Category Archives: About Tom

Tom Teaches Workshop On Nonprofit Basics

Holding_earthIs there a cause you feel passionate about? Is there an injustice that needs righting? Are you inspired to serve and innovate for the common good?

If so – then you may be thinking about starting a nonprofit organization to channel your efforts and deliver new solutions for your community.

This two hour workshop will walk you through the reasons to and NOT to start a nonprofit organization and what your first steps should be in you DO decide to start a new organization.

$15. Please register online via EventBrite = https://np101-11-6.eventbrite.com.

You will learn:

  • Basic distinctions of the nonprofit organization
  • Origins and place of nonprofits in American society
  • Size and scope of the nonprofit sector
  • Pathway to incorporate and get tax-exempt status

Tom TresserTom Tresser is the instructor for this class. Tom is the co-founder of the CivicLab, which is the 13th nonprofit enterprise he has founded or led. He teaches nonprofit management for the Graduate School of Social Work at Loyola University and a number of classes on civic engagement, public policy and leadership for other local educational institutions.

My (Brief) Vision For Chicago

Progressive_Vision-screenI was asked to give a few “now what” remarks at the end of this forum on running for office in 2015 as progressive standard bearer. Listen to these remarks (with introduction, 4 1/2 minutes).

DePaul Forum On Proposed Stadium Illuminates 2nd Ward

City had HOW much in TIF accounts-webStudents as DePaul organized a public forum on the proposed DePaul Stadium and asked for an Illumination of the 17 TIFs inside the 2nd Ward – spotlighting the site and adjacent TIFs. This research is from The TIF Illumination  Project. If you want a copy of this presentation please email tom@civiclab.us.

Mr. Mayor, Empty The TIFs!

From a press conference held outside the State of Illinois Building on August 2, 2013. The Chicago Teachers Union and the RAISE your Hand Coalition of concerned public school parents delivered a letter to Attorney General Lisa Madigan asking her to get the true story of where our $1.7 billion in TIF funds are being held.

Join with over 3,000 people who have signed this online petition to the mayor from The TIF Illumination Project demanding that the TIF accounts be emptied and all property taxes turned over to the units of government that should’ve gotten those dollars in the first place.

Tom Took On Cubs At 2013 Bughouse Square Debate

Lester+TomI was in the featured debate at the 2013 Bughouse Square Debate on Saturday, July 27 in front of the Newberry Library. The topic was “Should The City Subsidize The Cubs To Keep Them In Chicago?” My position was “NO WAY, NO HOW” side. On the other side was Lester Munson, reporter for ESPN.  The event was moderated by Chicago’s great natural resource, Rick Kogan.

Listen to the debate and the Q&A session (34 minutes).

Here are my notes for the debate. Use them if you have to argue against subsidizing sports facilities or other private enterprise using public dollars…
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