ENGAGING CHICAGO’S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES

IN THE CHICAGO CLIMATE ACTION PLAN

CONDUCTED BY: Environment, Culture, and Conservation (ECCo), a Division of Science at The Field Museum September 2008–October 2011

CONTACT: Dr. Jennifer Hirsch 312.665.7480 jhirsch@fieldmuseum.org

VISIT: fieldmuseum.org/climateaction to download research reports from the nine communities we studied

Sponsored by:

Research Partners:Commissioned by:

City of Chicago Department of Environment

PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH Each study is a participatory action research project, conducted by ateamincludingFieldMuseumanthropologists,stafffromtheChicagoDepartmentofEnvironment,and leaders of community-basedorganizationsinthestudycommunities.Together,theteamdesigns,conducts,andanalyzestheresearch.

ASSETS-BASED APPROACH TheresearchfocusesonidentifyingthesocialassetsofChicago’sdiverseneighborhoodsthatcanserveasspringboardsforscalingupexistingclimate-friendly practices and values andintroducingnewones.Socialassetsaredefinedasthesocio-culturalcharacteristics of communities that canserveasthebasisforengagingresidents in CCAP implementation in ways that will simultaneously address climatechangeandhelpcommunitiesachieve their visions for an improved quality of life.

The social assets we research include:

1. Awarenessandknowledgeofclimatechange;

2. Environmentally-friendly practices andvalues;

3. Community concerns that link environmenttoqualityoflife;

4. Key stakeholders and their processesforworkingtogetherandwithoutsidegroups;

5. InnovativeprogramsandpracticesrelatedtoCCAPstrategies;

6. Creativemodelsformobilizingresidents;

7. Communication and dissemination networksandstrategies.

The research also reveals a number of practices and beliefs that will potentially act as barriers to climate action efforts.

RESULTS Each study report includes recommendationsfortranslatingtheseassetsintoengagementprogramsthatwillhelpcommunityleaders take ownership of climate action. These recommendations are aimedatfacilitatingcollaborativeworkingrelationshipsamongtheCity,otherlargeorganizations,andcommunities, that result in community implementationoftheCCAPstrategiesandinjointproblem-solvingandsharingofbestpractices.Communitiesthat feel invested in the CCAP will contribute creative solutions to the broaderchallengeofdevelopingasustainableregion.

OVERVIEW PARTICIPATORY ACTION RESEARCH (PAR), 2008–2011

“EngagingChicagoCommunitiesintheChicagoClimateActionPlan”isanongoingseriesofethnographicstudiescommissionedbytheCityofChicagoDepartmentofEnvironment(DOE).TheyidentifystrategiesforeffectivelyengagingdiversecommunitiesthroughoutthecityintheimplementationoftheChicagoClimate Action Plan (CCAP).

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OVERVIEW RESEARCH AREAS

Research was conducted with nine communities. Communities were chosen to provide geographic, racial/ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity.

In some studies, we focused on a particular racial or ethnic group, in order to identify the ways in which cultural values and traditions might facilitate or hamper participation in climate action strategies. This focus also allowed us to follow people’s natural networks of friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances, which cross neighborhood boundaries and in some cases even extend beyond the city to the suburbs.

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WEST RIDGE

FOREST GLEN

PILSEN

SOUTH CHICAGO

ROSELAND

NKO

MILWAUKEE CORRIDOR

BRONZEVILLE

AUSTIN

SOUTH-WEST SIDE

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SOUTH CHICAGO

NORTH KENWOOD-OAKLAND-BRONZEVILLE

POLISH COMMUNITY

PILSENʼSMEXICAN COMMUNITY

WEST RIDGEʼS SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITY

ROSELAND

FOREST GLEN

AUSTIN

SOUTHWEST SIDE

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AWARENESS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

ECO-FRIENDLY PRACTICES

COMMUNICATION NETWORKS

Work through trusted organizations and existing networks

Tailor climate action campaigns to local concerns

Build on existing practices, programs, and values

Make climate change feel local and personal

Communicate through existing networks and popular mediums

STAKEHOLDERS AND RELATIONSHIPS

AWARENESS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

COMMUNITY CONCERNS

ECO-FRIENDLY PRACTICES

COMMUNICATION NETWORKS

COMMUNITY CONCERNS

ENGAGEMENT MODELS

ANALYSIS RECOMMENDATIONSRESEARCH

ACTION

SOCIAL INNOVATIONS

ENGAGEMENT MODELSSOCIAL

INNOVATIONS

STAKEHOLDERS AND RELATIONSHIPS

Methods:focusgroups;interviews;participant-observation;storycollecting;drawing;participatorymapping/photography;surveys;media and literature review.

