Hosted by Cook County Board:

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle will join 13th District Commissioner and Environment and Sustainability Committee Vice-Chair Josina Morita for Cook County’s first Environmental Justice Town Hall this evening.

The County’s Department of Environment and Sustainability (DES) is seeking input from the public on the County’s draft environmental justice (EJ) policy. This draft has been co-developed by an EJ internal working group, made up of County employees, and the EJ Community Advisory Committee. Once adopted by the County, the environmental justice policy will help inform and guide programming and policy decision-making across County bureaus and departments. 

Those who live or work in Cook County are encouraged to review the draft EJ policy and share their thoughts. A public input form will be available on the DES website until midnight, February 7, 2025. The County is hosting a series of in-person and virtual town hall events in the coming weeks. The following town halls have been scheduled:

Wednesday, January 22 | 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Cicero Public Library
5225 W Cermak Rd.
Cicero, IL 60804

Monday, January 27 | 6 – 7:30 p.m.
South Suburban College
15800 State St.
South Holland, IL 60473

Wednesday, January 29 | 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Virtual – Via Zoom
Click here to register for the Zoom Session

Monday, February 3 | 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Malcolm X College
1900 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60612

To register for a town hall, please click here.

To learn more, review the policy and share your input, please visit:

https://www.cookcountyil.gov/service/environmental-justice

Historically, communities of color and low-income communities have experienced disproportionate environmental burdens. Responding to the compounding effects of environmental inequities and preparing for additional challenges resulting from climate change are crucial aspects of the County’s strategic plan.