Elevated Chicago’s work is guided, implemented and evaluated by a Steering Committee.
Our Steering Committee is comprised of representatives from 17 organizations that work in and across neighborhoods, and throughout the Chicago region on issues of equity, opportunity, affordability, and culture and climate resilience. The Steering Committee (introduced below) and the proxy members who support them are joined by other people who support and advance the work of Elevated Chicago:
- Since our launch in 2017, three working groups (WG) comprised of steering committee members and other key stakeholders have been charged with designing and implementing strategies around Capital and Programs, Systems Change, and Knowledge Sharing.
- Also from Day One, inclusive Community Tables (CT) at our sites have informed our strategies and determined our priorities in support of capital projects, programs, policies, narratives, data, and technical assistance.
- A council of senior leaders from across the city and region has helped advance systemic change and work plan implementation since 2018.
- Our ETOD Working Group began forming in late 2019, comprised of a broad group of about people working in transit, affordable housing, community organizing, planning, public health and other issue areas; there are no more than 80 people involved
- In 2021, we are launching the Elevated DEI Leadership Cohort and Equitable Development Ambassadors initiatives; the former is for city leaders to explore ways to integrate diversity, equity and inclusion principles into city planning and the latter is for residents from our eHub communities to explore how to influence the principles of neighborhood development with community-driven action.
Our Steering Committee
(as of July 2019)
Center for
Neighborhood
Technology
Represented by:
Jacky Grimshaw
Chicago
Department of
Public Health
Represented by:
Megan Cunningham
Emerald South
Economic Development
Collaborative
Represented by:
Ghian Foreman
Enterprise
Community
Partners
Represented by:
Miriam Zuk
Esperanza
Health
Centers
Represented by:
Dan Fulwiler
Foundation For
Homan Square
Represented by:
Kevin Sutton
Garfield Park
Community
Council
Represented by:
Mike Tomas
Victoria (Vickie) Lakes-Battle
Latinos
Progresando
Represented by:
Luis Gutierrez
Latin United
Community Housing
Association (LUCHA)
Represented by:
Lissette Castañeda
The Chicago
Community
Trust
Represented by:
Michael Davidson
Logan Square
Neighborhood
Association
Represented by:
Christian Diaz
Metropolitan
Planning
Council
Represented by:
Kendra Freeman
Leslé Honoré
Sunshine
Enterprises
Represented by:
Jair Piñedo
UChicago Arts,
Arts + Public Life
Represented by:
Nootan Bharani
Funders
Lead funding for Elevated Chicago is provided by the Strong Prosperous and Resilient Communities Challenge (SPARCC) — an initiative of Enterprise Community Partners, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, the Low Income Investment Fund, and the Natural Resources Defense Council, with funding support from the Ford Foundation, The JPB Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and The California Endowment. Additional funding is provided by the Convergence Partnership, Enterprise Community Partners, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, and The Chicago Community Trust.
Management Team
Roberto Requejo
Marly Schott
Elevated Chicago appreciates support from interns, researchers and consultants who currently support, or have recently supported, our work.
Leadership Council
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Chicago Department of Transportation, City of Chicago, Represented by Kevin O'Malley, Managing Deputy Commissioner
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Chicago Metropolitan Planning Agency, Represented by Erin Aleman, Executive Director
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Chicago Transportation Authority, Represented by Michael Connelly, Chief Planning Officer
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City Treasurer, Represented by Melissa Conyears-Ervin, Treasurer
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ComEd, Represented by Melissa Washington, Vice President, External Affairs & Large Customer Services
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Cook County Land Bank Authority, Represented by Robert (Rob) Rose, Executive Director
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Dept of Housing, City of Chicago, Represented by Marisa Novara, Commissioner
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Dept of Planning and Development, City of Chicago, Represented by Eleanor Gorski, Commissioner (interim)
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Dept of Public Health, City of Chicago, Represented by Co-chair Allison Arwady, Commissioner (interim)
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Office of Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Represented by Samir Mayekar, Deputy Mayor for Economic and Neighborhood Development
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Office of Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Represented by Candace Moore, Chief Equity Officer
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Office of Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Office of Public Engagement, Represented by Juan Carlos Linares, Chief Engagement Officer
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Rush University Medical Center, Represented by David Ansell, Senior Vice President for Community Health Equity
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The Chicago Community Trust, Represented by Co-Chair Dr. Helene Gayle, CEO
