 Chris Brubaker has worked in a variety of legal, finance, accounting, and operations roles in industries spanning manufacturing, real estate, multi-family housing, technology, and education. He currently serves as the Director of Finance for OnlineMedEd, a digital healthcare learning platform designed for medical students and health professionals, where he leads finance, accounting, and business strategy planning.
Chris moved to Austin, TX, in 2016 from his hometown of Des Moines, IA. He has a law degree from the University of Iowa, a bachelor’s in finance from Iowa State University, and is currently working towards his Master of Accounting at the University of Connecticut. In his own words, "I joined the ICA USA board because I believe in a just and equitable society, and support the work that ICA does. I hope to serve as a valuable resource for finance, accounting, and legal questions." May 2021 April 22, 2021 As part of Earth Day 2021, the ICA team hosted Mayor Lightfoot for a top-to-botton tour of ICA GreenRise. Mayor Lightfoot was joined by 46th Ward Alderman James Cappleman, 47th Ward Alderman Matt Martin, Chicago Chief Sustainability Officer Angela Tovar and Blacks in Green founder Naomi Davis.
ICA Chief Operating Officer Lesley Showers led the group on visits to the Heartland Alliance Health Center, the rooftop solar panel array and the ICA intentional community floor. Lesley reflected on the Mayor's visit, "It was a wonderful opportunity to share our vision our vision for positioning GreenRise as a Chicago Carbon Free Demonstration Building. 70% carbon emissions in Chicago come from buildings. Converting older buildings is cheaper and more ecologically sound than tearing them down and starting over. Incorporating our residential communities and nonprofit tenants into our overall approach establishes a model for sustainability." ICA's Karen Snyder reports that the Mayor has encouraged Ms. Tovar to work with ICA GreenRise and program staff since August 2020. Angela connected GreenRise with Chicago’s Department of Planning, which has committed a $1.5M grant to ICA during its second closing on its building renovation.  ICA and EI Interim Executive Director Phil Waitzman in front of ICA GreenRise. Our history has proven that the methods of partnership, facilitation, and collaboration simply need to be brought forward and modernized. Many of these techniques and approaches have the spirit and ability to be applied to any social issue at any time in history. Phil Waitzman joined ICA and EI has Interim Executive Director in October, 2020, bringing more than 20 years of experience working with clients both as a strategic executive leader and as a direct practice clinician. He is a Licensed Social Worker who has received an MA in Social Service Administration, a Masters in Business Administration (MBA), and a Masters in Public Health (MPH).
 Ashleigh Hughes has been hired as Marketing Manager of Programs to promote ICA programs and ToP training. As we welcome in the new year, we also welcome in new leadership and staffing. ICA has hired Ashleigh Hughes as Marketing Manager of Programs. Ashleigh will lead our marketing efforts, serve as the primary liaison with external stakeholders and customers of the Technology of Participation (ToP) training program, lead customer service, and administer course registration.
 Scenes from our local programming, Global Research Network, and ICA GreenRise. 2021 is the centennial of ICA GreenRise, which was constructed for Mutual Insurance in 1921 and donated by Kemper Insurance to the Institute of Cultural Affairs and Ecumenical Institute in 1971. We approach this milestone in celebration of the accomplishments of the past year and enthusiasm for our vision of the future!
 EI COO Lesley Showers gives Chicago CSO Angela Tovar a tour of the community kitchen at ICA GreenRise. Chicago’s new Chief Sustainability Officer, Angela Tovar, visited ICA GreenRise on September 28, 2020 to tour the mixed-use building and learn how it serves both people and the environment as a hub for sustainable community.
Tovar’s visit came in response to a letter sent by the GreenRise Restoration Project (GRRP) Advisory Team to Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot urging her administration to support the project with capital investment and an operating grant. Lightfoot was previously introduced to ICA GreenRise at a North Side community meeting organized by LISC Chicago in May, 2019, just prior to being sworn in as Mayor.  ToP Trainers hold up cards to share brief reflections on the progress made during a virtual planning meeting. Four new Technology of Participation (ToP) online training courses launched this past month, a major milestone in a months-long journey to translate the facilitation methods authentically to the virtual world. We're proud to offer a small selection of courses available now--ToP Facilitation Methods (TFM) Online, ToP Strategic Planning (TSP) Online, Shift Happens: Design Principles for a Virtual World, and Action Planning Practice Lab on Miro. All the online courses are designed to train participants to apply ToP facilitation skills virtually.
 Matt Cardoni at the Third Annual Uptown Garden Walk in 2018. I feel like the [ICA] team consistently cares about the planet and the community, and are willing to put their time and effort into making them better. I trust their intentions and their actions, which is a rare thing. Matt Cardoni is founder of Green Lightning Marketing, a digital marketing consultancy that works with nonprofit organizations, mission-driven businesses and educational institutions. He has been a member of Chicago Sustainability Leaders Network for six years, helped launch and organize the Uptown Garden Walk, and has connected numerous digital marketing students and volunteers with ICA.
 The new development by Sarah's Circle will cover 40% of the lot at 4747 N Sheridan Rd and provide supportive housing for women. The Ecumenical Institute (EI), ICA’s sister organization that owns and operates ICA GreenRise, has signed a sales agreement to sell 40% of our parking lot at 4747 N Sheridan Rd to Sarah’s Circle, an Uptown-based nonprofit organization that provides a continuum of programs and supportive housing to help women permanently end their homelessness.
 The Kemper Insurance building that has housed ICA since the 1970s was rebranded as the ICA GreenRise Uptown Learning Laboratory in 2014. We’re honored to announce that ICA GreenRise has received a major State Capital Grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to invest in renovating key building features. The $150,000 award will support upgrades to the building’s fire safety system, part of a roster of capital improvements planned as part of the GreenRise Renovation Project (GRRP).
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