Space to Grow Advisory Council Launches!

Space to Grow, Chicago’s green schoolyards program, recently launched a community advisory council made up of key representatives from community based organizations from across Chicago. These organizations have made a two-year commitment to supporting Space to Grow. 

The Space to Grow Advisory Council will strengthen this dynamic program by prioritizing climate resiliency by/for community; bringing new ideas to schoolyard design and activation; deepening Space to Grow’s connection to health and wellness issues; and providing crucial feedback for the overall program and school selection process.

Participating organizations are Austin Coming Together, the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation, the Southwest Organizing Project, South Merrill Community Garden and Organic Oneness.

Danielle Russell, Openlands’ Green Schoolyards Program Manager explained the importance of establishing the council, “These are organizations that have partnered with Space to Grow schoolyards, and/or they work with their communities in authentic ways that inspire us. After 10 years of Space to Grow, we want to bring these leaders together to help us innovate, grow, and to be more deeply rooted in community.”

Founded by Healthy Schools Campaign and Openlands, Space to Grow has 36 schoolyards open across the city, and four more currently in the community/school design process. Space to Grow schoolyards provide vibrant green spaces for gardening, connecting with nature, outdoor play and nature-based learning. Green schoolyards incorporate green stormwater infrastructure that plays an important role in infiltrating runoff and reducing areas affected by chronic flooding. Capital funds come from Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Department of Water Management, the Chicago Department of Environment and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. 

Space to Grow schoolyard transformations are prioritized in historically under-invested neighborhoods with flooding (predominantly on Chicago’s south, west and southwest sides) and are open to the community after school, and on the weekends. To date, over 36,000 students, families and community members benefit from Space to Grow schoolyards.

The Space to Grow Advisory Council will meet four times per year and ensure that as this dynamic program grows, it stays focused on the values of equity, community, climate resilience and innovation.

Kenneth Varner, HSC’s Senior Community Engagement Manager summed up the importance of this new council to both Space to Grow and Healthy Schools Campaign, “Each participating organization has a neighborhood focus as well as a holistic view of the city. Their involvement takes us to the next level of community design by elevating our model from one that includes community input in designing schoolyards to one that embeds community involvement in designing and evaluating the program itself.”