For elected officials, community leaders, and public employees
Event Date(s)
Event Time
-
Location
University of Illinois 100 South US Hwy 45, Grayslake, IL 60030
County
Lake
Illinois communities are already seeing the effects of a changing climate—heavier rains, more frequent flooding, hotter summers, shifting seasons, and added strain on local infrastructure. To help local governments prepare, University of Illinois Extension in Lake County is hosting an interactive workshop designed for municipal leaders who want practical tools to strengthen community resilience now and in the years ahead.
This 1.5 hour session is geared toward elected officials, community leaders, and public employees. Participants will walk away with:
- A grounded understanding of current Midwest and Illinois climate projections and what conditions municipalities should anticipate in the coming decades.
- An overview of leading state and local policy approaches across Illinois, including resilience planning, clean energy efforts, greenhouse gas reduction strategies, hazard mitigation, public education, and green infrastructure and restoration work.
- Core skills for community‑driven adaptation planning, with a focus on equitable and participatory approaches.
- Real‑world examples from Illinois and beyond that show what effective, local‑scale resilience work looks like in practice.
- Hands‑on exercises to help identify resilience needs, opportunities, and next steps within participants’ own communities.
We are hosting an evening session for members of the community. This session is geared towards elected officials, community leaders, and public employees.
About the presenter
Jessica Rudnick, PhD, is a Climate Resilience Specialist for Extension with ten years of experience in applied research, extension, and community engagement. Her work centers on community resilience, environmental decision‑making, and participatory governance, spanning topics such as agriculture, water quality, water supply management, ecosystem restoration, and pollution cleanup.
Jessica Rudnick, PhD, is a Climate Resilience Specialist for Extension with ten years of experience in applied research, extension, and community engagement. Her work centers on community resilience, environmental decision‑making, and participatory governance, spanning topics such as agriculture, water quality, water supply management, ecosystem restoration, and pollution cleanup.
Rudnick is known for building strong partnerships with community leaders and stakeholders to co‑develop solutions to complex environmental challenges. Before joining Illinois Extension, she served as a Research Social Scientist with the U.S. Forest Service in Chicago, where she studied community‑led stewardship and governance around the Great Lakes. She also worked as a Social Science Extension Specialist with NOAA California Sea Grant, focusing on integrating human well‑being into social‑ecological system management.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact
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