Nathalie P. Voorhees Center for Neighborhood and Community Improvement

New voter engagement grant available for non-profits! Learn about how an upcoming project to help non-profits foster voter engagement. Learn more here: https://uofi.box.com/s/ww8qky46fudqcg2bfraf2z9gr4oyzadc

Reimagine the Illinois Medical District (IMD) as a sustainable place to work, live, and play with a charrette hosted by our friends at the UIC Master of City Design (MCD) program

Check out new one-page briefs on a series of Voorhees Center reports, which explore everything from Chicago's food ecosystem to its population of individuals experiencing homelessness:

New One-Page Briefs from the Voorhees Center | Nathalie P. Voorhees Center for Neighborhood and Community Improvement | University of Illinois Chicago New One-Page Briefs from the Voorhees Center Maggie Schafer | Posted on November 02, 2023 Want to get a quick overview of the the Voorhees Center's recent work, but don't have time to sit down and read a full report? Then check out a our newest series of one-page briefs on our most recent reports. F...

What does the Chicago region’s Green Economy look like? Our newest report identifies and analyzes over 51,600 firms in industries involved in the economic transition to cleaner, more sustainable practices. Learn more at https://go.uic.edu/GreenFirms

What does Chicago's food-related economy look like? From candy to plant-based meat alternatives, our newest report "Food for Thought" explores the food ecosystem in the Chicago region.

We are thrilled to welcome Angela Hurlock as our newest Janet L. Smith Practitioner in Residence. Read more on our blog: https://voorheescenter.uic.edu/news-stories/the-voorhees-center-welcomes-angela-hurlock-as-our-practitioner-in-residence/

Want to learn about the Voorhees Center’s research, but don’t have time to read a full report? We get it. Check out our one-page briefs for a quick look at our recent projects – no time commitment needed! https://voorheescenter.uic.edu/news-2/project-briefs/

How does NASA's spending affect the economy? The Planetary Society's podcast interviewed Dr. Josh Drucker on the NASA Economic Impact Analysis authored and produced by the Voorhees Center: https://voorheescenter.uic.edu/news-stories/dr-joshua-drucker-discusses-the-nasa-economic-impact-analysis-on-podcast/

Upcoming event March 14!

As part of their public history project on Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, our friends in the UIC Global Asian Studies Program are hosting a talk with former 46th Ward Alderperson Helen Shiller on her donation of materials related to Chicago social movements and her recently published memoir, "Daring to Struggle, Daring to Win: Five Decades of Resistance in Chicago’s Uptown Community" (Haymarket Books, 2022). RSVP at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1RSk2vJ5ewq_BRpmupC6CYRJ9DZGEiAYHZOpc9t_Y6dU/viewform?edit_requested=true

We are proud to support Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center with their newest special exhibition, “The Negro Motorist Green Book.” This exhibition, developed by Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, offers an immersive look at the reality of travel for Black travelers in mid-century America.
In an era of Jim Crow laws and “sundown towns,” communities that explicitly prohibited Black travelers from staying overnight, Harlem postman Victor Green’s “Green Book” offered critical, life-saving information and sanctuary. The exhibition includes original artifacts, historic footage, and firsthand accounts that illustrate the resilience, innovation, and elegance of people choosing to live a full American existence. Learn more about the exhibit: https://ihm.ec/greenbook

Green infrastructure provides a sustainable and resilient alternative to traditional or "grey" infrastructure. Our newest report, the Landscape of Green Infrastructure in Chicago, takes a comprehensive look at this growing industry, its challenges, and its workforce in the region. Read more: https://voorheescenter.uic.edu/news-stories/exploring-the-green-infrastructure-landscape-in-the-chicago-region/

The Voorhees Center is happy to welcome Kevin Jackson as our inaugural practitioner in residence!

“I am honored for being selected as a resident practitioner at CUPPA – one of the premier urban planning and policy programs in the country. CUPPA is a different venue from my work environment and will offer some new angles, perspectives, and relationships." - Kevin Jackson.

Read more here: https://voorheescenter.uic.edu/news-stories/the-voorhees-center-is-happy-to-welcome-kevin-jackson-as-our-inaugural-practitioner-in-residence/

The Voorhees Center’s newest report, Green Economy Occupations in the Chicago Region, is an overview of occupations in the Green Economy that synthesizes ONET occupational data to provide employment, Job Zone, technology, certification, and task-related information. Based on the Bureau of Labor Statistic’s Standard Occupation Classification system, the report looks at the 320 occupations (out of 867) that the Brookings Institute identified as making up the Green Economy.

