You bring the digital sparks, we'll supply the gasoline.

City of Chicago's Sustainability Initiatives and New Media

Did you know that the city of Chicago is giving away free compact florescent light bulbs and $40 rain barrels to citizens 9/20? The city informs citizens about its sustainability initiatives through its Web site and through flyers posted at city buildings (and I'm assuming by utilizing some PR).

Want to know why rain barrels help sustainability efforts or if you qualify? Dig through the many pdfs on the city of Chicago site. How many people actually do this?

New media can definitely help make a difference by pushing these initiatives and events to Chicago citizens on social networking applications like FaceBook. The city of Chicago can also utilize streaming video to describe initiatives and educate on their uses. So how do you get the city to partner with new media?

Tags: chicago, elearning, environment, streamingvideo, sustainability

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Barbara Iverson on September 12, 2008 at 12:52pm: As I understand it, the city ran out of those barrels last year. If they got more, they should advertise it, so that people would know they could get them again.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tammy Spangler on September 12, 2008 at 1:17pm: That's exactly my point! They do a poor job of getting the word out and I think new media and Web 2.0 applications can definitely help.

Here's the link to the flyer.

City of Chicago partnership and utilization of new media can help support the view of Chicago as the new media mecca.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Bruce Eric Montgomery on September 12, 2008 at 3:15pm: Great ideas Tammy!

I propose that we meet with the City's Planning, Innovation and Envirornment department heads and create an alliance/partnership where we can assist in any ways that best match our memebrs capabilities with the City's needs and opportunities. I would like to get this going asap. I also know a few Alderman who will support our efforts in this area. Thank You!

Please take alook at:

http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=718715034

http://facebook.dj/tatv/

Bruce Montgomery 773-410-0608 tatvshow@yahoo.com; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tammy Spangler on September 13, 2008 at 3:30pm: Good to know someone with connections and love the enthusiasm. We should talk more.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kevin Burrell on September 23, 2008 at 7:49pm: HAS ANYONE DONE THIS YET? I mean meet with city officials? Have that official address the concerns we all on the summit have to improving our community and enabling others?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Kevin Burrell on September 12, 2008 at 9:35pm: The city also needs to get in tune with merging the cities digital environments with its physical one as well; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Andy on September 14, 2008 at 7:31am: Tammy, you frist two comments came from the right people, both Barb and Bruce are well positioned to use the new media in getting the word out. Bruce's idea of arranging a meeting with the City's Planning Dept is right on, hopefully you can also meet with Sadu Johnson, head of the City's Dept of the Environment, he knows of Web 2.0. You also may want to check out the Chicago's Green Technology Center, here's the link, http://preview.tinyurl.com/n7aah . I'm sure there's enough content material there for Barb to do a story on her Columbia College Community News Blog.
Best regards
Andy Pincon, pincon@digibridge.org; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Matt Kern on September 14, 2008 at 8:08am: Heres the link; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tammy Spangler on September 14, 2008 at 4:04pm: Thanks for your thoughts. I've visited the CCGT site and think their resources and events are wonderful. The city's department of environment site also has a wealth of original source content from which more palatable new media and e-learning resources could be economically produced. I'm thinking maybe an intermediary nonprofit organization could help consult on Web 2.0 promotion and help make the links between the city and media/offering development. Maybe I'll form one...; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Edward on September 17, 2008 at 2:33pm: I shot a video for Discovery Channel over a year ago where interviewed the dude who started the free water barrel thingy!

We also shot the Chicago Green Technology Center where they make the barrel apparatus. It was a good story!

I would suggest tracking that show down and asking them (nicely) if you could repurpose the stories.

If you need any production help please let me know at http://www.recurvemeda.com

Best of luck to ya! Its a great cause.

Edward; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Tammy Spangler on September 20, 2008 at 4:01pm: Thanks for the suggestions!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Alex Untermyer on September 23, 2008 at 12:11pm: This is all great!! Being sustainable with the environment is awesome!! But what about sustainability for independent artists in the city of Chicago. I mean musicians, artists, dancers, etc. What is the city of Chicago doing to help us create and sell our art. I am totally into sustainable avenues - ways of helping artists and commerce in general become self-sustaining without the need for the big money venture capitalists, or corporate ads, sponsorship, etc. But how do we go about doing this? Is this a pipe dream that only younger kids who don't have experience in the "real world" have or is it the forgotten promise of all this internet technology? So when you talk about sustainability are you speaking only to the environment, or in general a way for human beings to allow this great technology to enable us to become more sustainable? Is it even possible? Who is being successful at this? Is this a pipe dream?; ▶ Reply to This