Big challenges. Clear direction. CNT’s new Theory of Change and 5-year strategic plan centers on knowledge, power, and justice to drive measurable improvements in neighborhood conditions. Read more about it here: https://bit.ly/4u7GQua

After spending time last year collecting feedback from the Transportation Equity Network through surveys, interviews, and discussions during our annual meeting, we are happy to announce that the 2025 TEN Impact Report has been published on CNT’s website. https://bit.ly/4aVmL1u.

Round two of community engagement on disaster resilience with Verizon has begun! We’re excited to share that we had a project kickoff with our friends and partners Stephanie Kinlock from Verizon Community Disaster Resilience initiative and Brandon Wong from Hyfi last week.

Thanks Eden Stiffman of Chronicle of Philanthropy for reporting on how we and other organizations have handled the federal contract recissions of the past year. https://bit.ly/3Oa1PfB

It was great to be part of the group for Transit Equity Day yesterday - celebrating the birthday, and bravery when it came time to take her seat at the front of the bus, of Rosa Parks. We gathered at the lovely new Chicago Park district headquarters.

Yesterday we celebrated Transit Equity Day. Transit Equity Day honors Civil Rights Leader Rosa Parks and underscores that transit is a human and civil right. Hear from Nina Idemudia of @cnt.org

Big thanks and shout out to the Union of Concerned Scientists for organizing the Crossroads Convening in D.C. on January 15. https://bit.ly/4aaZND7

Thank you to everyone for helping to spread the word about our Managing Director of Development & Communications job. Re-posting to bump it up - please apply by February 14. https://cnt.org/careers-and-opportunities

Missed our newsletter last week? It's right here: https://bit.ly/4653nO0

Congratulations, Adele Simmons on this lifetime achievement award from Climate Action Museum! Looks like another party worth attending this year.

In December Molly Wagner, AICP and Peter Haas traveled to Rockingham County, NC to support a team exploring RAMP–UP— Rural-Autonomous-Vehicle Microtransit partnership for Underserved Populations. Learn more about the MATI program: https://bit.ly/4rdNyww

On Thursday, Cook County Government approved its first-ever Environmental Justice Policy. One of the first such county policies in the country, it was developed with community input. Cyatharine Alias spoke at a news conference to unveil the new policy last week. Read it here: https://bit.ly/4qBNKpA

Our Elevated Works technical assistance and support program wrapped in December— and last week Steven Vance recapped his work via Cityscape Chicago with local community-based developers, now located in a beauitfully redeveloped space at 2811 W Fulton St. https://bit.ly/4qvqkC3

Join the Center for Neighborhood Technology staff as our full-time Managing Director of Development and Communications! Please help us spread the word about this new role, job description and full details here: cnt.org/careers-and-...

Next week we’re presenting on our new accountability frameworks tool at the Crossroads Convening. It is free and there may still be a few spots left for the event Thurs 1/15 at MLK Library.

Our board vice chair Bo Kemp asks a tough question in the new Winter 2026 issue of Stanford Social Innovation Review: "How Will Your Nonprofit Survive?” It’s behind a paywall but well worth a read if you’re a subscriber! Congrats, Bo, and thanks for the insight.

Best wishes for the New Year from Center for Neighborhood Technology! Thank you to all for continued partnership and support. We’re ready to advance equitable, sustainable solutions together 2026.

New tool in the works: alongside partners to develop a Flood and Sewage Vulnerability Tool, which aims to highlight neighborhoods at risk of and impacted by flooding. With this project we are centering residents’ experience to address flood risks and correct inequities. Read more: bit.ly/3KWkeLt

Comedy Clubhouse owner Mike Zelayed welcomed developers and technical assistance providers program to celebrate the Elevated Works program as it wraps up its current iteration. Thank you to Mike and Comedy Clubhouse for hosting us!

Proud to be selected last month as a Local Data for Equitable Communities grantee, along with 29 other organizations nationwide.

Local governments hold a tremendous amount of power and responsibility, anchoring nearly all public spending on water operations and capital improvements.

Last week, we helped Verizon launch their Disaster Resilience sensor initiative in Chicago. Thanks to our partners Hyfi, Greater Chatham Initiative and Grassroots Empowerment Mission and to all who joined us for the launch last Monday. www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/c...

Thanks @chicago.suntimes.com and reporter @abbylmiller.bsky.social for today’s parking story that highlights our Stalled Out report among other sources chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/...

A big shout to the team at Verizon for their Disaster Resilience Team's Flood Sensor Initiative in Chicago - Monday's launch event highlighted one of the first of 50 sensors to be installed, on a bridge over Lake Calumet in Hegewisch.

Huge thanks to Jeff Wood for interviewing Emily LaFlamme about Chicago's Equitable Transit-Oriented Development and Elevated Works program, whose success we documented in our recent publication Bridging Visions, Accelerating Impact: Elevated Works 2025 Impact Report.

We’re thrilled to welcome Brandy Stone to our board. An Executive Vice President of Integrated PR & Purpose-Driven Strategies at Havas, Brandy is a distinguished PR/integrated marketing specialist with 15 years of diverse experience across the consumer sector.

