ENGAGING CHICAGO’S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES in the Chicago ...€¦ · in the Chicago Climate Action...

ENGAGING CHICAGO’S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES

in the Chicago Climate Action Plan (CCAP)

©The Field Museum, ECCo, June 2011

Research TeamPrinciple Investigators:Dr. Jennifer Hirsch, The Field MuseumCommissioner Suzanne Malec-McKenna, City ofChicagoDr. Noshir Contractor, Northwestern UniversityDr. Alaka Wali, The Field MuseumDr. Lynne Westphal, USDA Forest Service,Northern Research Station

Project Team:Cherie LeBlanc Fisher, USDA Forest Service,Northern Research StationPatrick Yu-li Hsieh, Northwestern UniversityDr. Ruth Gomberg-Muñoz, Chicago CulturalAllianceLisa See Kim, The Field MuseumEdward Labenski, The Field MuseumRyan Lugalia-Hollon, The Field MuseumDr. Kate McClellan, The Field MuseumTroy Peters, The Field Museum/GlobalPhilanthropy PartnershipSarah Van Deusen Phillips, The Field MuseumAlison Saffold, Global Philanthropy PartnershipSarah Sommers, The Field MuseumSarah Suh, Northwestern UniversityMadeleine Tudor, The Field MuseumHua Wang, Northwestern University

Interns:Moses AdesolaKiona Baker-MitchellLaura BoothAlison CoatesAlison DivinoScott Alan EdsallJathel GarrettCatherine Grace GrahamIzabela GrobelnaCyrus HesterNadine IbrahimVincent JettDean JohnsonRicky Knuckles, Jr.Jessica LudwigSean MallinHarlem Marino Saavedra

©The Field Museum, ECCo

Project Managers:Dr. Lori Barcliff Baptista, The Field MuseumDr. Janette Bulkan, The Field MuseumDr. Rosa Cabrera, The Field MuseumDr. Christine Dunford, The Field MuseumMario Longoni, The Field MuseumDr. Willem Pieterson, Northwestern UniversityLindsay Young, Northwestern University

Sam McAleeseGeneva MorrisAsmah MubarakDeborah OlawaleDamian PeoplesAlyssa PflugerHannah PorstEmily SmithRebecca SmithBrenna TownleyIan WanJohanna WawroTaylor WegrzynYlanda WilhiteJuliana WilhoitDarian WilliamsCurtis WitekAlexandra Wong

Community PartnersSouth Chicago:Rosa Perea, Centro Comunitario Juan DiegoDinah Ramirez, Healthy Southeast ChicagoAngela Hurlock, Claretian AssociatesPatricia Zuniga, Claretian Associates, Northwestern AffiliateLeticia Estrada, Northwestern AffiliateNakia Mosby, Northwestern AffiliateJustin Hughes, Northwestern AffiliateCarnot Joseph, Northwestern Affiliate

North Kenwood-Oakland/ Bronzeville:Danielle Walters, Stateway Community PartnersDr. Clinton Nichols, Northwestern UniversityDr. Judith Singleton, Northwestern UniversityBeatrice Williams, Northwestern AffiliateKathy Wilson, Northwestern AffiliateRowkeena Ellis, Northwestern AffiliateEliayo Bruce, Northwestern AffiliateEric Williamson, Northwestern AffiliateCarolyn Mitchell, Northwestern Affiliate

The Polish Community:Rich Kujawa, The Polish Museum of AmericaJan Lorys, The Polish Museum of America

Pilsen:Jose Luis Gutierrez, Casa MichoacanZorayda Avila, Casa MichoacanGabriela Mendoza, Casa MichoacanRebeccah Sanders, Chicago Cultural AllianceMimosa Shah, Chicago Cultural Alliance

West Ridge:Modhurima Mukherjee, Indo-American Heritage MuseumNafisa Bandukwala, Indo-American Heritage MuseumMannan Bandukwala, Indo-American Heritage MuseumDorothie Shah, Indo-American Heritage MuseumRenuka Sharma, Indo-American CenterMimosa Shah, Chicago Cultural Alliance

