Delta Institute

Upcoming climate summit from our friends at Faith in Place! 🙌

2026 Annual Environment and Spirituality Summit Attend the 2026 Annual Environment & Spirituality Summit hosted by Faith in Place, where thought leaders and participants delve into the critical intersection of environmental sustainability, spiritual practices, and social justice. Engage in transformative discussions that promote eco-conscious

Second only to Lake Michigan, the South Side's Lake Calumet is the largest lake within Chicago's city limits. It is a cherished natural asset that has been stewarded by its surrounding communities for years. We at Delta Institute are joining in their efforts through restoration, conservation, and maintenance projects to protect the lake and regional water quality for now and future generations.
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With support from funders like the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Ga***rd and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation we are working to remove invasive species at Lake Calumet and plant native vegetation as well as install other green infrastructure. These activities will protect the lake from harmful water pollution as well as reduce stormwater flooding that flows downstream, impacting south suburban communities. We had a great site visit last week at the lake with the Illinois International Port District Community Advisory Team, Port District staff, St. Mary's Cement and project funders.
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Learn more about this partnership at: https://delta-institute.org/project/lake-calumet-gi/

Delta Institute’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Jeff Williams, Ed.D., M.B.A., has been appointed to serve as the organization’s Interim CEO and Strategic Programmatic Advisor. He will do so through his capacity as Director, Consulting Services, for the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy at Grand Valley State University. Learn more in the link below. Welcome aboard, Jeff!

Announcing Delta Institute's Interim CEO: Jeff Williams, Ed.D., M.B.A. - Delta Institute Delta Institute is pleased to introduce Jeff Williams, Ed.D., MBA, as the organization's Interim CEO and Strategic Programmatic Advisor.

Partnership opportunity! 📣

Delta Institute is seeking proposals from qualified consultants and firms to conduct Baseline Site Analysis, Design, Permitting, and Maintenance and Stewardship Planning Services for Habitat Restoration on 25 acres at Illinois International Port District. This is part of a project in which Delta Institute is restoring 25 acres of habitat on Lake Calumet, benefiting stormwater management and native habitat for wildlife.

A pre-proposal meeting and site visit will be held August 11. The deadline for questions will be August 14. Proposals are due September 4 at 5pm CT. All DBEs, MBEs, and WBEs are encouraged to apply. Visit our website for more info 💻

https://delta-institute.org/position/baseline-site-analysis-design-permitting-maintenance/

Attention: Communities in Lake County, Illinois 📣
Delta Institute is partnering with Lake County, IL Government to select a community to serve as a demonstration site for our Tree Planting Consortium along the western Lake Michigan watershed. The selected community will receive 25 trees to be planted on public property or a site that is publicly maintained. Applications will be received on a rolling basis; however, please note that applications received by August 20th will be given priority consideration. Learn more in the link below. 🌳
https://delta-institute.org/project/tree-canopy-restoration-in-southeast-wisconsin-and-northeast-illinois/

Tree Canopy Restoration in Southeast Wisconsin and Northeast Illinois - Delta Institute Delta is working with communities on Lake Michigan's western shoreline to convene a Tree Planting Consortium and restore local tree canopy.

Join our team!
We're looking for someone with passion for addressing environmental challenges throughout the Midwest -- particularly someone with expertise in providing water infrastructure technical assistance and financing. Full job description, salary range, benefits, qualifications expectations, and more listed in the link in our bio.
https://delta-institute.org/position/efc-specialist/

Absolutely love this interview with Delta Institute's board director Jannice Newson on developing her environmentally-conscious beauty company, Lillian Augusta Beauty! Give it a listen in the link below 🎧
https://share.alivepodcastnetwork.com/jannice-newson-reinventing-beauty-through-plant-based-innovation
s/o Rhonda Coleman Wandel podcast

Thank you to everyone who participated in our inaugural Day of Service in partnership with West Monroe last week! Volunteers from West Monroe connected with leaders from Delta Institute's BOOST program to offer them entrepreneurial advice on strategic planning, marketing, and more. What a great day to connect with thoughtful volunteers and climate-focused start-ups! 💚

Shout out to the West Monroe volunteer cohort and to the BOOST entrepreneurs from Midwest Science and Salvage, BabyGami, Eco.Logic, EcoShip Chicago, and Reduce Waste Chicago! 🤩

Are you interested in learning about important environmental topics, building community among the climate concerned, and deepening your understanding of individual and systemic levers for action? Look no further than our friends at Eco.Logic and their 2026 Chicago-based Eco.Crew!
Meet with your “crew” for 8 sessions through facilitator guided sessions paired with specific calls to action. Eco.Logic is a 2022 winner of Delta Institute's BOOST program for green entrepreneurs.
Learn more & Register: https://www.ecologicprograms.org/eco-crews

July starts a new fiscal year for us here at Delta Institute: a fresh new year of collaborating with communities across the Midwest to solve complex environmental challenges - and thanking everyone who helped us this past year! For starters, cheers to last year's Delta Emerging Leaders (pictured in part below) for volunteering to bring engaging and impactful events to the Delta Institute community! Looking forward to the year ahead!