleming, Senior Forestry Program Manager at Openlands; Mike Glester, Magnolia Land Partners; Brandon Hayes, Founder and Principal, Bold Bison Communication; Jeramie Strickland, Illinois Department of Nature Resources Director of Community Outreach
  
  
• Protecting Healthy Waters (March 2023) Watch webinar; download pdf
  Learn how the Alliance seeks to empower partners with the tools needed to protect all forms of fresh water, bolster climate resiliency and improve people’s quality of life by: Incorporating water goals into all initiatives; working closely with Green Infrastructure Initiative on watershed-level priorities; and assessing region-wide water data for usability and compatibility across agencies and sectors
  
  
• Pollinator-Friendly Solar Guidance (March 2023) Watch webinar; download PDF
  TNC and the Pollinator Partnership will present on the new pollinator-friendly solar guide they have developed for Illinois. In this presentation, they will cover the basics of smart siting for renewables and best practices for collocating pollinator-friendly habitat with solar installations.

• Prescribed Burn and the Creation of a Cooperative Weed Management Area (January 2023) Watch webinar; download PDF
  Join us for an overview of the Managing Healthy Landscapes Initiative and then take a deep dive into two priority areas for 2023: working to establish a Cooperative Weed Management Area for the region and exploring how the Alliance can advance learning and certification around prescribed burns.
  This interactive cafe is a great opportunity to learn about the initiative and discover how you can get involved.
  
  Speakers: Jeff Mengler – Hey & Associates; Gary Glowacki – Lake Plain; Partnership; Chris Evans - Extension Forester, UIUC NRES; John McCabe – Cook County Forest Preserves; Dave Holman – Regional Rx Burning Maps; Kelly Schultz – Lake County Forest Preserves

2022

• Shalini Vajjhala, Founder and CEO of re:focus partners; Chicago Wilderness Congress 2022 (November 2022) Watch webinar
  The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)represent once-in-a-generation opportunities to invest in transformational infrastructure and to do so in a way that protects our natural landscapes and water systems. These pieces of legislation unlock a magnitude of federal funding for conservation programs unseen in our lifetimes, offering our movement the rare opportunity to rewrite how we do the work of conservation; how we protect lands and water; and how we live, work, and recreate.
  
  Shalini Vajjhala, Founder and CEO of re:focus partners, is a nationally recognized infrastructure expert with two decades of experience designing and financing community-centered resilient infrastructure solutions. She has testified before the US Senate on the costs of climate change and created national partnerships to leverage insurance for coastal protection, improve procurement of green infrastructure, and provide technical assistance to communities to reduce disaster risk through nature-based solutions. Before starting re:focus partners, Shalini served as Special Representative in the Office of Administrator Lisa Jackson at the US EPA. Previously, she served as Deputy Assistant Administrator in the Office of International & Tribal Affairs at EPA and as Deputy Associate Director for Energy and Climate at the White House Council on Environmental Quality. She joined the Obama Administration from Resources for the Future, where she was awarded a patent for her climate adaptation mapping work. Shalini received her PhD in Engineering & Public Policy and B.Arch in Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University.
  
  
• Breakout: Shalini Vajjhala, CEO, re:focus partners; Chicago Wilderness Alliance Congress (November 2022) Watch webinar
  Questions and answers regarding one-in-a-generation federal funding; recorded at Chicago Wilderness Congress
  
  
• The Roadmap: Increasing Justice, Equity and Diversity Together (October 2022) Watch webinar; download pdf
  Join Raquel Garcia-Alvarez and Dani Abboud in a facilitated conversation about Chicago Wilderness Alliance’s equity and inclusion initiative. Chicago Wilderness Alliance is striving to create an inclusive network where everyone, people of all ages, races, abilities and backgrounds feel valued and respected for the unique perspective and experiences they bring. 
  
  Our conversation will introduce an audit of member organizations to capture and share out the very best inclusivity work being done in our region. The audit will also identify places where more work is needed. This work is everyone’s collective responsibility. If you want to be involved in this conversation as a participant or leader, please join us.  We are looking for you—as a Chicago Wilderness Alliance member, as a person working in the conservation sector, or even as a curious and passionate individual.
  