Roseland:Angela Pace-Moody, The Energy Action Network-Chicago (EAN)Mettrice Davis, B.R.O.C.K. Social ServicesPhyllis Jones, B.R.O.C.K. Social ServicesWinona Stiff, B.R.O.C.K. Social ServicesBrenda Taylor, B.R.O.C.K. Social ServicesDorotha Tyler, B.R.O.C.K. Social ServicesBrenda Weil, B.R.O.C.K. Social ServicesCarolyn Thomas, God’s GangRuth Gardner-Woods, God’s GangDorothy Jenkins, Fernwood United Methodist ChurchBrenda Little, Fernwood United Methodist ChurchDerrick Red, Fernwood United Methodist ChurchRev. Al Sampson, Fernwood United Methodist Church

Forest Glen:Jennifer Herren Gatesman, Sauganash Chamber of CommerceMoira K. Pollard, Sauganash Community AssociationSue Williamson, Sauganash Community Association


Research was commissioned by the Chicago Department of Environment


Research Support

I. Research Approach…………………………………………………………………… 6II. Findings

A. Overall Findings1. Five Key Takeaway Points…………………………………………….. 152. Climate change perceptions and awareness………………………… 163. Community concerns and co-benefits………………………………… 234. Environmentally-friendly practices, values, and traditions………….. 285. Stakeholders, partnerships, and relationship-building………………. 34

B. CCAP Strategies1. CCAP Strategies 1&2: Energy…………………………………………. 402. CCAP Strategy 3: Transportation……………………………………… 473. CCAP Strategy 4: Waste Reduction…………………………………… 524. CCAP Strategy 5: Adaptation……………………………………………59

III. Communication and Dissemination……………………………………………… 67 IV. From Research to Action………………………………………………………… 75 V. Additional Resources……………………………………………………………… 81

Table of Contents

RESEARCH APPROACH


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• Fall 2008: The City of Chicago Department of Environment(DOE) commissions The Field Museum’s Division ofEnvironment, Culture, and Conservation (ECCo) to conductethnographic research on climate action

• Goal: Identify entry points for engaging diverse communitiesin the Chicago Climate Action Plan (CCAP)

• ECCo also explored entryways for community engagementin the Chicago region’s other climate action plan, ChicagoWilderness’ Climate Action Plan for Nature (CAPN)

Research Approach


Research Purpose7

Research Approach

Chicago Climate Action Plan (CCAP)


Five CCAP Strategies1. Energy Efficient Buildings

2. Clean & Renewable Energy Sources

3. Improved Transportation Options

4. Reduced Waste & Industrial Pollution

5. AdaptationWebsite: http://www.chicagoclimateaction.org

The CCAP lays out goals for reducing greenhouse gasemissions by 80% from 1990 levels by 2050, with an interimgoal of a 25% reduction from 1990 levels by 2020.

Goals

8

Research Approach


Five CAPN Strategies for Communities1. Gardening2. Water Conservation3. Monitoring4. Environmental Stewardship5. Environmental Education

Website:http://www.chicagowilderness.org/pdf/CAPN_Brochure-FINAL_singlepages_WEB_6.21.10.pdf

The CAPN outlines ways to improve the health of regional naturalareas and to make them more resilient to changes in our climate. Itis complementary to the CCAP, but differs in that it focuses onclimate change impacts to biodiversity and addresses climatechange on a regional scale throughout the Chicago Wilderness area.

