Center for Neighborhood Technology

Bridging the Gap Between Chicago and Nairobi

Last Saturday afternoon, at an intimate gathering at the Al Raby School for Community and Environment, Dr. Wangari Maathai presided over the dedication of a native garden planted in her name. Students, teachers and community members listened as Dr. Maathai spoke of the essential role gardens like the Wangari Maathai Natural Garden play in promoting urban renewal, social and environmental activism and raising awareness—from the Al Raby School on Chicago’s West Side to the Green Belt Movement in Nairobi, Kenya.

At the dedication, Al Raby students spoke about their experiences planting the native garden at the entrance of their school. Back in May, with the help of CNT and other community members, the concrete was removed and students helped to install a garden that will serve as an interactive learning site not only for students but for the East Garfield Park community.

The students also reflected on the important lessons they learned from leveling and turning soil, planting seeds and laying mulch, to now maintaining and monitoring the garden—one of the most valuable being the teamwork it required. One student reflected on her initial surprise to find she would not just be observing the garden, but helping to create it from scratch. Later, Dr. Maathai responded by pointing out that to invoke progress you often must “get down on the ground” and plant a garden yourself.

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Nobel Peace Prize Laureate to Attend Garden Dedication

On Saturday, September 22 at the Al Raby School for Community and Environment, Dr. Wangari Maathai, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, will join students, teachers, and community members to preside over the dedication of the Wangari Maathai Natural Garden. The garden was designed and created as a collaborative process between the Al Raby High School students, school staff, community members, CNT, and the City of Chicago. Speaking will be Dr. Maathai, Steve Perkins, Janice Jackson—Principal of Al Raby High School, and a student representative. For more information on the event, you can download the invitation.

Earlier this year, CNT and the Al Raby High School began transforming the school’s physical environment into the optimal environmental leadership learning setting with the installation of a native woodland garden. Named after the 2004 Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai in honor of her distinguished environmental work, the garden will help to beautify the main entrance of the school, and help connect the students to a living ecology by providing a hands-on experience in landscape design, creation, and maintenance.

CNT is the founding civic partner of the Al Raby High School for Community and Environment. Founded in 2004 by CNT Senior Vice President Stephen Perkins, this small student-centered high school envisions a student body inspired to intellectual excellence and personal responsibility through community and environmental activism.

This project is made possible through a $15,000 grant from the Prince Charitable Trusts as well as donated materials and services from Bob Porter, Natural Areas Manager of the North Park Village Nature Center, F.H. Paschen/SNNielsen, Christy Webber Landscapes, and R&R Mulch and Soil. The event is co-sponsored by Al Raby High School, CNT, Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, and Chicago Humanities Festival.

To read more about the Wangari Maathai Natural Garden, download the project fact sheet.

Regional Fare Hikes Put Burden on Low-Income Residents

The entire Northeastern Illinois region took a hit when the Illinois House failed to pass SB 572, a comprehensive transit funding and reform bill, which would have restructured the governance system for transit in Northeastern Illinois as well as guaranteed a long-term source of funding for transit. The bill would also have prevented CTA and Pace’s “doomsday” scenarios from coming into effect on September 16.

Moving citizens from their homes to their workplaces is a regional dilemma. Because the Governor has failed to present an effective solution to the mass transit crisis, low-income resident have the greater burden of carrying the cost of transit, versus an equitable tax increase to all residents.

All residents benefit from a viable transit system. A sales tax increase to all residents makes sense when reduced transit service and increased fares not only negatively impact tens of thousands of household budgets, but result in adding more vehicles to the region’s clogged roads and contributing to the region’s air pollution.
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Transit Future Update, 9/5

Transit Future Update, September 5

Legislative News

Last night the Illinois House failed to pass SB 572, a comprehensive transit funding and reform bill. The bill would have restructured the governance system for transit in Northeastern Illinois as well as guaranteed a long-term source of funding for transit. The bill would have prevented CTA and Pace’s “doomsday” scenarios from coming into effect on September 16.

Speaker of the House Michael Madigan has said that he will continue to try to pass the bill, calling a special session when enough votes can be found. Opposition to the bill comes mostly from suburban Republicans, who want to link any discussion of transit to a capital bill. Madigan and other supporters of the bill reject this approach because the need for transit operating funds is urgent, and the doomsday scenarios would likely go into effect before legislators could come up with a capital bill.

CTA Response

In response to yesterday’s vote, CTA president Ron Huberman issued the following statement:

“Today’s vote is a disappointment. The CTA has worked hard to build a coalition of bi-partisan support along with CTA union support. Without the much needed state funding, the CTA will be forced to move ahead with the proposed fare increases and service cuts in less than two weeks. This is not the result we wanted for our 1.6 million daily CTA riders. We intend to keep working with the legislature to win the necessary support to pass legislation by the 16th.”

Community Response

Community leaders spoke out quickly in support of the bill. Jacky Grimshaw, vice-president for policy of the Center for Neighborhood Technology, asked residents of the Chicago region to pressure their representatives to pass the bill:

“All of us who care about getting around the region must contact our legislators and the governor to stress the urgency of creating a sustainable transit system for our region. As transit riders, drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians, we all have a stake in a viable transit system. We cannot accept a do- nothing response from the people we elect to office to solve our problems.”

She also called on lawmakers to consider the long-term effects on the region:

“We need a public investment of transit for the social, economic and environmental future of the region. If we want to be a sustainable and livable region, we must invest in transit. We need long-term solutions not band-aids. We have to invest in our transit infrastructure to efficiently move citizens from the homes to their workplaces. Without a viable transit system, we will be clogging up the roads, increase air pollution and the cost of living in our region.”

We urge you to contact your legislator and express your disappointment in yet again failing to properly fund our mass transit system. Find your legislator at www.civicfootprint.org. Also read more in a press release CNT sent out today.

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The Center for Neighborhood Technology has launched the Transit Future campaign in response to the Chicago region’s transit crisis.

If you would like to support the Transit Future Campaign, please make a secure contribution by clicking on the button below.