  
• Trails for Wildlife and People (October 2022) Watch webinar; download pdf
  The Forest Preserves of Cook County is responsible for managing nearly 70,000 acres of public land but must balance both the needs of the people who visit the preserves and protecting the nature and wildlife in its care. There are many activities we might consider ‘low-key’ or ‘nature compatible’ like hiking, mountain biking, bird watching, and horseback riding that can have a negative impact on wildlife. That is why it is important to consider not only access for people to enjoy nature but also how to reduce impacts to wildlife when it comes to trails. 
  
  The Forest Preserves’ Trails for People and Wildlife project developed a trail analysis tool that was modeled off one developed by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. This tool helps landowners, like the Forest Preserves, plan trails that allow people to enjoy nature while also allowing wildlife to thrive. Please join us Wednesday, October 26 from 12pm-1pm to learn more about this project and tool and how other organizations can create a similar tool when planning or modifying trails. The presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session.
  
  
• Biota Award Winners: Walder Foundation (September 2022) Watch webinar
  This year marks the first year for the Walder Foundation's Biota Awards, which celebrate remarkable young scientists accelerating biodiversity understanding in the Chicago Region. This virtual event is presented as a Field Museum Watson Armour Lecture and a Chicago Wilderness Cafe, featuring three biodiversity projects and the scientists who designed them, followed by a panel discussion. Dr. Adam Ferguson--Small Mammal and Pathogen Diversity in South Side Parks in Chicago: Implications for Human Health and Wellbeing; Drs. Sara Ruane and Michelle Thompson --Understanding Chicagoland’s Changing Conservation Landscape: Resurveys for Reptiles and Amphibians of Will County, IL.; Dr. Noe de la Sancha--Impacts of Rapid Habitat Change: Mammalian Diversity and Its Response to Deforestation in a Global Biodiversity Hotspot. Intro by Dr. Thorsten Lumbsch, Vice President of Science & Education for the Field Museum. Panel discussion led by Amy Rosenthal
  
  
• Urban Forest Inventory and Analysis (September 2022) Watch webinar; download pdf
  For nearly 100 years the Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program of the U.S. Forest Service has been tracking the trees of our Nation’s forests. Providing critical information on forest area, health and species, the data are used in many ways, from evaluating wildlife habitat to assessing the sustainability of ecosystem management practices. In 2014 the program expanded beyond traditional forests to include trees growing in urban areas and now has baseline data from the Chicago region and many other cities across the country. These urban data provide information about the many ecosystem services that trees provide, including the reduction of residential heating and cooling costs, the value of pollution removal and rainwater interception and the benefits to human health.
  Join us to learn about the urban forests of Chicago and the surrounding region. We’ll introduce you to the user-friendly and informative MyTree and My City’s Trees apps and highlight interesting findings within the city. We’ll also discuss where to find the raw data and take a look at results across the Chicago Wilderness region to see how these data can be used for deeper investigations into the state of our urban forests. Co-hosts: Sjana Schanning, Ecologist; Alexis Ellis, Biological Scientist; Rebekah Zehnder, Geosystems Spatial Manager
  
  
• The Inflation Reduction Act and Climate Opportunities: What Do We Know So Far? (August 2022)Watch webinar; download pdf
  Passage of the Inflation Reduction Act represents a milestone achievement in tackling the climate crisis. Estimated to put us on the path to a massive 40% reduction in carbon emissions by the end of this decade, the legislation is critical in reaching 2030 emission reduction metrics. As more information about these new programs and resources flows out, it’s important to continue to monitor for opportunities to leverage.   Learn more about this historic $369 billion investment in climate and energy programs and the potential areas of interest for the Chicago Wilderness region. 
  
  
• Insider Tips and Tricks to Measure and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions (July 2022) Watch webinar; download pdf
  Join Chicago Wilderness Climate Goal lead Ted Haffner, Andre Copeland of Brookfield Zoo, Chris Buccola of the Forest Preserves of Cook County, and Rachel Novick of the Morton Arboretum to discuss how local groups have implemented organizational sustainability plans and carbon footprint goals. Learn more from the experts about the available resources so that your organization can establish a plan to meet critical climate metrics. 
  