Goals

Climate Action Plan for Nature (CAPN)9

Research Approach

1 SOUTHCHICAGO

WEST RIDGESOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITY

NORTH KENWOOD-OAKLAND/BRONZEVILLE

POLISHCOMMUNITY

FORESTGLEN

PILSENMEXICAN COMMUNITY

ROSELAND

23456

7

3

1

2

4

5

6

7


Multiple Communities, One Study10

Stateway Community Partners

PILSEN’SMEXICAN

COMMUNITY

WEST RIDGE’SSOUTH ASIANCOMMUNITY

SOUTHCHICAGO

FORESTGLEN

POLISHCOMMUNITY

NORTHKENWOOD-OAKLAND/

BRONZEVILLE

ROSELAND

INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS

Research Approach

Participatory Action Research


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ClimateAction

CommunityConcerns

Eco-FriendlyValues &Practices

SocialInnovations

CommunicationNetworks

Leaders &Stakeholders

Research Approach

Identify Entryways to Climate Action


CreativeModels of

Engagement

Awareness &Knowledgeof Climate

Change

12

Online surveysFocus groupsVisual activitiesParticipant observationStory collectingSocial network surveys(North Kenwood-Oakland/Bronzeville,South Chicago)

Research Approach

Research & Analysis Methods


Participatory mapping & photographyInterviewsMedia & literature reviewCoding, categorizing, rankingVisual analysis: word clouds,

asset mapsCommunity review & presentations

13

FINDINGS


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Five Key Points

Five Key Takeaway Points1. While the majority of residents are aware of and care about

global climate change, many do not connect it to their everydaylives in Chicago.

2. The cultural and social backgrounds of residents play large rolesin shaping their attitudes and beliefs about climate change,nature, and the environment.

3. Most residents already engage in a range of green practices intheir daily lives, from the mainstream to the creative andcommunity-specific.

4. Climate action programs will likely be most successful if they aredesigned and implemented with networks of trusted communityorganizations and leaders, build on cultural values, and identifyand scale up existing positive behaviors.

5. Most communities are interested in adopting climate actionprograms that provide recognizable, community-levelco-benefits, including but also beyond cost savings.


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CLIMATE CHANGEPERCEPTIONS & AWARENESS


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PERCEPTIONS & AWARENESS

• Study participants expressed asense of responsibility toward theenvironment.

• Participants typically discussedclimate change in connection withchanges in weather patterns andother aspects of the natural world.

• Connections to salient disasterslike the BP Oil Spill or HurricaneKatrina were commonly made.

• Many also pointed to icons ofclimate change: polar bears,melting ice caps, and Al Gore.

Attitudes and Awareness


Climate Change Perceptions & Awareness 17


Many Chicagoans – especially those with recent immigrantbackgrounds – gain awareness of the impacts of climatechange through their global (e.g., India, Mexico) andtransregional (e.g., U.S. South) connections.

Global / Transregional Connections




• Though residents recognize the seriousness of globalclimate change and the importance of caring for thenatural environment, they generally do not connect it totheir lives in Chicago.

• In general, many Chicagoans view climate change as:

Climate Change in Chicago


Climate Change Perceptions & Awareness

- invisible in Chicago- lacking urgency- someone else’s agenda- the fault of big business and/or government- something they cannot individually impact Word cloud representing words/phrases that

participants associate with “climate change”, withmore frequently occurring words appearing larger

19

Heritage and CultureBroader cultural frameworks inform residents’ understandings ofnature, the environment, and climate change.

religionnatural resourceshome/garden aesthetics

outdoor spaceglobal/local responsibilitykinship, family, & community



Many residents’ perceptions of climate change areinformed by environmental action campaigns and greenpractices in their home countries.

Memory and ExperienceClimate Change Perceptions & Awareness


Solar oven used on Indian rooftops 1970s water conservation campaign from Mexico City

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• Identify and support culturallydiverse environmentally-friendlytraditions and values.

• Present climate change as atransnational and transregionalissue, addressing ethniccommunities’ connections totheir homeland cultures (“Thinkglobal, act local”).

RecommendationsClimate Change Perceptions & Awareness


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COMMUNITY CONCERNS & CO-BENEFITS


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Connections to Other ConcernsCommunity Concerns & Co-Benefits


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HeritageCommunity Concerns & Co-Benefits


Heritage (ethnic, cultural, community, linguistic, etc.) is anothercommunity concern that can be creatively used as a springboardfor climate action, and one that ECCo’s anthropologists identifiedin all seven community studies conducted to date.

