WARD AMBASSADOR

AUA’s Ward Ambassador project trained volunteers in each of Chicago’s 50 wards to become knowledgeable representatives supporting sustainable urban agriculture in their community. Currently we are revising our program and will update this page once training starts again. In the meantime, you can review our Ward Ambasssador toolkit.

Please read on for two important civic engagement action alerts!

Organizing against the proposed Chicago Livestock Ordinance: Right now, Aldermen Lopez (15th ward) and Napolitano (41st ward) are pushing an ordinance to severely limit livestock in your backyards and neighborhood farms. A coalition of urban agriculture and animal welfare organizations and their allies, including AUA, are asking you to consider adding your name to our joint statement in opposition to this ordinance. Click here for a full description in English and in Spanish and to add your name. The statement will be made public and sent to the City of Chicago. You can also email your ward office with this super brief and easy action form. Finally, calls to your ward office are a fabulous personal touch as well. Click here for talking points and all the details you need.

Advocating for an equitable urban farm water policy: Currently, only two hydrant permits are available in Chicago: a community garden permit (not intended for production-oriented urban farms), and a temporary festival hydrant rate, which at $83.78 per day is unaffordable for urban farms that need daily water for irrigation and post-harvest handling throughout the growing season. Additionally, recent inspections by the Department of Water Management have created confusion, causing some farms to lose access to hydrant water, unless they pay the temporary hydrant permit rate. Read on for details and to add your name to our statement calling for a new Water Hydrant Permit for Urban Farms.