Students 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.
The TIF Illumination Project was a source for this story in today’s Chicago Sun-Times.
The Global Cardboard Challenge Comes To CivicLab!
The CivicLab is thrilled to host the Chicago version of the Global Card Board Challenge on October 5, from1pm to 4pm.
Watch this video and YOU will want to play with us!
This is a kid’s event and is perfect way for a family to foster imagination and engaged play AND expose kids to design, science, engineering and a whole lot more. There is no charge but you must read the directions and register via EventBrite.
Tom Teaches “TIF 101” Workshop @ CivicLab
Tom Tresser has been doing TIF Illumination workshops all over the city. Now you can see what over 1,600 other people have seen – how TIFs work REALLY.
Attend the “TIF 101” workshop at the CivicLab on Tuesday, September 17 at 7pm. 90 minutes. $10. You’ll be Illuminated! Register via EventBrite.
WBEZ Explains The TIF Program
Watch this creative and fast moving seven minute video from WBEZ’s “Curious City” Project. Learn more at the CivicLab’s TIF Illumination Project. Do I look better animated?
CivicLab Chicago Innovation Award Nominee
The CivicLab is one of this year’s nominees for a Chicago Innovation Award! Celebrate with us at The Park West on September 9.
39th Ward Illuminated
Lord, it was HOT inside the Belding School auditorium tonight! And it just got HOTTER after the five TIFs of the 39th were Illuminated. Alderman Laurino was a no-show, No surprise. View all the TIF Illuminations here. Sign the petition to the Mayor – Empty The TIFs!. Read coverage from Progress Illinois.
152 TIFs Illuminated!
I gave an update to a group of TIF Illumination Project organizers today at the CivicLab.
The TIF illumination Project was launched in February and six months later we’ve Illuminated 152 TIFs across 26 wards! The map hows the territory we’ve covered (Wards outlined in red received their own Illumination town forum, wards outlined blue were Illuminated together in two separate meetings). Over 1,500 people have attended these meetings.

Here is the presentation given to the group of folks who have or who are organizing TIF Town Meetings.
The Artist As Leader
There is a new publication covering the intersection of the arts, creativity and business, Artworks Journal. They asked me for an manifesto for their first issue. Download the brief essay as a pdf -> Tresser-Poetics.

Aldermen Attend 33rd Ward Illumination, Sign Check!
It was a packed house at the 33rd Ward TIF Illumination on August 8, 2013! Over 120 people filled the community room at the Christ Lutheran Church in Albany Park to learn the details of the four TIFs in their ward. Aldermen Deb Mell and Ray Colon attended the full meeting and heard from parents and school children on the devastating impacts of the recently announced school cuts on their lives. They Aldermen were asked to pledge to take the $1.7 billion from the TIF accounts and send that money to the units of government that should’ve received those funds in the first place. They did so. Then they were asked to sign a giant check for $850,000,000 – the public’s share of that money. They did so!
The meeting was organized by The Albany Park Neighborhood Council.
Review the presentation by Tom Tresser here.
Add your voice to the demand that the Mayor empty the TIF accounts and put that money to work for the people by signing this petition.