Earlier this week we had the privilege of welcoming nonprofit and government leaders from Boston, Houston, New Orleans and beyond for a conference convened by Resilient Cities Network.

It's been a busy July. Our monthly newsletter, out today, is 670 words, a 4 minute read. Take a look and let us know what you think! You can sign up to get news from us on a regular basis here: cnt.org/newsletter

Thank you to Little Village Environmental Justice Organization for hosting us at their summer health resource fair - we shared data on our truck and bus count air pollution findings, urban flooding prevention resources and more!

Join us along with Southeast Environmental Task Force, The Chicago Center for Health and Environment (CACHET), People for Community Recovery, and others for the Summer of Wellness Town Hall on Wednesday, July 23rd from 6-8pm at George Washington High School!

Tonight! Chicago Department of the Environment, Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Defusing Disasters Project are commemorating the dead in the 1995 heat wave with a screening of Cooked and panel discussion on how Chicago is tackling extreme heat with data, community, and policy recommendations.

We're excited to lift up and welcome a new community partner on Chicago's Northwest Side: Grassroots Empowerment Mission-- youth and comunity leaders in the city's Belmont-Cragin community who are in their own words

Thanks to @chi.streetsblog.org for covering last Thursday's Chicago Mobility Collaborative meeting moderated by Nina Idemudia. The Partner’s Fair portion of the meeting was a great opportunity to network with individuals and organizations working towards a better transportation future in Chicago.

Tomorrow is Transit Thursday! At noon, advocates will rally at Union Station, 238 S Riverside Plz, Chicago, IL 60606.

Noon, Thursday, Union Station: rally to save transit in Northern Illinois. Get the details, RSVP, and stay in the loop for more info here act.ilenviro.org/a/rally-to-s... via @ilenviro.bsky.social

In 1980, CNT's founders had a creative solution when a new president's policies threatened funding: a Friday the 13th Rent Party. 45 years later, we’re reviving the tradition – virtually! Invest in our work or help spread the word, learn more here: bit.ly/rentparty613

Thanks Charley! Recording of webinar coming soon - and the tool is live at: dacmappingtool.cnt.org

Join us Thursday for a preview of our new DAC Mapping Tool (which goes live on Friday, May 30) that examines how seven Great Lakes states define “Disadvantaged Communities” for Drinking Water SRF (DWSRF) programs.

Western Ave (Chicago) bus riders, Join Neighbors 4 Environmental Justice, Equiticity next Thursday evening to discuss the future of Western Ave Public Transit.

Join EPIC and us for a preview of our new DAC Mapping Tool, which examines how seven Great Lakes states define “Disadvantaged Communities” for Drinking Water SRF (DWSRF) programs. 📅 Thursday, May 29 | 🕐 1:00–2:30 PM ET | Register: bit.ly/dacmaptool

Congratulations to Paulina Vaca who will be speaking at the Green Umbrella’s 12th annual Midwest Sustainability Summit alongside Southeast Environmental Task Force and UIC!

RainReady update: This summer and fall, we're excited to continue working with Greenprint Partners to build some #greenstormwaterinfrastructure (GSI), and if you're a contractor looking to build a playground / rain garden in the South Suburbs—we've got a bid for you!

Congrats to Chicago United for Equity 2024 fellows celebrating Thursday, especially CNT staff Julia Hage (whose project focused on the Transportation Equity Network) & Emily Laflamme (& fam!) who presented on co-governance (with Nina Idemudia, AICP) #cue #chicagounitedforequity

Today, we're at the Chicago Transit Authority board meeting on behalf of ourselves and members of Transportation Equity Network w/a call to hire a qualified executive search firm for the CTA's next president, after engaging in stakeholder engagement Read our letter here: bit.ly/cntctal0514

Thank you to everyone who helped organize and participate in the Transportation Equity Network’s day trip to Madison, WI, hosted by Madison Metro, to ride their new bus rapid transit system last week!

Join us and other organizations citywide for our Spring Town Hall focusing on cumulative impacts, 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 8 at Big Marsh Bike Park, 11559 S Stony Island Ave.

Center for Neighborhood Technology is a 2025 Forth Roadmap Conference Community Partner. If you’re thinking about attending the annual Forth Roadmap conference this fall in Detroit to discuss the future of electric mobility, we have a discount code to help reduce your registration fee.

Electric Mobility 101 Updated: Transportation is the largest source of air pollution in the United States; decades of planning decisions have led to concentrated health impacts from this pollution on low-income communities of color.

Urban planning shapes decisions about what gets built, where, and planner-driven policies and processes affect much of how we experience our neighborhoods. But typically, only professionals in the field, know much about urban planning principles and ideas or development processes.

Congrats to Jacky Grimshaw for being recognized by Climate Action Museum with their 2025 Tom Skilling Lifetime Achievement Award! "As a scientist, organizer, radio personality, transit policy expert, and EJ activist, Jacky has maintained a lifelong focus on building just, low-carbon communities.