Methods: weekly fieldnotesharingamongteammembers;weekly analysis at team meetings;rankingandcoding;communityreview;visualanalysis(word clouds, asset maps).

Recommendations are aimed at the DOE but also applicable to community-basedorganizations(CBOs)andtheircity-andregion-widepartners.

ECCo’sresearchishelpingshapeclimateactionprogramsatthelocal,city,andregionallevelsinwhichlargeinstitutionsandcommunityactorsworkcollaboratively to improve community life and address climatechange.

PROCESS RESEARCH TO ACTION

ECCo’s research is helping shape climate action programs at the local, city, and regional levels

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While the majority of residents are aware of andcareaboutglobalclimatechange,manydonotconnectittotheireverydaylivesinChicago.However, many residents do connect it to personal or culturalexperiencesfromotherplaces.

Theculturalandsocialbackgroundsofresidentsplaylargerolesinshapingtheirattitudesandbeliefsaboutclimatechange,nature,andtheenvironment.

Mostresidentsalreadyengageinarangeofgreenpractices in their daily lives, from the mainstream to thecreativeandcommunity-specific.

Climateactionprogramswilllikelybemostsuccessfuliftheyaredesignedandimplementedwithnetworksoftrustedcommunityorganizationsandleaders,build on cultural values, and identify and scale up existingpositivebehaviors.

Mostcommunitiesareinterestedinadoptingclimateactionprogramsthatproviderecognizable,community-levelco-benefits,includingbutalsobeyondcostsavings.

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relink pageRESEARCH 5 KEY POINTS

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African Americans in Roseland feel astrongconnectiontoAfrican-Americancommunitiesaffected by Hurricane Katrina, which many see as a climatechangeevent.

Polish A Polish contractor who recently renovatedhishomelearnedaboutanumberofgreenbuildingpracticesfromhisrelativesinPoland.

MexicanPilsenresidentsrelateexperiencesofdroughtandtheneedforwaterconservationwiththe Cierrale(“TurnitOff”)campaigninMexico,whichtheyequateto“GotMilk?”.

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS

While the majority of residents are aware ofandcareaboutglobalclimatechange,many do not connect it to their everyday livesinChicago.However,manyresidentsdo connect it to personal or cultural experiencesfromotherplaces. 1

• Identify and support culturally diverse environmentally-friendly traditions and values.

• Thinkglobal,actlocal Developclimateactioncampaignsandprogramsthatbuildonethniccommunities’connectionstoclimate-related events and climate-friendly practices from other places.

relink pageRESEARCH EXAMPLE OF A KEY POINT

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ANALYSIS RECOMMENDATIONSRESEARCH

ACTION

DAILY LIFE COLLABORATION

YOUTH-EDUCATION

GENTRIFICATION

CRIME-REENTRY-JOBS-OUTDOORS

LANGUAGE BARRIERS

CARPOOLING

Work through trusted CBOs already engaged in both environmental and social issues

Train CBOs to understand climate change

Build the capacity of CBOs to take the lead on climate action by linking it to co-benefits

Help CBOs become demonstration sites for climate action

Nurture collaborative relationships and peer learning

ENERGY

CAPACITY-BUILDING

CO-DELIVERY

COLLABORATION

SOUTH CHICAGO

FOCUS GROUPS

FOOD-GARDENS-HEALTH

KEY RESULTS ENERGY ACTION NETWORK (EAN)

From September 2008 to February 2009, ECCo conducts participatory ethnographicresearchinSouthChicagoandfocusgroupswithnonprofitleadersfromacross the city.

Analysis reveals: how organizationsconnectenvironmental and social issues;eco-friendlypractices and innovative programs;climateactionbarriers;howtoframeclimatechangeasalocalissueby“speakingthelanguageofhome.”

TheSouthChicagoreportincludes community and city-wide recommendations, which formed the basisfordevelopingandlaunching the EAN.

TheEANengages27trustedCBOsinscalingupretrofitsintheircommunities,increasingresidents’awarenessofclimatechange,andintegratingclimateactionintotheircoreagendasforimprovingquality of life.

ECCo’s research resulted in the formation of the Energy Action Network-Chicago

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KEY RESULTS CHICAGO COMMUNITY CLIMATE ACTION TOOLKIT

The Toolkit is a collaboration between ECCo and four community partners. It builds on theassetsidentifiedin the research to develop projects and toolsforengagingresidents in the region’sclimateaction plans.

Analysisidentifiesanumber of quality of life issuesbeingaddressedby local stakeholders that can be connected to regionalclimateactionstrategiestothebenefitof climate, nature, and community residents.

