METROPOLITAN INITIATIVE FORUM
Chicago Metropolitan Region
May 12, 1997

Note: These images are scanned in from the original notes and then reduced. Some of the resolution was lost in the reduction but you can click on any image and get a full image.

WELCOME

Welcome and introductions were provided by Adele Simmons, President, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and MarySue Barrett, president, Metropolitan Planning Council. Martin Spitzer, executive director, President's Council on Environmental Quality greeted the group and expressed his appreciation, as a representative of the federal government, for the opportunity to hear perspectives directly from the local level. Scott Bernstein, president, Center for Neighborhood Technology, challenged the group to creatively imagine a collaborative relationship with the federal government. He presented some examples and opportunity areas for partnership.

PRESENTATION: SUMMARY OF ISSUES IN THE CHICAGO REGION

Julia Parzen, consultant, Center for Neighborhood Technology, summarized her research on current issues facing the Chicago Region.

FORUM: RECENT EXPERIENCES IN REGIONAL COOPERATION

MarySue Barrett, president of the Metropolitan Planning Council, facilitated an open discussion of examples of successful intergovernmental, private/public partnerships in the Chicago region

FORUM: TOWARD MORE EFFECTIVE REGIONAL COOPERATION

Rebecca Riley, vice president for Civic Affairs, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, facilitated and open discussion of gaps and barriers to effective collaboration between Chicago regional efforts and the federal government.

FORUM: THE FEDERAL ROLE IN METROPOLITAN COOPERATION

Larry Christmas, interim executive director, Western Municipal Conference, facilitated a discussion of specific regional needs and opportunities where the federal government helped and hindered regional cooperation. Then the group looked at federal actions that would promote cooperation.

FORUM: THE FEDERAL ROLE IN METROPOLITAN COOPERATION, continued

SUMMARY: THE FEDERAL ROLE IN METROPOLITAN COOPERATION

This chart shows a summary of the forum.

CLOSING REMARKS

Elmer Johnson, director, Metropolis Project of the Commercial Club and Scott Bernstein, president, Center for Neighborhood Technology, provided closing remarks. The group expressed unanimous interest in meeting again to continue remarks. The group expressed unanimous interest in meeting again to continue the dialogue. A planning group of volunteers from the meeting will assemble to develop an agenda, working products and outcomes for the continuing dialogue.