Download all the presentations from the ward Illuminations made from the TIF Illumination Project. Only $2.50 each.

Category Archives: Presentations
TIF Presentations Viewed 44,000+ Times!
We upload all the TIF presentations to http://www.slideshare.net/tomtee. These presentations have been viewed over 44,000 times!
The champ is the two presentations on the 27th ward which were viewed a total 4,292 times.Thar works out to something like 10 views every day since they were uploaded.
So – if you are one of the people whose viewed these presentations and found them valuable – PLEASE support our work by (1) signing our email list at http://tinyurl.com/SignUp-CivicLab, (2) consider renting a desk with us (we’re in Chicago’s West Loop), and (3) making a deducible contribution via our fiscal agent, the Investigative News Network – http://tinyurl.com/SupportTheLab-INN. Contact Tom Tresser at tom@civiclab.us.
Chicago Reader Cites Work of TIF Project
Thanks to tireless TIF reporter Ben Joravsky of The Chicago Reader for this wonderful piece. He connects the dots from the supposed state of Chicago’s finances to the plight of our public schools and the tens of millions, nay, hundreds of millions of property tax dollars, we shower on major corporations.
None of this work would’ve been possible without the hundreds of hours contributed by our all volunteer team of coders, map makers, graphic designers, researchers and community organizers who – collectively – have now Illuminated 127 TIFs across 29 wards. The full record of these forums are here. If you want YOUR ward Illuminated, contact us at tom@civiclab.us.
When we Illuminate a ward we tell you: (1) overview of how TIFs work in Chicago, (2) how many TIFs in the ward, (3) best estimate of how much $ those TIFs took from your ward, (4) how much money left in TIF accounts FROM your ward, (5) who got paid from TIFs in your ward. We even provide a nifty graphic map that lays all this out in a super clear manner. No one else can tell you all this!
At Personal Democracy Forum In NYC
CivicLab co-founders Benjamin Sugar and Tom Tresser will be at PDF 2014 in New York Thursday and Friday. We’ll be part of a panel presentation on Friday, “City Labs For Civic Engagement” with folks from Hack Baltimore and BetaNYC. If you’re in NYC, contact us @ info@civiclab.us or @civiclabchicago! Here’s an interview with Tom.
Tom & Ben @ Personal Democracy Forum
Join me and Benjamin Sugar in New York on June 5-6 when we’ll be at the Personal Democracy Forum.
TIF Projected Highlighted at IL Conference on New Urbanism
http://issuu.com/cmrenner/docs/cnu-conference-final-20140325 – Free download of presentations and material from 2013 conference on new ways of doing urban development. We did a piece on the TIF Illumination Project. Also great stuff on how Rockford is using creativity and the arts for economic development and Naomi Davis presenting on her vision for grassroots community development.
Planning In Chicago
Thanks to Prof. Brad Hunt from Roosevelt University for this amazing presentation on the recent history of planning efforts in Chicago at the CivicLab. You can’t get this knowledge anywhere else this easily and this cheaply! Here are our current class listings.
Full House @ The CivicLab on Running For Local Office
The amazing Kitty Kurth and Kevin Lampe give democracy training all over the world. This morning they are at the CivicLab giving a workshop on how to run for local office. We have people from all over the city here seeking civic knowledge. Some will run and others plan on helping others to run.
About The CivicLab & The TIF Illumination Project
Check out this great video shot by the folks at the Progressive Democrats of America. It’s 28 minutes long and lays out what the CivicLab is all about and how The TIF Illumination Project works AND reveals the details of the 12 TIFs of the 27th Ward. Whew!
54,774 People Can’t Be Wrong
As an educator and organizer I love to share my research and insights (such as they are). It’s gratifying to know that so many people at least took the time to graze the presentations I put online. Use the contact form to reach me if you’d like a copy of one of these presentations or if you’re interested in a presentation at your organization.



