Job Opportunity: Environmental Outreach Coordinator

Environmental Outreach Coordinator
Citizens Utility
Board, Chicago, IL

The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit statewide utility watchdog organization created to serve as a voice for residential and small business consumers. CUB strives for better service and lower rates for all Illinois residents. Our work ranges from challenging utility rate hike requests and fighting for better consumer protection laws in Springfield, to offering money-saving advice.

We are expanding our environmental work and are currently seeking an energetic, self-directed, public-interest-minded individual to fill the position of Environmental Outreach Coordinator to assist in CUB’s statewide advocacy and outreach efforts.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Assisting the Outreach Director in educating Illinois consumers about the connections between energy efficiency and lower energy costs.
• Building grassroots support for increased state and federal investment in energy efficiency
• Developing an understanding of demand-response and real-time pricing programs available for electricity consumers.
• Becoming conversant in how consumers can manage their utility costs by making their households more energy-efficient.
• Booking venues and promoting events with flyers, announcements, letters and phone calls to CUB members and the general public
• Working with CUB’s communications department to promote outreach efforts in the media
• Helping shape public message, identifying what works at the grassroots level and what doesn’t
• Making presentations at community events and meetings
• Other outreach duties as needed.

QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor’s degree
• Knowledge of environmental issues and/or previous campaign experience a plus
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• A proven commitment to public interest work
• Experience with new media and social networking advocacy a plus
• Willingness to travel throughout Illinois
• Valid Illinois driver’s license
• Having your own car is also a plus

Available: Immediately

To apply:
Click Here

Events: Wild Things 2009 Conference

Saturday, February 7, 2009
University of Illinois at Chicago

Please join us at a day-long conference that brings together the region's best experts, most dedicated volunteers and anyone interested in nature. Technical presentations and interactive workshops will explore the latest in natural areas preservation, wildlife protection and monitoring. The conference is organized in "tracks" designed for everyone from beginners to experts. There is special focus on empowering citizen scientists, stewards and advocates with information, networking and good ideas.

This event is open to the general public; it is not not just for "members" or professionals working within a certain discipline!

Click for More

CMAP Soles and Spokes Workshop

From 8:30 a.m. to noon on December 11, 2008, CMAP will host its 2008 Soles and Spokes Workshop, titled "The Nuts and Bolts of Implementing a Local Bikeway Plan." The location is CMAP's offices in Suite 800 of Sears Tower, 233 South Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL 60606. This half-day workshop will cover the basic steps of developing and implementing a local bikeway network, including route selection, directional signing, network planning and facility engineering. For more information, see the Workshop Flyer and Agenda (opens 316KB PDF). The workshop is being conducted in partnership with the Illinois Section of ASCE, Transportation Group. A fee of $25 is required, and registration will be available at ASCE's website starting Monday, November 17. For more information, contact John O'Neal (312-386-8822 or joneal@cmap.illinois.gov).

MUPP and REG Networking Opportunity

MUPPS,

REMINDER: this Thursday from 6-7:30 the REG (Real Estate Group) is
offering an event - Interpreting the Real Estate Economy.

This event would be of particular interest to Economic Development &
Community Development specialists.

This is a great opportunity to meet masters students in the UPP program
and working professionals specializing in real estate and development.

Please RSVP to carvan1@uic.edu if you plan on attending


INTERPRETING THE REAL ESTATE ECONOMY

Thursday, November 20, 2008
6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
UIC Student Center East
Conference Center
Fort Dearborn Room
3rd Floor

Featured Speaker:
Peter J. Marino
Senior Vice President
CB Richard Ellis / Melody

The election is over! What’s next?
Please join us for this in-depth and informative discussion on:

Real Estate in the U.S. Economy
Defining Real Estate and Its Economic Effects
Real Estate in the GDP
The Cyclicality of Real Estate
Current Problems in Real Estate and Lessons Learned

Jobs: Associate Planner in Janesville, Wi

Associate Planner (Transportation and Comprehensive)

Janesville, located in south central Wisconsin, is a progressive Council-Manager administered city of 63,000. This position has diverse responsibilities, emphasizing multi-modal transportation planning, data collection, and technical report preparation for the City of Janesville, the Janesville Transit System, and the Janesville Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).

Planner coordinates MPO activities and agendas, including preparation of annual work program, transportation improvement program, and the Long Range Transportation Plan. Position also involves comprehensive planning, current planning, and socio-economic analysis responsibilities as assigned.

