Give Back to the Community
During our 10th year anniversary and in every year to come, USGBC-Illinois wants to ensure that the promise of green buildings and sustainable communities aren’t just for some Illinois residents but for everyone! Given this, USGBC-Illinois believes strongly in supporting member-driven community service projects across our state. There are several ways for members to participate in one or all of our community service projects outlined below. We are still in the planning stages on many of these, so please check back often as we will be updating this page with additional details as we have them.
- Chicago Public Schools LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations + Maintenance pilot project – USGBC-Illinois is working with Chicago’s Prescott school to assist the school in achieving the LEED EB: O+M certification. Chapter members with knowledge of LEED EB: O+M, mechanical systems, energy conservation strategies, water conservation, and other issues related to ongoing sustainable operations are needed and encouraged to get involved. Contact Doug Widener, Executive Director, for more information at: dwidener@usgbc-illinois.org.
- Rebuilding Together, April 28 – USGBC-Illinois’ Emerging Professionals Committee is sponsoring a team for this spring’s 2012 Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago project, a one-day community service project where teams assist families across the metro-region in a variety of home improvement projects. For more information how to get involved, contact Joan Martin, Manager of Membership and Outreach at: jmartin@usgbc-illinois.org.
- Northern Illinois Foodbank, Geneva, April 19– Join USGBC-Illinois’ Fox Valley Branch for a tour of Geneva’s Northern Illinois Foodbank and lend a hand volunteering. Exact volunteer roles for the event will be determined based on organizational need that day. For more information contact Joan Martin, Manager of Membership and Outreach at: jmartin@usgbc-illinois.org.
- Habitat For Humanity Work Days – USGBC-Illinois will be working with Chicago’s Windy City Habitat for Humanity to assist with the building of its first two LEED certified homes beginning this spring. In addition, USGBC-Illinois’ Rockford/Northern Illinois Branch will also be participating in a Habitat Humanity work day in Rockford. For more information on the Chicago project, contact Katie Kaluzny, Associate Director at: kkalunzy@usgbc-illinois.org . For the Rockford project contact Mike Dudek, Branch Chair, at mdudek@larsondarby.com. If you would like to organize a Chapter work-day with your local Habitiat for Humanity or another group focused on affordable housing, contact Joan Martin, Manager of Membership and Outreach at: jmartin@usgbc-illinois.org.
- Community Partners for Affordable Housing Work Days – USGBC-Illinois will partner with Highland Park’s Community Partners for Affordable Housing in a special Chapter work-day later this spring or summer. CPAH buys and rehabs homes sustainably and sells them at below market rates to eligible families. Details are still being worked out, but contact Doug Widener, Executive Director, at: dwidener@usgbc-illinois.org for additional information or check back here in weeks to come.
- International Green Schools Day of Service, September 29, 2012 – USGBC-Illinois’ Green Schools Committee will be spearheading local service projects at schools around Illinois in celebration of the 2012 International Green Schools Day of service. We will be recruiting projects from schools later this spring and soliciting volunteers from around the Chapter’s seven regional branches to assist. More information to follow soon.
These are just some of the ways Chapter members can engage with other members in community service in 2012. If you have additional ideas for this year, especially in regions of Illinois not referenced above, or have thoughts for the future, please contact Doug Widener, Executive Director at: dwidener@usgbc-illinois.org.