  
• gROWing Chicago: Prioritization Mapping of Chicago Wilderness' Built Infrastructure (July 2022) Watch webinar; download pdf
  This session will continue the cafe series exploring the use of mapping to prioritize habitat efforts across the Chicago Wilderness region, with a focus on energy and transportation lands. Highlighting current mapping and prioritization efforts from several partners across the region, this working session will engage vegetation managers and GIS specialists on next steps to creating a prioritization strategy for habitat on rights-of-way and other energy and transportation lands.  Moderator: Iris Caldwell and Tegha Obire
  Co-hosts: Caroline Hernandez, Mark Bouman, Ted Haffner, Mark Johnston
  
  
• Mapping the Green Vision/CW Hub and Support for Strategic Conservation (June 2022) Watch webinar;download PDF
  Unveiled early in 2022, constant improvements to the CW Mapping Hub make it an indispensable resource to those seeking to advance the Green Vision that benefits nature and all people in the Chicago region.
  
  
• Breeding Bird Trends in the Chicago Wilderness Region (June 2022) Watch webinar; download PDF
  A newly released landmark study underscores the global importance of the Chicago region to breeding birds. Join us as the Bird Conservation Network presents findings from its analysis of 22 years of breeding bird data, collected from 2,463 site points in northeastern Illinois counties within the Chicago Wilderness region. View pdf of summary report
  Presenters: Eric Secker, President BCN; Editor, Meadowlark; Judy Pollock, President, Chicago Audubon; Founding President, BCN; Former Director of Bird Conservation, Audubon Chicago Region; Bob Fisher, Communications Chair, BCN; Past President, BCN, IOS and DBC; Diann Bilderback, Vice President, BCN; Past President, DBC; Sonny Cohen, Past President, BCNPast Board Member, IAS and State Membership Chairman; Board Member, Lake Cook Audubon
  
  
• Reducing Barriers to the Outdoors through Gear Libraries (March 2022) Watch webinar;download pdf
  Learn how gear libraries expand access to the outdoors in the Chicago Wilderness region and beyond. Participants will hear about a national network, the Outdoors Empowered Network, that works with local partners to provide gear through gear libraries to help support communities in changing the face of adventure recreation. Participants will learn about local gear libraries and how to use them and how they can help increase access through gear and training! Moderator: Teish Daniel, Chicago Park District; Co-hosts:  Allison Paul, Field Museum; Liz Holley, Chicago Park District ; Brian Arnoldt, Katie Grundin, Justin Mercer, and Kristen Baecker, Forest Preserves of Cook County
  
  
• Unmanned Aircraft Vehicles and Public Land (March 2022) Watch webinar; download pdf
  Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or drones, play useful roles in gathering data, showcasing conservation work, and in responding to emergency situations, but they also pose a potential threat to wildlife, public safety, and may impact peoples’ wilderness/nature experience. Join this conversation to learn how UAVs are being used on behalf of conservation and outdoor recreation and how public land agencies are implementing the federal and state rules regarding UAVs and ensuring the responsible use of drones in the air space above their lands. Learn more about the National Park Service Aviation Program.
  Moderators: Ellicia Sanchez, The Nature Conservancy of Illinois; Michelle Uting, Forest Preserves of Cook County. Co-hosts/Speakers: Anthony Tindall, Forest Preserves of Cook County Policy & Sustainability Manager; Garret Wais, Forest Preserves of Cook County GIS Specialist; John Buehler, National Park Service Aviation Branch Chief; Kristin Swoboda, National Park Service (NPS) Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program manager
  
  
• Collaboration for the 30x30/America the Beautiful Campaign (January 2022) Watch webinar; download pdf
  Join the Illinois Environmental Council, Openlands, The Nature Conservancy, and Wetlands Initiative, and Openlands in discussing the international campaign to protect 30% land and water by 2030, and how Illinois can align with this ambitious goal. IEC has convened a coalition of conservation experts, community organizations, land trust, land and water management organizations, and more to develop a strategy for how Illinois can resolve its conservation issues in a comprehensive and equitable manner. We need Chicago Wilderness and its organizations to make this effort achievable.Moderator: Tonyisha Harris. Co-hosts: Lindsey Keeney (Illinois Environmental Council) , Ellicia Sanchez (The Nature Conservancy) , Ben Roth (Illinois Environmental Council), Paul Botts (The Wetlands Initiative), Stacy Meyer (Openlands)
  
