Environmental Justice Policy – Cook County 2025

It has been an absolute pleasure to be part of the EJ internal working group at Cook County! I have had the opportunity to contribute to the transportation and transit aspects of the first EJ policy of Cook County! More importantly working with amazing people across bureaus and bringing together ideas and initiatives.

the Cook County Government Department of Environment and Sustainability (DES) presented the County’s first environmental justice (EJ) policy framework to the Cook County Board of Commissioners this week. The framework affirms the County’s commitment to ensure environmental justice initiatives are prioritized in the projects and programs that the County initiates.

The policy framework was co-developed by an EJ internal working group, made up of County employees and an EJ Community Advisory Committee. It was informed by feedback gathered directly from residents, community organizations and EJ leaders through a survey, focus groups and stakeholder interviews as well as town hall sessions and insight gathered from a public comment period after the draft was released in January 2025. The EJ framework will help inform and guide programming and policy decision-making across bureaus and departments within Cook County’s Offices Under the President.

I am so grateful to all of the community members, colleagues, partners, and participants who came together to make this happen. The EJ policy framework and press releases in English and Spanish can be found at https://lnkd.in/girx7JiG.