Chicago Neighborhoods
First (CNF- www.chicagoneighborhoodsfirst.org)
is a coalition that consists of more than 20 organizations representing
business, community and labor with the mission to “advance community driven
economic development and corporate accountability through advocacy and
education". In the current
political and legal climate, the wishes of developers and outside corporations
often trump the needs of the community.
CNF has been doing research on techniques used in other communities to influence
how development proceeds. The coalition
has formed several committees to work on the most promising techniques.
Committees and the tools
they are working on:
o
Resource Action – “Buy Local” campaigns,
comprehensive plans, community benefit agreements and other tools to help
community organizations be more effective.
o
Community Action - Associate organizing
campaigns and corporate accountability actions.
o
Policy - Zoning or other legislation to give
neighborhoods a voice.
This internship would support
of the Resource Action Committee (RAC) and specifically would assist the
committee in the development of tools and resources to educate Chicago neighborhood organizations about
comprehensive planning and community benefit agreements. CNF has several academic advisors who will be
helping us formulate and deliver this material.
Internship tasks include:
o
Review material already collected by RAC and
reach out to committee members and CNF academic advisors for more input.
o
Research best practices in comprehensive
planning and the legal precedence of having a plan formally adopted.
o
Collect examples of neighborhood plans in Chicago and articles on
planning to post on the CNF website.
o
Formulate a template of the type of plan that
would serve Chicago
neighborhoods who wish to assert what they want for their neighborhood.
o
Prepare an outline of a 2-3 hour training class
that could be presented to neighborhood organizations on comprehensive plans.
o
Research best practices on creating community
benefit agreements.
o
Post overview material on community benefit
agreements on the CNF website.
o
Prepare an outline of a 2-3 hour training class
that could be presented to neighborhood organizations on community benefit
agreements.
o
Present progress on a routine basis to the RAC
at their meetings.
o
If time permits, assist the RAC and CNF academic
advisors in the preparation of materials and actual delivery of training
classes to community organizations.
The intern must be able
to work independently. Work hours are
flexible and much of the work can be done virtually. A background or interest in unban planning is
a plus.
Contact: Suzanne Keers suzanne@localfirstchicago.org 773-988-2006