  
• Network Leadership and Facilitating Collaboration (December 2021) Watch webinar
  Leading in a network presents unique challenges as you navigate the needs and interests of individual members and develop shared strategies for action. Join Dianne Russell and Peter Lane from the Institute for Conservation Leadership for an interactive workshop with your Chicago Wilderness colleagues to build your toolbox of practical tips and approaches for leading in a network. you will discuss strategies for leading collaborative processes in a way that increases engagement and network productivity; learn six tips for productive meetings with a special focus on virtual meetings; and increase your awareness of what it means to lead in a network. 

 

2021

 

• Land Acknowledgement Statements: Intention and Action (November 2021) Watch webinar; download pdf
  This is a panel discussion about what a Land Acknowledgment statement is and how it can improve your organization’s ability to honor with intention and act through co-creating with Indigenous communities across the Country. Adam Kessel, from the Forest Preserves of Cook County, explains the process that the Forest Preserves used to co-create their statement with Community and how it has continued to improve the organizations’ ability to serve the Indigenous communities of Cook County two years after it became official. This is followed by a panel discussion with representatives of various Native serving organizations and programs who will share their journeys and answer questions about Land Acknowledgements. 
  Moderator: Adam Kessel (Lakota; Italian; German) ; Program Coordinator; Forest Preserves of Cook County  Panelists:  Debra Yepa-Pappan (Jemez Pueblo/Korean), Native Community Engagement Coordinator,  Native American Exhibition Hall, Field Museum Chantay Moore (Navajo/African American), Chicago Public Schools, American Indian Education Program  Siobhan Marks (Ojibwe/Cree), Communications & Marketing Director, Indian Community School
  
  
• Racial Equity Series #2: Planting Seeds, Growing Racial Equity (April 2021) Watch webinar; download PDF
  Join us as we plant seeds of information to help you in growing racial equity and learn what the Forest Preserves of Cook County is doing to make the outdoors more inclusive. Explore what systemic racism is, how equity benefits everyone, and how we can transition from deficit-based thinking to asset-based thinking.  This presentation was created from a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) perspective, includes real life examples and time for courageous conversations with fellow participants. 
  Presenters: Raquel Garcia-Alvarez, Forest Preserves of Cook County; Negin Almassi, Forest Preserves of Cook County
  
  
• Seed Sourcing for Climate Resilience (March 2021) Watch webinar
  Get practical guideline for land managers about sourcing seed for restoration in the age of climate change based on recent literature.Despite being The Prairie State the Illinois and neighboring states’ prairies have been heavily converted due to human use, and many of those that remain are degraded. Research in the relatively new discipline of restoration ecology provides insights that practitioners use to restore diversity, function and resilience to these landscapes influenced by anthropogenic change.
  Presenters: Pati Vitt, Lake County Forest Preserves; Iza Redlinski, The Field Museuma Redlinski, The Field Museum; cassi saari, The Chicago Park District; Anna Braum, The Wetlands Initiative; Becky Barak; and Stephanie Frischie
  
  
• Racial Equity Series #1: History of Conservation (March 2021) Watch webinar
  Discover different perspectives on the history of conservation. How better to understand the history of our relationship to nature and its conservation than to listen to the voices and lives of those who lived and shaped that relationship: Presidents, poets, historians, writers, scientists, and leaders of the movement, both the iconic voices and the marginalized. From these many threads is woven the story of America’s evolving relationship to the natural world. Presenters: Tom Simpson, McHenry County Conservation District; Raquel Garcia-Alvarez, Forest Preserves of Cook County; Fannie Kittoe, Forest Preserve Districts of Cook County: Bradford Kasberg, Audubon Great Lakes; Jackie Bero, McHenry County Conservation District
  
  
• Regenerative Agriculture: A New Vision (March 2021) Watch webinar
  Learn how adjusting farming principles and practices can help to enhance the entire growing system of the farm, through soil health, water management and fertilizer use. Can these regenerative methods improve profitability and the marketing of your products? Presenters: Dave Brandt, Walnut Creek LLC; Kevin Kelley, Terra Vitae Farms; Dr. Emily Heaton, Professor of Regenerative Agriculture and Extension Specialist, University of Illinois
  
  
• City Nature Challenge: How to host your own event (Feb 2021) Watch webinar; View Slides
  Learn how to use the INaturalist app and inspire your group or organization to make observations of urban flora and fauna, find species, and get people involved.
  
