Thank you
From Giving Tuesday through the end of the year, we’ve raised more than $50,000 toward our goal of $ 70,000 in contributions to our mission to support neighborhoods that are just, resilient, sustainable, and thriving for all.
We’re deeply appreciative of this support. We know that end-of-year donations are still flowing in January for some of us, so it’s not too late to invest in this work! |
Accountability committees that work
Over the past several years, CNT has been working with government partners to shift culture and power dynamics to ensure that those who are most impacted by government policies and programs are participants in policy making. Cyatharine Alias shares some thoughts on lessons learned from these engagements in a new story on cnt.org. |
Join Community Planning Academy ’26
Applications are open until Tuesday, January 27 to join the second year of the Chicago Community Planning Academy. The Academy is our collaborative course with the Chicago Architecture Center that provides participants with knowledge about urban design, planning and land use to create positive change in their communities.
In the words of 2025 participant Cecelia Harrison: “If you’re interested in learning more about urban planning, community development, or simply gaining a deeper understanding of your own community and how you can be more instrumental in the planning process, this is a great opportunity to sign up.”
From March to May, those selected for the Planning Academy will attend eight sessions, meeting and learning from developers, planners and others—as well as each other. Participants receive a $500 stipend. |
New map shows North Lawndale transit riders’ experience
In December we co-released a mixed methods analysis lifting up perspectives of Black residents centered in North Lawndale on public transit. We joined a research team led by Kate Lowe of University of Illinois at Chicago Department of Urban Planning and Policy and including Dr. Gwendolyn Purifoye, University of Notre Dame, North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council, and Equiticity.
Safety, frequency, and reliability emerged as themes from focus group conversations, as highlighted on the resulting story map. In addition to community-based research, the analysis relies on Chicago Metro Agency for Planning and Chicago Transit Authority survey data.
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Microtransit access to healthcare, services
In December, Molly Wagner, AICP and Peter Haas traveled to Rockingham County, North Carolina to support a team exploring RAMP–UP (Rural-Autonomous-Vehicle Microtransit partnership for Underserved Populations), as a way to enhance access to healthcare, education, and daily needs for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and residents living without access to a personal vehicle.
The visit was part of our work with the Mobility, Access, and Transportation Insecurity technical assistance project, in partnership with Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota. |
Office updates
We have two office updates to share. First, our staff has transitioned as of this month to a 36-hour workweek and will be unavailable to attend meetings on Fridays. We’re working directly with contacts to address any conflicts. This change reflects a commitment to wellbeing and work-life balance, structuring our time differently to maintain the same high-quality work.
Also, as of February 1, we’ll be moving to a new office. Our address will be 17 North State Street, Suite 1850, Chicago, Illinois, 60602.
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We’re hiring: Managing Director of Development and Communications
Join the Center for Neighborhood Technology staff to define, build, and implement organizational fundraising and communications strategies as our full-time Managing Director of Development and Communications!
For consideration, please apply now through February 14, at which time we will review submissions and reach out to applicants about next steps.
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Sustainability in the News
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More Events and Opportunities
Invest in Cook 2026 open call: Applications are open through March 20 to the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways tenth round of Invest in Cook, an $8.5 million program to cover some of the cost of planning and feasibility studies, engineering, right-of-way acquisition, and construction associated with transportation improvements sponsored by local and regional governments and private partners. Potential applicants can learn more at an online workshop, 12:30p to 3 p.m. Wednesday, February 4. Learn more and register for the workshop at cookcountyil.gov/investincook.
CMAP Shared Waters, Shared Future Workshop Series: Through five interactive sessions held across the year, expert presentations, and collaborative exercises, this series will help participants gain actionable strategies and planning tools to improve water management and efficiency. Hosted by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant with support from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Water. First session, “Collaborating with utilities and local governments,” is Feb. 18. Free. Learn more and register.
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