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Nationally discussed co-benefitsEconomic

developmentand green jobs

Jobs: tradesand domestic

cleaning services

TransportationHealth

Cultural heritage(not raised as issue)

Polish community concerns in the Chicago area

Example of Concerns: Polish Community

Healthy livingHome

Community Concerns & Co-Benefits

Cost savings


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• Make climate change feel local, personal, and actionable.• When possible, tailor climate action programs to

community-specific assets and concerns.

RecommendationsCommunity Concerns & Co-Benefits


Health and food in West Ridge Housing in North Kenwood-Oakland/Bronzeville

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ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLYPRACTICES, VALUES, & TRADITIONS


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Even if they are skeptical about climate change, residents engagein environmentally-friendly practices for a variety of reasons:

Environmentally-friendly Practices, Values, & Traditions

Beyond Environmental Action

cost savingssense of responsibilitycultural traditions/heritageindividualistic principles

community beautificationhealthyouth developmentsocial pressure


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Creative Solutions to Environmental Problems


Many residents and communityorganizations find their ownsolutions to environmentalproblems

Examples, clockwise from top: growing your own produce; usingair conditioning drippings to water garden; using stuffed toys aswindow insulation; litter-free zone in Auburn-Gresham, acommunity-level recycling initiative

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Mainstream Practices

Communitiesare also activelyparticipating inclimate actionstrategiesencouraged bythe City, oftenthroughcommunityorganizations.


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Barriers to Community Participation in Climate Action


• Practical barriers include: - concerns about new technology (e.g., safety, functionality, aesthetics) - perceived cost of green living - personal safety concerns (e.g., public transportation or walking)• Some practices carry stigmas insome neighborhoods; they areseen as indicators of rural life, lackof education, and low social class: - raising chickens - hanging clothes to dry - gardening


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• Start where people are at:showcase and reward thepractical and creative wayscommunities are alreadyengaged in climate-friendlypractices.

• Create campaigns thataddress particular fears &concerns and that framestigmatized practices in apositive light.

• Link environmentally-friendlypractices to larger, structuralsolutions.


Recommendations


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STAKEHOLDERS, PARTNERSHIPS, & RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING


34

• Community-BasedOrganizations (CBOs): socialservice agencies, communityand business associations,local art centers, advocacygroups, CDCs, etc.

• Property managers• Religious institutions• Local media• Local businesses• Schools/universities/colleges• Neighborhood government• Women’s organizations

Stakeholders, Partnerships, & Relationship-building

Stakeholder Groups


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North Kenwood-Oakland/Bronzeville:Brokering Organizations Connect Outside & Inside

Polish Community:Support from Suburbs & Poland

Stakeholder ModelsStakeholders, Partnerships, & Relationship-building


Forest Glen: Pursuing Multiple Avenues

Stakeholders work differently in different communities

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• CBOs serve as trusted alternatives to City/outside organizations.• Some CBOs are highly trusted but are not seen as potential

sources for environmental or climate change information


Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)


North Kenwood-Oakland/Bronzeville

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Social Justice and EnvironmentalismSome stakeholder groups seeenvironmental issues in terms oflocal social justice issues:

• Food• Health• Pollution• Green space• Education• Safety• Immigration



38

• Engage local organizations as community experts and provide themwith the tools to connect their work with climate action.

• Identify and work with a variety of stakeholders, including those thatserve as cultural brokers between their communities and outside(powerful) institutions.

• Identify and work with:– CBOs with a broad geographic sphere of influence (e.g., Bronzeville

Alliance)– Umbrella organizations (e.g.Chicago Wilderness, Chicago Cultural

Alliance)– Organizations that collaborate with CBOs that work city-wide (e.g.,

Heartland Alliance, The Resource Center, etc.)• Incentivize participation in climate action programs through reciprocal

marketing with CBOs and businesses.• Offer and incentivize regular networking opportunities for community

leaders and members to share climate action ideas and best practices.