  
• Dr. Carolyn Finney: Reimagining Healthy Communities for People and Nature (Feb 2021) Watch webinar
  Watch the conversation with Dr. Carolyn Finney as she helps Chicago Wilderness define a new vision of conservation that can carry us into the future and involve the participation of all people
  
  
• Mapping the Green Vision (January 2021) Watch webinar
  A close companion to CW's development of a new Green Vision is to advance the mapping tools that depict and support it. CW has always leaned on good maps of the region, whether in two editions of the Atlas of Biodiversity, two versions of the Green Infrastructure Vision, maps of Oak recovery, or maps that framed the conservation possibilities in the Calumet region. But it's now almost a decade since CW systemically updated its mapping capacity, and new developments in data, in mapping platforms, and in public engagement make this an urgent priority for the Alliance. On October 27, a Cafe was held to gather folks interested in some next steps in mapping, with topics including a potential new interface (or "hub") for mapping products, how the hub can be the place to track progress on Green Vision goals, and possible new sources of data. More than 50 people attended and showed strong interest. A next Cafe is scheduled for January 28, 12-1, at which Mark Johnston, GIS Manager at the Field Museum, will display more of the capacities of the hub as a potential shared resource for the Alliance. A working group including representatives from CMAP, NIRPC, SEWRPC, Openlands, Argonne, TetraTech, and the Field Museum has guided the conversation so far; in 2021 new ways to engage in the process will be developed in concert with the further articulation and implementation of CW's Green Vision goals.

2020

• Using CMAP Tools for Conservation and Climate Resilience Planning (July 2020) Watch webinar
  Through the development of the ONTO 2050 regional plan and the agency's local planning activities, CMAP has created  several tools and datasets practitioners can use to further their conservation and climate resilience planning. Staff from CMAP and the Nature Conservancy will present publicly available tools and data on stormwater, water demand, and natural resources in northeastern Illinois and share some ways partners have applied them. Tools to be discussed include CMAP’s Conservation Areas Local Strategy Map and Flood Susceptibility Index, a guidebook on integrating climate science into local plans, and the Nature Conservancy's Chicago Greenprint. 
  
  
• Environmental Gentrification 101 (July 2020) Watch webinar
  Could a park, a forest preserve, a green space have negative impacts on a community? This moderated panel invites an open discussion about Environmental Gentrification and its relation to natural areas management and planning in the Chicago Wilderness area. Panelists will start from a shared working definition, share perspectives from communities directly impacted by Environmental Gentrification in Chicago, give context through current research, and share lessons learned from organizations on the frontlines of advocacy. Learn about local issues, consider tough questions, and join the conversation! Moderators: Gloria Orozco,  Friends of the Forest Preserves; Peter Whitney,  Friends of the Forest Preserves. Panelists:Paula Acevedo,  El Paseo Community Garden/  El Paseo Community Council; Jacky Vazquez, LVEJO (Little Village Environmental Justice Organization); Tania Schusler, Loyola University Chicago,  Institute of Environmental Sustainability
  
  
• Bridging Diverse Organizations to Help Children Learn, Heal, and Grow in Nature  (July 2020) Watch webinar; start at 60 minute-mark
  Recognizing that the health of our ecosystems is deeply connected to the health of our children, this panel explores the ways that diverse organizations across the Chicago Wilderness region create opportunities for children to learn, heal, and grow in nature. We hope to inspire other nature organizations to engage in new community partnerships, and re-imagine their roles in the communities that they serve. This panel features a diverse set of organizations who are successfully collaborating with their communities.
  Moderator:Dani Abboud,  Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods; Panelists:  Kimberly Waller,  Cool Learning Experience; Jonathan Arenas,  Lake County Public Health Child and Adolescent Behavioral Services; Debra Williams,  The Nature Conservancy Indian Boundary Prairies
  
  
• Targeted Acquisition Planning: Southeast Cook County Land Acquisition Plan (July 2020) Watch webinar or download PDF
  The Forest Preserves of Cook County owns and manages nearly 70,000 acres but has ambitions goals to acquire more land in a strategic way. Learn how the Plan advances the  Chicago Wilderness Green Vision  and adds new health and social vulnerability data and focus group feedback to identify and prioritize opportunities. The Plan also includes a concise case statement on the benefits of land protection relating to health, climate resiliency, economic development and ecosystem services and non-traditional implementation strategies that may be useful to other organizations with land acquisition goals.  
  
