Chicago Moves "Faster, Higher, Stronger" with Fair Play Campaign

Earlier this year, World Business Chicago announced that Chicago is a United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Community Partner. The public and private sectors of Chicago have joined together to support the Chicago Community Partnership (CCP).

WBC has reached out to two outstanding business leaders to chair the CCP Committee—King Harris, Chairman of Harris Holdings and of The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, and Larry Wert, President and General Manager of NBC Chicago. Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Park District, and the Chicago Public Library have all stepped forward to fill out the CCP Committee. With Harris and Wert's astute guidance and the generous pro bono help of Burson-Marsteller, Chicago has begun to successfully deliver the values and spirit of the Olympics throughout the City of Chicago.

Besides supporting our local Olympic and Paralympic athletes, the CCP increases public awareness of Olympic values such as inspiration, patriotism and mutual respect. The current initiative of the USOC and CCP is the value of Fair Play—teaching youth and emerging elite athletes about the importance of playing fair and drug free competition.

Hundreds of "Fair Play" posters are being displayed throughout Chicago's schools, parks, and YMCA centers. Public Service Announcements featuring Paralympic and Olympic athletes are currently airing on NBC and will soon be seen on "Chicago Works" television.

The "Fair Play" Initiative will be showcased at CCP's first event—the NBC5 Health and Fitness EXPO at Navy Pier. This event will draw approximately 50,000 people over the course of two days— Saturday, September 30th and Sunday, October 1st. The EXPO is designed to let adults and children try their hand at various sports, learn more about healthy living, and obtain free health screenings.

The CCP EXPO booth will feature photos and videos of Olympic and Paralympic athletes in action. There will be appearances and demonstrations from local athletes including Patrick Byne—2002 Paralympic Gold Medalist in Sled Hockey and member of the RIC Blackhawk's Sled Hockey, and Nick Fonner—Team USA representative for the World Games 2006 Wheelchair Rugby and member of the RIC Bears. Stop by Navy Pier to meet Patrick Byne and Nick Fonner, as well as other notable athletes, and catch the Chicago Olympic Spirit.

For more information on the Chicago USOC Community Partnership, please contact Carolyn Kae Phillips or Carrie Simmons at 312-553-0500.

Urbs in Horto

Chicago has become known for its leadership when it comes to the environment. A recent New York Times article stated, "By wrapping its arms and famous big shoulders around its Latin motto Urbs in Horto (City in a Garden), Chicago has become a global model for how a metropolis can pursue environmental goals to achieve economic success."

Initiatives to make the city the "Greenest" in the country are not subsiding. This month, Mayor Daley announced that the City Department of Environment will offer $200,000 in grants, twice as much as last year, to help residents and small business owners build green roofs.

Green roofs improve air quality, conserve energy, reduce storm water runoff and cut down on the urban heat island effect. More than 250 green roofs, covering more than 2.5 million square feet, have been constructed — or are planned — on public and private buildings throughout the city.

"Plants and trees act like air conditioners and air filters," Daley said. "The City will save money on air conditioning because we'll no longer have a dark roof absorbing the sun's rays and raising the building temperature. "

Last June, the Chicago City Council approved Mayor Daley's ordinance establishing the Green Roof Improvement Fund (GRIF) to encourage owners of downtown structures to install green roofs. The pilot program is being funded with $500,000 from the Central Loop Tax Increment Financing. It will provide matching grants of up to $100,000 to install the system.

The Mayor announced the latest plans as he unveiled the City of Chicago's newest green roof atop the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph. He also announced a new online guide for building green roofs in Chicago, www.chicagogreenroofs.org. The website is the first in a series of collaborations between the City and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago to promote public awareness of sustainable activities.

The Cultural Center rooftop garden covers 20,370 square feet and contains more than 950 shrubs and nearly 12,000 plants. Designated a Chicago Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 109-year-old Cultural Center is the ninth City building to get a green roof. The City's green roofs cover 62,472 square feet.

The Cultural Center roof also contains 18 solar thermal panels, which use the sun's rays to heat the building's water. Eight City buildings currently have 144 solar thermal panels. By the end of the year, another 210 panels will be installed on 12 more City facilities.

Four beehives, similar to those on top of City Hall, have been installed on the roof of the Cultural Center. The honey will be sold to benefit the Gallery 37 Center for the Arts.

According to the New York Times, urban policy specialist throughout the country see Mayor Daley's plan to turn Chicago into the "greenest city in America" as an effective way to meet the changing expectations that business executives and residents, especially young professionals, have for cities. "It's not so much about saving the world," Sadhu Johnston, commissioner of Chicago's Department of Environment said in the New York Times. "It's more about using green technology to save $4 million here, or earn $10 million there, and make the city better by doing that."