Recommendations


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CCAP STRATEGIES 1 & 2Energy Efficient Buildings

Clean & Renewable Energy Sources


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Ranking Energy Practices

High Rankingusing CFLs

turning off lights & appliancesopening windows & using drapes

using energy-efficient devices

Low Rankingretrofitting

using renewable energybuilding green

hot water systems


CCAP Strategies 1 & 2: Energy

Unshaded windows provide passive heating Solar water heater

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• Practical barriers to making larger energy-related changesinclude upfront cost and renter-landlord arrangements.

• Many residents feel they lack the expertise to deal withcontractors/inspectors and are wary of contractor scamsand home energy “inspections.”

• Aging or deteriorating housing stock precludes someresidents from getting retrofits.

• Co-delivery programs become problematic whenremediation resources have not been identified.

Barriers to Structural ChangeCCAP Strategies 1 & 2: Energy


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Barriers to Structural Change• Some residents are taking actions based on marketing

(e.g. windows) and on their own perceptions of theirhomes’ needs instead of pursuing energy audits.

• A lack of centralized, actionable information on energyefficiency beyond mainstream measures leaves residentsunsure of how to proceed.

• Many communities are beginning to organize aroundgreen jobs but are concerned that they will be left out of thelarger movement.

• Many residents express concern that “going green” is onlyfor the wealthy and that large-scale green efforts, such asretrofitting programs, are run by powerful institutions andgovernment agencies with ulterior motives.



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Residents who retrofit their homes do so for a variety of reasons:

Retrofitting

comfortbeautificationnoise abatement

cost savingsmaintaining property valueenvironmental impact



‘Hybrid House’ in Bronzeville with solar panels, geothermal heat pump, andtraditional root cellar and garden

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A handful of home and business owners in each community haveturned to clean and renewable energy sources, such as solarpanels, geothermal wells, and alternative fuels. However, mostresidents remain deterred by high up-front costs.

Clean and Renewable Energy


CCAP Strategies 1 & 2: Energy 45

• Develop retrofit programs that use trusted local contractors andliaisons from recognized local organizations during energyaudits and construction.

• Enlist influential and trusted homeowners to get energy auditsand share their experiences with their communities.

• Provide comparative informational tools that allow residents toprioritize energy efficiency steps, locate qualified providers, andeasily utilize rebate and credit programs.

• Create retrofit programs that connect energy efficiency to theother benefits people see in retrofitting.

• Make retrofitting a talked about status symbol.• Support and reward those who are turning to clean and

renewable energy sources.

Recommendations


CCAP Strategies 1 & 2: Energy 46

CCAP STRATEGY 3IMPROVED TRANSPORTATION


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• Most residents are happy to take advantage ofenvironmentally-friendly transportation options as long asthey are convenient and inexpensive.

• Participants who live or work in the suburbs found littleincentive in taking public transportation, mostly because ofaccessibility/convenience issues.

• Public transportation is not as big of a concern to residentswho own cars.

CCAP Strategy 3: Improved Transportation

Public Transportation


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Barriers to Using Public Transportation


• Safety concerns

• Infrequent/inconsistent service

• Poor proximity to routes

• Transporting work materials

• Rising fares & service cuts

• Respiratory health concerns

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• Walking• Biking• Bike and Car

sharing• Carpooling• Choosing

hybrid models& avoiding gasguzzlers


Other Reported Strategies


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• Increase residents’ access to public transportation byestablishing more routes and standardizing schedules.

• Work with communication outlets and violenceprevention programs, like CAPS and Safe Passage, toencourage safe use of the CTA.

• Work with CBOs to implement programs that encourageoutdoor activities such as walking and riding bicycles,and connect these practices to healthy living.

• Address residents’ concerns about respiratory health byexpanding the City’s clean fleet of buses and cars.


