[Communications] Get an Award!, Last Call for GI Grants, and New LGBT Opportunities

Thu Aug 27 15:31:20 CDT 2020

View this email in your browser (https://mailchi.mp/35693cdc6eb9/commissioner-kimberly-neely-du-buclets-monthly-newsletter-4052521?e=c4ca39f2f7)
Your Commissioner at Work
at the MWRD
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) is accepting applications for the 2020 Sustainable Landscaping and Biosolids Beneficial Reuse Awards. The awards recognize the activities and innovations in two separate categories: Sustainable Landscaping and Beneficial Use of Exceptional Quality (EQ) Biosolids and Biosolids Compost.

Exceptional Quality biosolids and biosolids compost are a product of the MWRD’s water treatment process that are used as soil amendments.  The Sustainable Landscaping award is for individuals or communities that integrate sustainable green infrastructure practices in the environment that manages stormwater. Award applications are available https://mwrd.org/sustainability-summit-2020-awards-applications. If you have questions, please email TianG at mwrd.org. Applications are due by September 15, 2020.

Awards will be presented at the MWRD’s eighth annual Sustainability Summit (https://mwrd.org/form/sustainability-summit-2020-rsvp) on October 21, 2020. This event is open to the public.
Time to Fix Flooding in Chicago's South Side
Sun-Times Letter to the Editor
Below is an excerpt of a letter to the editor by Commissioner Du Buclet on flooding published in Chicago Sun-Times on July 28th.

.... Flooding is a pressing issue for our city as a whole, but it’s one of many public health issues disproportionately faced by the South Side, where I live. As the Sun-Times explained, Chatham has led flooding-related complaints for the past two years, despite the city’s efforts to improve its sewer lines. Growing up, I remember having to clean up the sludge from our basement after a rainfall. That was the norm for residents of the South Side.

MWRD must, and will, take action by continuing to make investments in stormwater management projects across the region. Cook County residents can play a role, too, by doing more to conserve water at home.

It’s time to fix this issue. Climate change won’t let us wait any longer.

For the full letter visit: https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/7/28/21345244/flooding-complaints-chicago-mwrd-call-to-action-kim-dubuclet-letters

Board Adopts New Business Opportunities Policies for LGBT and Persons with Disabilities Owned Businesses
The Board of Commissioners approved new policies at its July 16 meeting to promote opportunities for small business enterprises owned and operated by both members of the Lesbian, Gay, Transgender and Bisexual (LGBT) community and persons with disabilities.  Under the new policies LGBT business enterprises (LGBTBE) and business enterprises owned and operated by persons with disabilities (BEPD) will have increased opportunity to participate in MWRD business contracts. These policies were developed after much discussion, research and community involvement over much of the past year. For more details on the policies see the LGBTBE (http://mwrd.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4592509&GUID=0FD0D877-63CF-4FC6-9E56-B0C4CDF9F8A9&Options=&Search=) and BEPD (http://mwrd.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4592510&GUID=E9AF9487-2883-406D-9B6D-7FBFB5411898&Options=&Search=) portions of the July 16 Board agenda.
MWRD Board Recognizes Juneteenth as a Holiday
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) Board of Commissioners approved plans to recognize Juneteenth as a holiday. MWRD employees now will now be able to to take Juneteenth as an optional holiday. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of emancipation of slaves in the United States. While Juneteenth is observed each year on June 19, the occasion is officially celebrated in Illinois on the third Saturday in June annually.

“The day symbolizes freedom, achievement, and racial equality not only for the descendants of former slaves, but for all Americans, and we feel that it should be recognized in that light especially since our fight for equity continues on today.” said MWRD Commissioner Kimberly Du Buclet.   Under the new policy, MWRD employees can choose to use June 19th as their one additional holiday selection instead of the days preceding or following Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.
Next Regular Board Meeting on Thursday September 3rd at 10:30 am
The Board of Commissioners will hold its Regular Board Meeting on Thursday September 3rd at 10:30 am by video conference. This is due to the Governor's Stay at Home Order and to protect health and safety of the staff and public.  Meeting will be lived streamed and public participation is still encouraged during video meetings.   Visit mwrd.org to to see the meeting agenda and live stream viewing instructions.  Comments can be submitted on-line or by calling (312) 751-3299, Bridge ID: 4162020# during the meeting.  Look forward to hearing from you virtually at the next MWRD Board meeting!
Free Fun Water Education Resources!
Home looking for things for the kids to do? Check out MWRD’s free and fun activities and resources available on our website (https://mwrd.org/k-12) . There you’ll find lots of fun ways to learn about MWRD and how to protect our water and the environment. Materials are available in both English and Spanish. Print, use, learn and enjoy!
Last Call for MWRD Green Infrastructure Grants

