The Chicago Wilderness Alliance's Cafe series serves up conversations on topics affecting our region, including Green Vision Initiatives, conservation issues of common concern, new and innovative work, and challenges. Virtually connect with your colleagues to share ideas, pose questions, and find out what's happening around the region.

Registration is always open to the public and is always free. View all our recorded Cafes and webinars.

Upcoming Cafes

Data Centers and the Future of the Chicago Wilderness Region: Why the Conservation Community Needs to Engage on the POWER Act

Thursday, July 16, 12-2pm CST

Illinois is in the middle of a massive data center boom, and it's already starting to affect the Chicago Wilderness region. We're seeing rising electricity demand, more reliance on polluting backup generators, and growing pressure on local water supplies, with environmental justice communities often bearing the brunt of it. This Cafe will dig into what this trend means for our region and what's being done about it. Andrew Rehn from Prairie Rivers Network will walk us through how fast data centers are growing in Illinois, what that could mean for our ecosystems, water, and air quality, and introduce the POWER Act (SB4016/HB5513), which would require data centers to bring their own clean energy, protect ratepayers, improve water reporting and efficiency, and add new protections for vulnerable communities. Then Amy Doll from Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves will lead a conversation on how the conservation community can come together and advocate on this issue.

Presenters: 

Tarik Shahzad, The Nature Conservancy
Andrew Rehn, Prairie Rivers Network
Amy Doll from Friends, IL Nature Preserves 

---

Chicago Wilderness Alliance Partners: Create a Cafe

Are you a Chicago Wilderness Alliance partner with a conservation success story you'd like to share or a topic to introduce and discuss with your peers? We'd love to have you create a Cafe session! 

Cafes are conducted via Zoom and typically last 1 hour. We can provide template slides or other assistance. We'll also promote your session on social media and in our monthly newsletter. 

Complete the Cafe request form below to create and hold your own CWA Cafe. Or contact Laura Reilly to talk through your Cafe session idea. Thanks for sharing your expertise with the Chicago Wilderness Alliance network!