Recommendations


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CCAP STRATEGY 4WASTE REDUCTION


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• Water contamination and poor air and soil quality, results ofindustrial pollution, have become galvanizing health issuesfor many working class communities.

• Better waste management is routinely associated withneighborhood beautification.

• In some communities, school and youth programs, such as“no-trash lunches” in Forest Glen and the Litter Free ZoneInitiative in Auburn-Gresham, have played a catalyzing rolein waste reduction.

• Many residents continue traditions of using naturalmaterials; others have switched to using green householdproducts, which they view as healthier for their families andbetter for the environment.

CCAP Strategy 4: Waste Reduction

Pollution and Litter


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• In some communities CBOs coordinate community recyclingefforts.

• Many residents are motivated to recycle because it is free,easy, and helps to maintain neighborhood beauty and health.

• Some expressed a desire for greater access to electronic andappliance recycling programs.

• Some small businesses have created composting partnershipswith local gardeners and area farms.


Recycling


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• Cutbacks and differences in recycling programs from neighborhoodto neighborhood have led to confusion and skepticism.

• Some communities without easy access to recycling resent being “leftout” of the City’s Blue Bin recycling program.

• Many residents pointed to the City’s failed Blue Bag program as anindication that Chicago’s recycling services are untrustworthy andthus not worth participating in.

• Some residents cited preoccupation with more immediate concernsas a reason for why they don’t recycle.

• Others perceive green consumption/consumerism to be asenvironmentally responsible as reusing and recycling.

• Some residents expect City assistance to take on practices thatbenefit the common, rather than the individual, good or for which asubsidy has been offered in the past (e.g., rain barrels).


Barriers to Waste Reduction


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• Traditions of frugality, negative perceptions of wastefulness,vintage fashion and design trends, and artistic movements havedriven residents to reuse and repurpose.

• Residents varied as to which items they were motivated torepair or reuse.

• Clothing donation drop boxes are available in mostcommunities.


Reusing and Repurposing


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• Residents commonly cited easy, at-home water conservationpractices as part of their daily routines.

• Residents are becoming more aware of the benefits of usingrain barrels, rain gardens, and native plants at home.

• While some residents pointed to Lake Michigan as evidence ofunlimited water supplies, others recognized it as a valuable andfinite resource.


Water Conservation


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• Offer inter-generationalprograms that focus on sharingpractices related to recycling,repurposing, and reusing.

• Provide easy access to recyclingprograms for all residents orhelp CBOs implement their ownlocal recycling programs.

• Support businesses that offerrepair services.

• Publicly celebrate residents whopractice waste reduction.


Recommendations


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CCAP STRATEGY 5ADAPTATION


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CCAP Strategy 5: Adaptation

Adaptation: Perceptions and Awareness


• Our researchers defined climate change adaptation aseverything we can do to reduce the impacts of climatechange on the Chicago region that occur as the result ofextreme weather events.

• Adaptation often fell last in communities’ rankings of CCAPstrategies because of poor understanding of the word andconfusion of the terms “adaptation” and “mitigation.”

• While adaptation is still an unclear concept for many,adaptation strategies, such as creating more green spaceor gardening, are of high importance in most communities.

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Urban Agriculture & Community Gardens• Many community organizations

are using urban agriculture as away to address a myriad ofissues including food access,job creation, youth development,education, beautification, crimeand safety, and senior well-being.

• Residents are sometimes waryof gardening in their yards forpractical reasons such as spaceconstraints and poor soil qualityor due to social stigma (seeSlide 32).


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Local, Seasonal Food• Farmers’ markets thrive in many neighborhoods and provide

access to fresh meat and produce in “food desert” areas of thecity. They also connect sustainable food production to jobgrowth, healthy living, and appreciation of nature.

• Cultural preferences for “natural” food and home-cooked mealshave led many to adopt organic, seasonal, and local diets.


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Land Stewardship• For some residents,

environmental stewardship is amoral responsibility – a way tolive in accord with nature.

• Cultural/community heritagecan provide entryways intocommunity-specific stewardshipinitiatives by reinforcing claimsto the land.