Requires Bachelors degree in Urban Planning, Public Administration, Geography, or related field and two years relevant experience; or Masters Degree (preferred) and some local government experience. Individual must be self-motivated, energetic, posses excellent oral and written communication skills, strong customer service skills and experience in report preparation, public presentations, and software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and GIS. Salary range $39,406 to $56,008 depending upon education and experience. Excellent fringe benefit package.

Cover letter, resume, application, and references due December 12, 2008. Obtain applications M-F (7:30-4:30) at Municipal Building, 18 N. Jackson Street, or at www.ci.janesville.wi.us.

Submit materials to: Human Resources, City of Janesville, 18 N. Jackson Street, PO Box 5005, Janesville, WI 53547-5005; e-mail KalsonK@ci.janesville.wi.us.

News: Affordable Housing Rises Out Of Foreclosure Crisis

Source: NPR Morning Edition

November 17, 2008 · Lancaster, Calif., is a high desert community on the far outskirts of Los Angeles. Officials there are spending millions of dollars to fix up foreclosed properties and make them into affordable housing. The Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced $4 billion worth of grants to local development agencies nationwide to do the same thing. Rob Schmitz of member station KQED talks with Renee Montagne about Lancaster's progress fighting the foreclosure crisis.

Click for story

Baguio takes second look at Burnham Plan

BAGUIO CITY – This city, the country’s undisputed summer capital, was designed by Chicago-based architect Daniel Burnham to host 25,000 residents in 1906.

Officially chartered in 1909, Baguio will celebrate its centennial next year. The city achieved its maximum population in less than 50 years, from 489 residents in 1903 to 29,262 in 1948. Almost 100 years later, local architects and urban planners have been busy studying how much of the city’s development template could still be applied to an urban renewal campaign for a city population that reached 183,000 in 1991.

Baguio’s population grew to just under 300,000 after 2005, says Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr.
Filipinos today only remember Burnham for the manmade lake and park named after him. But his name has been inevitably tied to the city he helped build.

Feet First -- Building Walkable Communities

Help Make the Emerald City More Green!

Seattle Green Map, a local coalition of citizens and organizations concerned about the social and environmental health of Seattle, is looking for new members to help launch a print map of Seattle's "green" resources and expand the current interactive online version.
Started in 2002, Seattle Green Map (SGM) is an independent nonpartisan organization made up entirely of volunteers and supported by the contributions of time, resources, and funds from local organizations, businesses, government agencies, and individuals.

SGM is a part of the Green Map System (www.greenmap.org ), a global eco-cultural movement, energized by local action, knowledge, and responsibility. To date there are 378 green map projects throughout the world in 49 countries.

Seattle Green Map ( www.seattlegreenmap.net) is looking for people passionate about local sustainability issues and their community. Currently we are most in need of volunteers with skills, knowledge, or experience in the following areas: community outreach, web design, GIS online mapping, marketing and fundraising, and graphic design.
Everyone is welcome to join us for this community effort.

TO APPLY Interested people should contact Rebecca Deehr at becca@feetfirst.info.

UPPSA Holiday Party

You are invited to come out and celebrate Christmas in November! Yes we will be celebrating the holidays on November 21st and we're expecting all of you to come out and join us.

We will eat Korean Barbeque and then Karaoke!

What better way to celebrate the holidays? So please come out and meet us on Friday, November 21st at 6pm @:

San Soo Gap San 5247 North Western Avenue for dinner and

Lincoln Karaoke at 5526 North Lincoln Avenue afterwards!

Chicago History Museum Exhibit on High Speed Rail in Chicago

November 8, 2008–January 19, 2009

Chicago History Museum

KPMG and Paul and Katherine Snyder Community Gallery

Monday–Wednesday & Friday–Saturday 9:30 am–4:30 pm Thursday 9:30 am–8 pm; Sunday 12–5 pm

Free with museum entrance fee

The Chicago of the near future—too pluralistic, decentralized, and complex for the sort of comprehensive urban plan proposed by Daniel Burnham in 1909—will require new tools, mechanisms, and strategies. Burnham 2.0, promulgated and curated by the Chicago Architectural Club, will envision a new plan of Chicago in the form of discrete topics, episodes, and urban projects conceived by members of the Club working in teams. The show will also display the top entries in the Club’s biennial Burnham Prize international design competition, focusing this year on designs for one aspect of the new composite urban plan: an intermodal terminal in Chicago’s West Loop district where a regional high-speed train hub will interface with local highway, metro, and riverway networks.

Presented by the Chicago Humanities Festival in partnership with the Chicago Architectural Club and the Chicago History Museum