Education Awareness

From Edgewater 2020

Category Administration

(How are we defining this category/section? What is included and what is NOT included?)

Chair: Helen Cameron, CoOwner Uncommon Ground <helen@uncommonground.com>; 2010 Addition - Marketing & Publicity: Gretchen Mueller, ECC Board <gxudp@yahoo.com>

Members: Michael Cameron <mike@uncommonground.com>; Jay Delaney, Edgewater Chamber <jaydelaney@edgewater.org; Sara Dinges <sdinges@andersonville.org> Program Mgr, Eco-Andersonville, Mike Johnson <Mike.Johnson@HarneTech.com; ad-hoc contributor Michael Bergman, ECC Board-Communications

The goal of the Education and Public Awareness team is to

Make information generally available to the Edgewater Community so as to raise awareness regarding sustainability, the environment and the role each person can play in positive change

Publicize the Edgewater Environmental Sustainability Project(EESP) and create a marketing campaign that will enlist residents and businesses to participate and actively support one or more target areas and its goals

Clearly identify projects or events for participation at the grassroots level - in order to involve residents,as well as businesses, schools, block clubs, faith groups and professional associations

In 2009, there were three areas of focus by the Education Awareness team. They:

a) Promoted the need to minimize consumption by reducing, recycling and reusing products, materials and water. and

b) Initiated or participated in green events to raise the community's level of understanding regarding energy efficiency, renewable energy, organic and natural foods, etc.

c) Began laying the groundwork for publicity of the Edgewater Environmental project itself.

Definition

(How are we defining this category/section? What is included and what is NOT included?)

1. Definition

The purpose of the education and awareness committee is to engage the community to achieve the goals of the Edgewater Environmental plan. The education and awareness group is the public face of the project, coordinating marketing, public relations and special events to inspire action.

The Education and Awareness group will collaborate with other ECC committees to disseminate necessary information and event calendars and communicate to Edgewater and beyond via monthly email newsletters (sent through the ECC's constant contact format), local poster distribution and flyers (on a limited basis to conserve paper). When possible, we will engage the media to spread the word.

A. Metrics (key measures & goals)

number of community email contacts

attendance at special events

community "buy in" to help each committee achieve its overall goal

media coverage

(precise measurement will be difficult to gage—our methods need to focus on continual improvement and evolution of our communications systems over time)

Metrics

(What are the key measures that are relevant to this category? What ‘needles’ are we trying to ‘move’?)

number of community email contacts

attendance at special events

community "buy in" to help each committee achieve its overall goal

media coverage

(precise measurement will be difficult to gage—our methods need to focus on continual improvement and evolution of our communications systems over time)

Assumptions

(What, if any, criteria are fixed/unchangeable or independent from this analysis?)

The ECC will provide the Constant Contact platform for the Edgewater Environmental Plan

Other neighborhood organizations will share their email lists or be willing to forward our monthly newsletters and special event listings

All ECC committees will provide pertinent information in a timely manner for the newsletters and events

Any media potential will be referred to the most knowledgeable ECC member, dependent on Media needs for ease of communication

A comprehensive list of poster and flyer distribution centers will be compiled and serviced

ECC committee members will participate in special events to promote the cause

We will operate in the "Greenest" way possible

Current State

(Where do we currently stand in this category/section, in terms of the key defining metrics?)

1) The Edgewater Environmental Sustainability Project will release a Report in Fall, 2009 outlining the Goals and Implementation timeline for each of the target areas: Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Air & Water Resources, Planning & Development/Transportation, Parks & Green Spaces, Green Schools, Cleaning the Neighborhood, Resources (Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle), and of course the Education and Public Awareness area.

2) Green Room Sessions (Uncommon Ground), workshops and meetings are regularly schedule and publicized to inform and engage the public and local busienss community.

Available Data Review

(What baseline data do we have – or exists elsewhere that we can easily obtain – that can help us create a baseline assessment of where we currently stand?)

