Through its steering committee, working groups and general member participation, AUA organizes its activities around Advocacy, Resources, Connections and Special Projects as follows:
The Resources Working Group will expand AUA’s current web-based resources to achieve a Chicago urban agriculture clearinghouse and communications center that features:
- A comprehensive updated map of active urban agriculture sites with relevant operation and contact information
- Electronic links to PDF’s of educational resources, how-to guides, and public interest reports and research on urban agriculture/local food systems/food security issues
- Listing of local government and private organizations and businesses, that provide material and human resources for urban agriculture projects
- An updated funding list
Contact Kelly Larsen to get involved: klarsen@chicagobotanic.org
The Connections Working Group will work on expanding urban agriculture activity in Chicago through:
The Connections Working Group will work on expanding urban agriculture activity in Chicago through:
- Increasing communication between members
- Recruiting new members
- Identifing and pursuing opportunities to promote Advocates for Urban Agriculture
- Strengthening relationships between other greening and food-related organizations in Chicago
Contact Breanne Heath to get involved: breanne.heath@gmail.com
The Advocacy Working Group will actively promote Chicago public policies and programs that support urban agriculture through:
- Helping City departments and staff to develop amendments to Chicago’s Municipal Code and to plan community development integrating urban agriculture.
- Developing statements about systems, methods, and practices for AUA to recommend collectively.
- Educating and building direct relationships with City Council members, city staff, and others.
- Advising USEPA Region 5 and others on AUA member experiences in remediation of brownfields and urban land for UA use.
- Joint action with the Chicago Food Policy Advisory Council.
Contact the co-chairs to get involved:
Ryan Anderson – randerson@delta-institute.org
Martha Boyd – martha@learngrowconnect.org
Special Projects Working Groups will work on projects that fall outside of the normal scope of work undertaken by the other committees. Examples of Special Project work would include:
- Writing gardening curricula for school children, youth and adults
- Creation of a Chicago Urban Ag handbook for practitioners
- Compilation of Chicago Urban Agriculture site photos and program materials
- Creating urban ag presentation/education materials for Chicago City Council members
- Look for announcements on the website and our Google Group about new Special Projects Working Groups and get in touch with the designated contact person if you’re interested!
