Edith Makra Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Il

I lead environmental initiatives that support 275 communities working to protect and improve the environment through achievable yet influential actions. In March 2016, I spearheaded the launch of the Greenest Region Compact (GRC), a strategic, consensus framework for local actions that empowers regional environmental sustainability. The GRC has been formally adopted by 154 municipalities and 5 counties impacting the lives of 6 .6 million residents making it the largest regional sustainability collaborative for municipalities in the country. I lead this powerful collaborative with humility and keen attention to the unique authorities and responsibility of local government leaders to get things done. I leveraged this powerful collaborative to earn the partnership and support of NOAA, the European Union's International Urban Cooperation program, and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy to craft the first climate action plan for the Chicago region. This is the third such regional climate action plan in the US and is pioneering in its goals for persistent, equitable climate adaptation and urgent climate mitigation.Unified behind the consensus goals of the GRC and the Climate Action Plan for the Chicago Region, I support these communities in equitably advancing clean energy and transportation electrification; promoting active transportation; managing waste and water sustainably; sustaining vibrant landscapes for habit and green infrastructure; and engaging diverse residents in sustainability. I led 35 communities to streamline codes and policies to accelerate solar development - placing Illinois as the lead state for the national SolSmart designation. Then, to meet our goals for transportation electrification, I led an innovative team to build our own EV Readiness Program on this model and am coaching 16 local governments to support growth in EV charging infrastructure.

Greater Chicago Area

I convened the Illinois EAB Wood Utilization Team in response to the challenges and opportunities presented by the ash-killing emerald ash borer. The Team promotes the reclamation of useful lumber and other wood products killed by the emerald ash borer and other felled urban landscape trees. We work to connect a new urban wood supply chain to bring salvageable urban logs to new markets. Our Team incorporated urban timber assessment into a regional i-Tree study in 2010 and completed a community wood reclamation system feasibility study with the US Forest Service. The Team also conducted training programs, pilot municipal projects to make baseball bats and other goods from urban wood, and presented Rising From Ashes: Furniture From Lost Trees, an exhibition of designer furniture from 'emerald ash board'.

Rockford, Illinois Area

I led the Community Trees Program, a collaboration working towards a vibrant canopy of trees over the Rockford region. Funded by four local agencies and private contributions, the program built support for and awareness of community trees through advocacy, education and action.

Greater Chicago Area

As the founder of the Community Trees Program, I developed a strategy to have the greatest possible impact on the vitality of the urban forest and improve quality of life in diverse communities. I assisted hundreds of communities in northeastern Illinois advocate for their urban and community forest and aligned resources to support them. I pulled together and directed a team to draft the Illinois Emerald Ash Borer Readiness Plan and helped guide the state's response. My advocacy work led to $2.6 million dollars in assistance coming to Illinois, and a successful partnership allowed these funds to be awarded as grants to communities to manage their urban forest in response to EAB. To address both a need to dispose of infested ash trees and capitalize on growing interest in sustainable building, I launched the Illinois Emerald Ash Borer Wood Utilization Team to champion the reclamation of lumber from felled ash trees. I identified homeowners associations as influential but under-served stewards of vast natural resources and created Sustainable Landscape Resources for Community Associations to target educational resources to help them manage their lands sustainably and join in working towards a robust regional urban forest. I drafted a regional urban forest strategy for integration into the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning's long term regional plan, Go To 2040. CMAP has since included urban forestry into climate adaptation and local sustainability plans and guides.

Boston

Starting as the Mass ReLeaf Development Director, I raised money for tree planting and managed grants from the fund. I became became the State Urban Forestry Coordinator in 1999 where I managed technical assistance staff and grant programs to address local, state and federal urban forestry objectives.

Chicago

Consulted to support the formation of Chicago Wilderness and edited the Oak Recovery Plan.

Chicago

I started Mayor Daley's Greenstreets program, the first of his environmental initiatives, to add 500,000 trees to Chicago. Led to the pioneering median plantings on Lake Shore Drive and other major streets. Initiated the first landscape ordinance and implemented a policy to reverse the loss of trees on parkways. Later I moved to the newly created Department of Environment as Director of Environmental Services. Collaborated with the US Forest Service to develop the Chicago Urban Forest Climate Project which was the pilot project that led to the USFS i-Tree program.

Chicago

I launched a city-wide volunteer tree planting program - NeighborWoods. In two years I organized 50 volunteer projects that planted about 1000 trees in neighborhoods, on vacant land, in parks and along Chicago streets.

Worked as a field arborist, climbing, pruning and applying plant health care a on trees for clients in the Chicago region. Moved up to become an arborist/sales representative and built a successful client base.

Executive Education For Sustainbility Leadership, Center For Health And The Global Environment

Bs, Forestry