• Residents without easy accessto natural areas have becomestewards of the land in otherimportant ways, e.g. throughcommunity gardening initiatives.


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Connecting to NatureChicagoans connect to and usenature in a variety of ways, including:


- bike trails- gardens- parks- vacations to natural areas- connections to farms/farmers- Lake Michigan- fishing- paddling- nature preserves- land ownership

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Environmental Education• Residents turn to both formal and

informal educational sources tolearn about climate action.

• Many noted that they learn aboutclimate science when their childrenlearn about it at school.


Examples, L to R: children in Forest Glen making pledges to climateaction; children’s art showcasing the ecological importance of butterflies;educational workshop about energy efficient cultural traditions

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Recommendations• Provide empty lot owners with incentives for leasing unused land to

organizations for beautification and gardening purposes.• Reinforce links between cultural heritage and stewardship.• Support programs to plant trees in public areas to provide both cooling

shade and neighborhood beautification.• Create new arenas for intergenerational learning about adaptation

strategies.• Encourage residents and business owners to plant climate-friendly

gardens that showcase native plants and edibles.• Work with local organizations to integrate climate change information

into financial education classes.• Connect local concerns about flooding and water contamination to

green infrastructure as a strategy for storm water management.• Encourage residents to find relief from hot days in shady natural areas

like forest preserves and parks.©The Field Museum, ECCo

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COMMUNICATION & DISSEMINATION


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Word-of-mouth is an essential source of community news andprovides credence to information that residents receivethrough other channels.

Word-of-MouthCommunication & Dissemination


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Many communities have long-held traditions of conveying messagesand community identity through public art in visible public spaces.

Public ArtCommunication & Dissemination


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Demonstrating rather than merely communicating greenstrategies is key to engaging residents.

Communication & Dissemination

Green Demonstration Sites


Green roof in Forest Glen Reclaimed wood staircase in Bronzeville

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• Create word-of-mouthcampaigns through informalcommunications networks.

• Educate local opinion leaders onclimate change and deploy themas climate action ambassadors.

• Provide support for communitiesto develop green demonstrationsites, including through publicarts programming.


Recommendations


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• Residents turn to a range of community/ethnic newspapers,radio shows, and local and international televisionprograms for information and news.

• Local media provides communities with extensive coverageof salient international and local events, whereas nationalmedia is a source of more generalized information.

• Topics covered in local media outlets can serve as potentiallinks to climate action topics.


Established Media Outlets


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• Though most participants reported using the Internet, themajority do not actively seek general climate changeinformation, in part because they are unsure where tolook.

• Some residents consult the Internet for green DIY projects.• Many CBOs expressed a desire to increase their online

presence.• Older residents (40+) prefer to receive information by

email, word-of-mouth, and mailings than by socialnetworking sites or texting.


Digital Media


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• Link climate action to topics that already receive significantcoverage in local media

• Pitch media stories about Chicago’s climate action work tointernational media outlets.

• Work with CBOs to drive website usage and to providecommunity-specific information about climate action resources.

RecommendationsCommunication & Dissemination


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FROM RESEARCH TO ACTION


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Research to Action

Creative Models for Engaging Residents


Art & Heritage

Gardening/Urban Agriculture

Green Demonstration Communities

Youth Development/EducationRecycling/Repurposing

These five topics are especially promising for their ability to mobilize residentsaround social and environmental/climate change-related concerns:

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Key Results IResearch to Action


Founded in September 2009 by DOE in part asa response to ECCo’s CCAP research.Engages 27 community organizations in scalingup energy efficiency efforts in their communitiesand becoming environmental ambassadors.http://fieldmuseum.org/explore/department/ecco/EAN

A two-year, community-intensive version of theEAN that aims to scale up energy efficiencyefforts and residential retrofits by targetingparticular blocks and community networks andconnecting energy efficiency to othercommunity concerns.http://www.claretianassociates.org/display.aspx?pointer=10493

