Category Archives: Presentations

Tom @ UIC “Future of Chicago” Lectures

A note from Prof. Dick Simpson:

“Thank you for once again giving your talk “Memo to Chicago’s Next Mayor – Chicago Is Not Broke!” for the Future of Chicago Lecture series on October 24th. It was very timely with the Mayor’s race underway in Chicago and the early voting. The students learned a lot from your presentation, especially about the costs of corruption, police abuse and Toxic Bank Deals.  Equally importantly, they learned about the alternative ways of funding Chicago and how to resolve the problem with TIFs. 

Thank you for highlighting the issues of budgeting and more efficient ways to collect money in Chicago. These are issues which the students are still discussing. Your experience as a civic educator will inspire them to engage in the future civic activities.”

UIC "Future of Chicago" lecture 10/24/18
Spend your lunch hour on 10/24 with Tom!

Thanks to Prof. Dick Simpson for including me in his 2018 lecture series, “The Future of Chicago.” Other presenters this year include former Governors Pat Quinn and Jim Edgar and Uber Alderman Ed Burke.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Join The CivicLab!

I gave this speech at the CivicLab’s 2018 Civic Harambee. I sum up everything I’ve learned about fighting for justice in civics and public life in America. I call for MorePublic! and announce my second book and launch our first membership drive for the CivicLab! Whew!

Join the CivicLab!
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Bring The Book With The Answers To YOUR House!

“Chicago Is Not Broke. Funding the City We Deserve” would like to come to YOUR house! We are offering folks the opportunity to organize a “Broke” Book Meeting-In-A-Box house party.

We will send you 10 books and a discussion guide and you invite friends and allies to your home. You can give your guests a copy of the book or you can re-sell it to them to recover you costs.

You power up the old PC and play a pre-recorded personalized intro we will record ahead of time.

When you re-convene your crew book organizer and editor Tom Tresser will connect vial live Skype video. How cool is that! The cost is $100 (which means if you sell the books @ $12 each, you can make some $) and you get can get started right now…


Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Standing Room Only @ 11th Ward TIF Illumination

Tom at 11th Ward forumThe TIF Illumination Project did our 26th public meeting on December 4, 2014 when we lit up the TIFs of the 11th ward at the First Trinity Lutheran Church on 31st Street. I’m constantly amazed and thrilled by the turn out and civic energy present at these meetings. This one was partially sponsored by Friends of Maureen Sullivan, who is running for 11th ward alderman.

You can preview the presentation here. You can download the full presentation at the TIF Data Store. Please help us  produce a series of TIF training videos that will be placed online for free viewing – contribute to our first crowdfunding campaign!

If you would like more information on TIF training, research and scheduling an Illumination for YOUR ward, please email tom@civiclab.us.


Print Friendly, PDF & Email