============================================================
** (https://mwrd.org/go-easy-salt-spreading-lightly-protects-water-quality-and-our-fish)
Last call for application for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) 2020 Green Infrastructure Partnership Opportunity Program. Local municipal, township, county agencies, park districts, school districts, and other local government organizations within MWRD's corporate boundaries may apply to fund projects that utilize green infrastructure until August 30th. Green infrastructure captures water and allows it to infiltrate into the ground before it enters the traditional conveyance system. This helps reduce flooding by decreasing the amount of water flowing to sewers and pipes that can be overwhelmed by intense rain events.

“This is a terrific time to invest in green infrastructure projects that work to enhance community spaces and mitigate flooding, but we want to hear directly from those communities on the ground level to learn how we can work together and best address stormwater management concerns,” said MWRD Commissioner Kimberly Du Buclet, chairman of the MWRD Stormwater Committee.

Eligibility requirements and instructions are included in the application information can be found at ** mwrd.org/green-infrastructure-partnership-opportunity-program-0 (http://mwrd.org/green-infrastructure-partnership-opportunity-program-0)
. Please feel free to reach out to my office at 312-751-5086 or via email at alonisd at mwrd.org if you need any assistance.
Chicago Excellence in Gardening Awards
60-Second Garden Video Challenge
The Chicago Excellence in Gardening Awards (CEGA) will be honoring gardens for a fourth year with its first-ever 60-Second Garden Video Challenge. Gardeners can create one-minute videos of their gardens and upload them to the ** CEGA website (https://chicagogardeningawards.org/)
. The CEGA Team reviews them for social standards considerations, and posts the videos on the CEGA YouTube Channel. Viewers then use the “thumbs up” to vote for their favorite videos.

The competition is FREE and open to anyone who has a garden or who belongs to a garden, whether it’s a community garden, church or school garden, or even a business garden. Videos can be straightforward, clever, artistic, funny—whatever the gardener chooses. And, for this special contest, entrants need not be from Chicago. Gardens can be from anywhere in the world. Videos that receive the most votes will be posted on the CEGA website, on its social media pages and will receive a certificate. Videos are being accepted through September 30. The full set of rules can be found at ** https://chicagogardeningawards.org/ (https://chicagogardeningawards.org/)
.
Free Compost for Pick Up!
** (https://mwrd.org/eq-compost)
Click photo for more information on MWRD's compost programs
Employment Opportunities at MWRD
** (https://jobapscloud.com/mwrd/)
Current Positions

** Online Employment Center Link  (https://jobapscloud.com/mwrd/)
Upcoming Events
Click Link to see ** Community Events (https://mwrd.org/events)
Contact Information
Our mailing address is:

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District
Commissioner Kimberly Du Buclet
100 East Erie Street
Chicago, IL 60611

Phone Number
312-751-5086
** Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/Kim4Water )
** Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/KIM4MWRD/)
Sign up for my emails!:

Copyright © 2020, All rights reserved.

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can
** update your preferences (https://gmail.us3.list-manage.com/profile?u=b968358480b7ff4ced14b47c4&id=018e62f3c4&e=c4ca39f2f7)
or ** unsubscribe from this list (https://gmail.us3.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=b968358480b7ff4ced14b47c4&id=018e62f3c4&e=c4ca39f2f7&c=3f500d8bd8)
.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://chicagocommunitygardens.org/pipermail/communications_chicagocommunitygardens.org/attachments/20200827/e375de0f/attachment-0001.html>