Applications for green roof grants are available online at www.cityofchicago.org/environment or from the Department of Environment, 30 North LaSalle St., 25th Floor. For more information on green roofs visit www.chicagogreenroofs.org.

Two Weeks Worth of WOW: Is the Periodic Table Cool or What!?

In an effort to strut Chicago's scientific prowess to the rest of the world, hometown Moto put some big bucks on the table…donating a whopping $750K to Chicago's After School Matters program at the opening ceremony for the Chicago Science Expedition: 2 Weeks Worth of WOW!

Supported by the world's largest Periodic Table of the Elements covering the south face of the Daley Center, Chicago's Scientific Expedition Advisory Committee has pulled together a scientific marvel of its own. Spread across the city for an entire 2 weeks, Chicago's museums, parks, libraries and even coffee shops will be celebrating and educating students and adults alike on issues ranging from stem cell research to the bending of light and beyond.

This Friday, September 22, marks the kick-off, with Mayor Daley launching the star-studded occasion by welcoming an address from Dr. Mae Jemison, a Chicago Public School graduate turned astronaut. In September of 1992, as a mission specialist aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour, Dr. Jemison became the first African-American woman to enter space. After resigning from NASA in 1993, Dr. Jemison is currently a professor of Environmental Studies at Dartmouth College and focuses alternate time on improving healthcare in Africa.

Moto's own Chief Technology Officer, Pasmaree Warrior, was also on hand for Friday's activities in Daley Plaza, as bystanders cheered on Chicago's hometown national champs from the renowned FIRST Robotics competition. With Moto's Dan Green leading his team to win the 2006 Chairman's Cup, the tie-dyed T-shirt-clad student leaders presented an exhibition with their winning Moto-sponsored robot, serving to remind us all of the team spirit that science can generate amongst the leaders of tomorrow.

Indeed we can celebrate many native Chicagoans who are leaders in the world of scientific discovery:

Dr. Chad Mirkin, Director of the International Institute for Nanotechnology at Northwestern University is an international authority on materials science and the application of nanotechnology. His work is critical to the development of analytical tools for chemical and biological sensing.

Considered one of the world's most foremost geneticists, Dr. Daphne Preuss of the University of Chicago, has been a lead researcher on the Centromere, a part of plant chromosomes critical for cell division. Her work has led to groundbreaking technological discoveries for protecting crops from drought and pathogens.

Some highlights to consider for your journey:

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
6:00pm-8:00pm
Behind the Scenes in the Pritzker Lab
The Field Museum
1400 S. Lake Shore Drive
Lab for Molecular Systematic and Evolution, where scientists from around the world study the DNA of plant and animal species. All ages.

6:00pm
Science Café
Starbucks—1430 W. Taylor Street in Chicago
Come to Starbucks and have a discussion with a scientist! Brenda Russell, Ph.D., Professor of Physiology and Biophysics and Adjunct Professor of Medicine at UIC. Dr. Russell is going to talk about stem cell research. All ages.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
1:30pm-3:00pm
Interactive Experience
Build A Rainforest Residence
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N. Central Park Avenue
Learn how rainforest plants survive and thrive in their environment. Use special plant cuttings from around the Conservatory to make your own mini rainforest to take home. All ages.

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 & 24
10:00am-3:00pm (Saturday) and 11:00am-3:00pm (Sunday)
Target America DEA
Museum of Science and Industry
5700 S. Lake Shore Drive (front lawn, North Court and Rotunda)
Three Drug Enforcement Helicopters will be stationed on the front lawn; drug testing van and restored Hummer lab on the front drive; Presentations by DEA Lab Chemists; DEA drug dogs; Meth lab clean-up and presentations on the harmful effects of drugs and the brain. All ages.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
5:30pm-6:30pm
Experimenting with Science Careers
Chicago Public Library: Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State Street
Learn about career paths open to young scientists. This hands-on workshop gives students in grades 6-12 tools to learn about resources and training in the sciences. Teens.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1
1:00pm
Ask-a-Scientist
Wilson Hall — Fermilab
Click here for directions, or visit www.fnal.gov/
Take your science straight to the experts. Fermilab physicists answer questions and explain everything you might want to know about science. Also a "behind-the-scenes" tour of Fermilab. Reservations required and space is limited, so register now. All ages.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8
2:00pm
One Doctor: Daniel Hale Williams & Dr. Charles
Drew DuSable Museum of African American History
740 E. 56th Place
Films begin at 2:00pm and are sequential. Each highlights the important contributions of prominent African American scientists. For more information contact Angela Rivers at 773.947.0600 ext. 269. All ages.

If you can make it out to some of these great events around Chicago over the next 2 weeks, don't forget to bring your Chicago Science Expedition Passport!

Chicago by the Numbers

World Business Chicago
177 N. State Street, Suite 500
Chicago, Illinois 60601

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