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Key Results IIResearch to Action


Chicago Region Initiative for Better Buildings(CRIBB)

Draws on CCAP and quantitative research tobuild a market for retrofits within the Chicagoregion. $25M initiative funded by the U.S.Department of Energy and led by the ChicagoMetropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP)with the City of Chicago Department ofEnvironment http://www.cmap.illinois.gov/policy-updates/-/blogs/291266

Translates Field Museum research intocommunity education and organizing tools thatground climate change in Chicagoneighborhood culture. Helps communitiesmobilize residents around CCAP, CAPN, andcommunity concerns.http://fieldmuseum.org/explore/department/ecco/making-climate-change-local

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Key Results - OverviewResearch to Action


NOVEMBER 2, 2009 Mayor Richard M. Daley launches the Energy Action Network-Chicago(EAN) at the Chinese American Service League in Chinatown. The EAN was formed on thebasis of ECCo's research, and ECCo serves on the EAN Leadership Team.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2010 City of Chicago celebrates the 2nd anniversary of the CCAP at TheField Museum, focusing on engagement. ECCo staff participate in a panel discussion andtour Mayor Daley around the Climate Change Exhibit.

SPRING-WINTER 2010 April 21, 2010: CMAP and the City are awarded a $25M RetrofitRamp-Up grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, based on a proposal that highlightsECCo’s research as a unique engagement strategy. December 2010: ECCo is chosen aspart of the Communications Strategy Team.

DECEMBER 17, 2010 ECCo presents webinar on its CCAP engagement strategy to theClean Air Partnership, which serves as the secretariat for a network of municipalities acrossthe Greater Toronto Area and Southwest Ontario working collaboratively to develop andimplement clean air and climate change actions.

MARCH 1, 2011 ECCo launches the Chicago Community Climate Action Toolkit project,which engages four study communities—Forest Glen, Pilsen, South Chicago, andBronzeville—in developing locally-led climate action programs. The Boeing-funded projectwill result in a Web-based toolkit to be shared with partners across the region.

MARCH 1, 2011 ECCo develops first draft of Community Adaptation Strategies for theChicago Wilderness Climate Action Plan for Nature, based in part on CCAP engagementresearch findings.

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Key Results – Overview (cont.)Research to Action


MARCH 11, 2011 ECCo receives an Environmental Justice Award for its community-basedclimate action work at “The Culture of Climate Change” conference, sponsored by TheGraduate Center at the City University of New York.

APRIL 30, 2011 Claretian Associates and Spanish Coalition for Housing launch the SouthChicago Retrofit Project with an event attended by 300+ residents. The project was formedon the basis of ECCo's research in the community, and ECCo serves as a project adviser.

SPRING 2011 U.S. Department of Energy requests short write-up of ECCo’s research-to-action strategy to feature as a best practice on its newly launched website.

MAY 2, 2011 ECCo presents webinar on its CCAP engagement strategy to University ofNotre Dame Climate Change and Adaptation Research Symposium.

JUNE 2011 ECCo releases comparative visual report analyzing findings from seven studiescompleted to date, by CCAP strategy.

JUNE 29, 2011 The Energy Action Network-Chicago receives the Victorine Q. Adams Awardfrom the National Fuel Funds Network in recognition of institutional innovation andachievement.

OCTOBER 2011 ECCo publishes article on its CCAP engagement work in EnvironmentalAnthropology Today (New York: Berghahn Books): “Linking Climate Action to LocalKnowledge and Practice: A Case Study of Diverse Chicago Neighborhoods.”

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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES


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For More Information, Visit Us on the WebAdditional Resources

http://fieldmuseum.org/climateaction


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Community Asset Maps Available OnlineAdditional Resources


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Additional Resources

For questions or additional information, please contact Dr.Jennifer Hirsch, Urban Anthropology Director at The FieldMuseum, at (312) 665-7480.

©The Field Museum, ECCo, All Rights Reserved. For more information, visit www.fieldmuseum.org.

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