  
• Urban Soils Workshop (May 2020) Download pdf
  Soils are an integral part of any ecosystem, yet are often overlooked. Urban soils are very heterogeneous; that is they can vary tremendously over a short distance.  Many urban soils have been subjected to repeated damage from construction, contamination, and neglect, and therefore behave unlike natural soils. Promoting healthy communities for people and nature starts at the ground, with the soil. This webinar will discuss differences between natural and urban soils.  We will focus on free online resources provided by the Natural Resource Conservation Service.  We will explore the tools and applications available, such as the Web Soil Survey, how to assess soil health, and the benefits of building your own portable soil quality test kit.  The goal is to provide participants with science-driven resources and an opportunity to continue learning.  Additional resources: Basic Soil Background,  Web Soil Survey Guide and Case Study,  Online Urban Soils Resources
  Presenters: Michelle Catania, The Morton Arboretum; Allyson Salisbury, The Morton Arboretum
  
  
• StormStore: Stormwater Credit Trading (May 2020) Download pdf
  Our region is faced with more frequent and consequential impacts from urban flooding. Excess stormwater degrades water quality of our river systems and burdens people, often with lower-income individuals and communities of color disproportionately enduring the worst impacts. TNC and MPC have worked with MWRD to assess the feasibility of stormwater credit trading as an innovative tool for encouraging more strategic and equitable distribution of natural stormwater infrastructure. This session will explain the functionality and benefits of stormwater credit trading models; introduce MWRD’s pilot program; identify pathways for participation; and showcase how stormwater credit trading might be applied through scenarios. 
  Presenters:Jennifer Jenkins, The Nature Conservancy; Ryan Wilson, Metropolitan Planning Council; Kimberly Du Buclet, MWRD Commissioner
  
  
• What's Agriculture Got to Do with It? (May 2020) Download pdf
  Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP)'s "ON TO 2050" plan calls for identifying and protecting agricultural lands of long-term commercial significance as a key strategy for the region’s prosperity and resilience. We'll discuss how to proactively plan for agricultural lands to remain part of our regional fabric, and the many benefits farmland can provide within a green infrastructure framework, including a base land supply for a diversified agricultural economy, food security in the face of climate change, biodiversity and habitat, and carbon sequestration.  Panelists will also share their experiences through current projects and programs across multiple sectors. Topic Areas: Green Infrastructure, Urban Ecosystems, Regenerative Agricultural
  Moderator: Brandon Hayes, Bold Bison Consulting
  Panelists (subject to change): Emy Brawley, The Conservation Fund ; Tyler Strom, Illinois Agri-Food Alliance; Janice Hill, Kane County Farmland Preservation
  
  
• Budburst: Community Science for Education, Research, and Action (May 2020) Download pdf
  Learn about Budburst, a community science project of the Chicago Botanic Garden, including the mission and history, participation and partnership opportunities, and research outcomes. Budburst was founded to connect people with the local impacts of climate change by monitoring the timing of plant life cycle events (phenology) in their communities. More recently it has expanded to include time bound research projects related to phenology and plant-animal interactions. We will introduce the project, teach attendees how to participate, and illustrate the value of these data. Budburst builds healthy communities by connecting people with plants, increasing scientific literacy, and contributing to our understanding of global environmental change. 
  Presenters: Jennifer Schwarz Ballard, Chicago Botanic Garden
  Kayri Havens, Chicago Botanic Garden

With Appreciation

This work is supported by the US Forest Service and theIllinois Dept. of Natural Resources Urban and Community Forestry Program.

Cafes help more communities improve urban tree canopy forests across the region and participate in Tree City USA. These institutions are an equal opportunity provider.