Toolkit community projects respond directly to recommendations from each community report in terms of both programfocus—linkingclimateactionstrategiestospecificco-benefits—andengagementapproach.

Each community has at least three partner organizationsleadingtheirlocalprojects.Organizationaltypesvaryandinclude:

• Community-basedorganizations

• Chamber of Commerce

• Girl/BoyScouttroops

• Faith-basedorganizations

• Community-based nature center

BRONZEVILLE

FOREST GLEN

SOUTH CHICAGO

ANALYSIS RECOMMENDATIONSRESEARCH

ACTION

PILSEN/MEXICAN COMMUNITY

HEALTHY EATING ARTISTIC PRACTICES

WATER/FLOODING

AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE

LACK OF GREEN SPACE

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

COMMUNITY IDENTITY

Grow community gardens into climate engagement hubs

Support climate action that promotes economic development

Develop climate action programs that preserve and promote heritage traditions

Provide CBOs with tools to educate residents about climate change in Chicago

Work with youth organizations to create climate action demonstration sites

Expand work around energy efficiency in existing buildings and raise its visibility

ENERGY CONSERVATION

WATER CONSERVATION

CLIMATE-FRIENDLY PLAY GARDEN

GREEN COMMUNITY TOURS

HEALTHY COOKING

The Toolkit mobilizes assets identified through the research to help communities implement climate action in locally meaningful ways

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KEY RESULTS RESEARCH TO ACTION

NOVEMBER 2, 2009MayorRichardM.DaleylaunchestheEnergyActionNetwork-Chicago(EAN)attheChineseAmericanServiceLeagueinChinatown.TheEANwasformedonthebasisofECCo’sresearch,andECCoservesontheEAN Leadership Team.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2010 CityofChicagocelebratesthe2ndanniversaryoftheCCAPatTheFieldMuseum,focusingonengagement.ECCostaffparticipateinapaneldiscussionandtourMayorDaleyaroundtheClimateChangeExhibit. SPRING-WINTER 2010 April21,2010:CMAPandtheCityareawardeda$25MRetrofitRamp-UpgrantfromtheU.S.DepartmentofEnergy,basedonaproposalthathighlightsECCo’sresearchasauniqueengagementstrategy. December2010:ECCoischosenaspartoftheCommunicationsStrategyTeam.

DECEMBER 17, 2010 ECCopresentswebinaronitsCCAPengagementstrategytotheCleanAirPartnership,whichservesasthesecretariatforanetworkofmunicipalitiesacrosstheGreaterTorontoAreaandSouthwestOntarioworkingcollaborativelytodevelopandimplementcleanairandclimatechangeactions. MARCH 1, 2011 ECColaunchestheChicagoCommunityClimateActionToolkitproject,whichengagesfourstudycommunities—ForestGlen,Pilsen,SouthChicago,andBronzeville—indevelopinglocally-ledclimateactionprograms.TheBoeing-fundedprojectwillresultinaWeb-basedtoolkittobesharedwithpartnersacrosstheregion. MARCH 1, 2011ECCodevelopsfirstdraftofCommunityAdaptationStrategiesfortheChicagoWildernessClimateActionPlanforNature,basedinpartonCCAPengagementresearchfindings. MARCH 11, 2011 ECCo receives an Environmental Justice Award for its community-based climate action work at “The CultureofClimateChange”conference,sponsoredbyTheGraduateCenterattheCityUniversityofNewYork. APRIL 30, 2011 ClaretianAssociatesandSpanishCoalitionforHousinglaunchtheSouthChicagoRetrofitProjectwithaneventattendedby300+residents.TheprojectwasformedonthebasisofECCo’sresearchinthecommunity,andECCoserves as a project adviser. SPRING 2011 U.S.DepartmentofEnergyrequestsshortwrite-upofECCo’sresearch-to-actionstrategytofeatureasabest practice on its newly launched website. MAY 2, 2011ECCopresentswebinaronitsCCAPengagementstrategytoUniversityofNotreDameClimateChangeand Adaptation Research Symposium. JUNE 2011 ECCoreleasescomparativevisualreportanalyzingfindingsfromsevenstudiescompletedtodate,byCCAPstrategy. JUNE 29, 2011TheEnergyActionNetwork-ChicagoreceivestheVictorineQ.AdamsAwardfromtheNationalFuelFundsNetworkinrecognitionofinstitutionalinnovationandachievement. OCTOBER 2011ECCopublishesanarticleonitsCCAPengagementworkinEnvironmentalAnthropologyToday (New York:BerghahnBooks):“LinkingClimateActiontoLocalKnowledgeandPractice:ACaseStudyofDiverseChicagoNeighborhoods.”

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