Exploring Workforce Development in the Green Economy | Nathalie P. Voorhees Center for Neighborhood and Community Improvement | University of Illinois Chicago Exploring Workforce Development in the Green Economy Posted on October 03, 2022 The Voorhees Center’s newest report, Green Economy Occupations in the Chicago Region, is an overview of occupations in the Green Economy that synthesizes ONET occupational data to provide employment, Job Zone, technolo...

Did you know architectural services is one of the strongest sectors in Chicago's green economy? We created an interactive bubble chart that lets you explore the Chicago Metropolitan Area’s (MSA’s) green economy industries and their evolution: https://voorheescenter.uic.edu/news-stories/the-chicago-metropolitan-areas-green-economy-exploring-changes-by-industry/

The Voorhees Center received an outpouring of heartfelt memories and tributes following the loss of our co-director Janet Smith. We have compiled some highlights that showcase the impact Janet had on the lives of many and are thankful to everyone who has reached out.
https://cuppa.uic.edu/academics/upp/remembering-janet-smith/ -to-janet

It is with deep sadness that we share the horrific news that Dr. Janet Smith passed away Monday night after a heroic fight with cancer. Janet was co-director of the Voorhees Center and a Professor in the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at UIC. Janet was a relentless advocate for justice and fairness with deep knowledge of community development and affordable housing. Her conviction for the protection of the rights of the disenfranchised were unparalleled; she was an inspiration to us and to our partners. She will be dearly missed by many.

Experts led by the dean of UIC’s School of Public Health continue to plea for Lori Lightfoot to deny a permit for General Iron’s scrap-metal operation in the low-income Southeast Side, citing the health issues this polluting facility will add to an already vulnerable population. Voorhees explored the demographic implications of the relocation from Lincoln Park to its proposed site back in 2018.

General Iron Move to Southeast Side Triggers Racial Equity Concerns By Nicholas Zettel and Jessica Kursman Scrap metal shredder General Iron has announced they are are moving from their current Lincoln Park site to a proposed site bordering the South Deering and He…

How will Pritzker's new Climate and Equitable Jobs Act bring Illinois to 100% renewable energy by 2050?

New Illinois Energy Bill Promises 100% Clean Energy by 2050. But How? | Nathalie P. Voorhees Center for Neighborhood and Community Improvement | University of Illinois Chicago New Illinois Energy Bill Promises 100% Clean Energy by 2050. But How? Maggie Schafer | Posted on October 04, 2021 Dustin Thompson, the Sierra Club jb We can’t outrun or hide from climate change…There is no time to lose. But what we can and must do, is fight to stop and even reverse the damage th...

The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, passed by senate last Monday, brings energy legislation to Illinois that sets the state on a path to 100% clean energy by 2050, provides nearly $700 million to Exelon nuclear plants, and requires emission cuts from municipal coal firing plants.

Gov. Pritzker signs sweeping energy legislation After months of negotiations on the bill, the Illinois Senate on Monday sent the legislation to Pritzker’s desk on a 37-17 vote — with three senators voting present — after the Illinois House voted last week to pass the measure.

With federal and state eviction moratoriums reaching set expiration dates, knowing who is at risk of eviction is more important than ever. Learn what is being done to better understand and protect vulnerable groups from evictions.

Issues in Community Planning: Evictions | Nathalie P. Voorhees Center for Neighborhood and Community Improvement | University of Illinois Chicago With federal and state evictions moratorium coming to an end, the Voorhees Center assisted with a new report to identify groups most at risk of losing their homes.

This week may be rainy, but this year has seen a slew of climate legislation that promises a brighter future. Learn more about the CLEAN Future Act, the Consumers and Climate First Act, and the Clean Energy Jobs Act with the Voorhees Centers' newest blog post.

Climate Legislation That Could Brighten Our Future by Taylor Gendel Photo by Julia Volk on Pexels.com As we emerge from quarantine, the sun appears to be shining a bit brighter on what the future may hold for efforts to deal with climate change. Ne…

A story from The Guardian about the Obama Presidential Center and fears over gentrification includes findings from our study on housing prices in the area.

Read the rest of the study on affordable housing and the Obama Center here: https://uofi.app.box.com/s/16uowmbmyidgdc6lzkc5gs10ukfae8gs

https://go.news.uic.edu/20215243

The Obama library is coming to Chicago. Will local residents be displaced? Complex slated for South Side’s Jackson Park prompts fears that low-income Black residents will be displaced

Greenwood, 1921: One of the worst race massacres in American history In 1921, a thriving Black neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, burned, leaving hundreds dead.

Tulsa massacre survivor at 107 years old testifies that the horror of that day never goes away Viola Fletcher was 7 years old when she witnessed one of worst acts of racial violence the US has ever seen.