A. Available Data Review

We are just beginning but will utilize various sources within and outside our teams to provide the public with the information they need to make informed decisions.

One sheet defining the purpose of each committee with contact information will be set up for the public and media.

B. Data and Statistics from the Following Sources may be used by the Environmental Planning Teams

Chicago Climate Action Plan: www.chicagoclimateaction.org
Chicago Department of Environment: www.cityofchicago.org/environment/
Center for Neighborhood Technology: www.cnt.org
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency: www.epa.state.il.us/air/
United State Environmental Protection Agency: www.epa.gov/climatechange/
Trust for Public Land: www.tpl.org
Shedd Aquarium website: www.listentoyourlakes.org
Additional sources may also be utilized.

Additional Data Needs

(What additional data is needed and how will we be able to address them, e.g., through the Loyola student projects?) B. Additional Data needs

Comprehensive community Email list

Constant contact template & Poster/flyer design

Comprehensive community poster and flyer placement list

Media contact list

Powerpoint presentation for special events

Future State

(What is our Vision for this category/section? What are our specific goals in terms of key metrics defined above? What implications & benefits will there be at an individual, business, and governmental level?)

To create awareness and support within all those levels for the goal of turning Edgewater into a model green community in Chicago

To have this community in its entirety recognized as such in Chicago and well beyond, so that it becomes a destination of interest for visitors

Ideal

(What are the key measures that are relevant to this category? What ‘needles’ are we trying to ‘move’?)

Maximize education and awareness of the Edgewater community to achieve short term and long term Edgewater Environmental Plan goals to certify as LEEDS ND

Create consistent, simple way of communicating to community to promote action and change based on sensible, reliable, cost effective ideas

Get pro-bono PR assistance when possible for professional edge

Involve as many people as we possibly can on behalf of all committees

Create interest in LEED ND beyond our community and become an example of what is possible on a grander scale

Minimum / First Steps

(What, if any, criteria are fixed/unchangeable or independent from this analysis?)

Establish committee communication system

Build and continually increase neighborhood email list to inform community

Identify key poster and flyer locations & establish distribution

Build a media contact list and send Press Releases as needed

Find a volunteer to provide basic pro-bono PR work

Gaps

(Given available data & analysis, how far apart are key the elements (metrics) of our Current & Future States?)

None—we are the connective tissue for all of the committees

Our focus is on the immediate community, but ultimately includes everyone

Resources

(What kind of resources – time, money, people, agreements/support/relationships – are needed to address each of the gaps described above?)

Shared email lists for ECC constant contact monthly newsletters

Intern assistance for poster and flyer distribution, database maintenance

Email, poster, flyer design potential for maximum visual impact

pro-bono PR assistance

ECC committee member commitment to attend special events

Sponsorship potential to defray cost

Neighborhood volunteers to assist a s necessary

Priorities

(Given the potential impact & benefit and the related costs (resources) required, in what order should we attempt to address/resolve the gaps?) Priorities

Develop constant contact template for E-newsletters

Develop community email list and chain of neighborhood communication

Design Poster & flyer

Develop community poster & flyer placement list

Find interns and volunteers to disseminate information community wide

Develop reliable media contacts and keep them up to date

Develop Power Point presentation for special events

Implementation Plan

(What are the first/next steps required to address the priority gap areas, secure the required resources, etc.? How will the implementation of priorities in this area be balanced against those of others?)

Organize committee to begin working on all priorities

Divide responsibilities according to talent/ability to execute

Find interns and volunteers to assist with implementation

Committee to meet monthly to advance goals and stay organized

E&A committee discussion of goals at Edgewater Sustainability Commitee meeting on 2/12 to coordinate all committees

Constant Contact template designed by 2/26

Press release about Edgewater Community Council Sustainability plan(Edgewater Green) complete and sent by 3/5

First newsletter to be sent by 3/10 to promote the community meeting and boost attendance