December 19, 2022 CMAP announces inaugural cohort for equitable engagement program The Community Alliance for Regional Equity launches January 2023 The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is excited to announce the inaugural cohort of a new pilot program designed to bring greater equity into regional planning, the Community Alliance for Regional Equity (CARE). Through CARE, CMAP will build stronger relationships with environmental justice communities, directly engage marginalized communities in long-range planning activities, and remove barriers to participation to drive more equitable outcomes in the region. This pilot program is federally funded through the Illinois Department of Transportation. Unlike more traditional advisory groups and committees, CARE members will be compensated for their work. Each of the 12 organizations in the cohort will receive a $10,000 unrestricted honorarium. Over the coming year, participants will work on four focus areas: Accelerate transportation and safety issues Contribute to regional decision-making processes Collaborate in the development of engagement and planning tools Reflect and shape the alliance’s processes and outcomes “I’m very proud that CMAP is leading this profound and powerful work that will help us advance our goals to foster an inclusive and thriving region throughout northeastern Illinois,” said Erin Aleman, executive director of CMAP. “We know that governments at all levels — including regional planning agencies — have played a role in past policies that have harmed marginalized communities through redlining, highway construction, zoning, and other decisions. CMAP would like to repair that harm by pursuing equity and transforming the way we engage with communities through the CARE program.” The 12 organizations that will form the inaugural CARE cohort include: Access Living Alliance of the Southeast Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County Batavia Community Diversity Initiative Elgin Community Bikes Evanston/North Shore NAACP Faith in Place Far South Community Development Corporation Hanul Family Alliance North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council Northwest Center Palenque LSNA “Hanul Family Alliance, which represents the voices of the Korean community in the metro Chicago area, is thrilled to be working with CMAP and be part of the CARE program. CMAP’s effort to engage traditionally excluded communities from the planning process is so much appreciated. We look forward to deepening our partnership with CMAP through this project by advocating on behalf of the unheard voices of our community members,” said Irene Jisun Sohn, executive director of Hanul Family Alliance. Christian Diaz, director of housing of Palenque LSNA, also said, “We are living an historic moment as we transition our society toward a more equitable and sustainable way of life. I’m excited to imagine new ways of planning and new ways of sharing power with historically targeted communities. CARE is an opportunity to innovate in the field of planning toward racial equity.” Pastor Scott Onqúe, policy director of Faith in Place, added, “The more education we have with nonprofits about such issues as climate-friendly transportation and community resiliency, the more motivated people will be to demand better access to safe, climate-friendly, efficient modes of transportation from their representatives in government.” During the CARE program design phase, CMAP worked with an advisory group of community-based organizations to develop seven principles that articulate how team members at CMAP want to serve historically marginalized and excluded communities through CARE. These principles include: Seek voices at the margins Show up in solidarity Elevate community wisdom Invest in trust Listen to understand Evolve decision-making Recognize the past to do better in the future These principles will guide CMAP’s work with CARE throughout the course of the program. As part of the pilot of this initiative, CMAP has also committed to an independent evaluation of the program by the Urban Transportation Center at the University of Illinois Chicago. About the inaugural cohort organizations Access Living ignites the power and pride of people with disabilities, provides critical services, and breaks down systemic barriers to create a more inclusive, and therefore much stronger, society. Alliance of the Southeast builds the capacity of leaders, organizers, and associations that carry out community and social change. It envisions a powerful grassroots base that impacts decision makers and wins real improvements in our neighborhoods. Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County works to end homelessness in suburban Cook County, through cross-sector collaboration, data-driven decision making, and removing barriers to housing. Batavia Community Diversity Initiative cultivates and strengthens Batavia’s commitment to diversity, equity, and belonging. Elgin Community Bikes uses bike riding to make Elgin a healthier, happier, and more equitable community. Evanston/North Shore NAACP achieves equity, political rights, and social inclusion by advancing policies and practices that expand human and civil rights, eliminating discrimination, and accelerating the well-being, education, and economic security of Black people and all persons of color. Faith in Place empowers people of diverse faiths and spiritualities to be leaders in advancing environmental and racial justice, providing resources to educate, connect, and advocate for healthier communities. Far South Community Development Corporation alleviates low-income communities within Chicago’s far South Side and south suburban Cook County of poverty, blight, and economic distress through effective economic and community development. Hanul Family Alliance provides the most comprehensive care and direct services to older adults and immigrant families throughout Chicagoland. North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council improves the physical, economic, and social fiber of the local community through strategic and comprehensive planning, civic engagement, and implementation of stakeholder-driven initiatives. Northwest Center identifies and responds to the needs of the community to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for the Belmont Cragin neighborhood and surrounding communities. Palenque LSNA is a catalyst for Black, Brown, Indigenous, and immigrant communities and allies to take care of one another and take strategic action for systemic change and a just, resilient, and joyful future. Media contact Jennie Vana jvana@cmap.illinois.gov Stay connected with your community Newsletter sign-up Opens in a modal Recent news Click to read Improving access to broadband internet Posted on Click to read Improving access to broadband internet Click to read Planning inclusive spaces for LGBTQIA+ communities Posted on Click to read Planning inclusive spaces for LGBTQIA+ communities Click to read How access to opportunity affects quality of life in northeastern Illinois Posted on Click to read How access to opportunity affects quality of life in northeastern Illinois Click to read 2021 Regional Excellence Award winners Posted on Click to read 2021 Regional Excellence Award winners