One of our most requested programs in Cook County is Conflict Resolution for Youth. Schools across the county express their difficulty in getting past conflicts to reach education each day. Students come to schools with complex issues including hunger, broken families, homelessness, fear, anger, and a lack of social interaction that previous generations take for granted.  

Last spring I met with members of the staff and board of Little City Foundation. This wonderful organization has a rich history in Palatine where it supports people with developmental disabilities through housing and services. Many come to Little City as children and stay their whole lives. I met with them to discuss a gardening program they had in mind. Here is what we learned from each other in the meeting: Gardening brings so much more to a community than growing vegetables. Little City wanted to have a Pumpkin Patch.

As my first post with CitizenPowered.org, I want to thank them for this venue to share information, and for their ingenuity in bringing people and resources together. Within these posts, I’ll talk about preparing our region for the future – and policies and programs that can help. I’ll cover the U of I Extension programs that will help Cook County maintain its competitiveness in a 21st century economy. Extension is based out of the Urbana-Champaign campus (my alma mater) and has offices across the state which provide community outreach and education.