An innovative collaborative effort has launched in the Village of Oak Park to build a more sustainable community. The Cross Agency Sustainability Exchange (CASE), a project funded by the Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation’s PlanItGreen initiative, brings together Oak Park River Forest High School District 200 (D200), Oak Park Elementary School District 97 (D97), the Village of Oak Park, and Seven Generations Ahead (SGA) to drive progress on local sustainability goals.
The core mission of CASE is to develop actionable work plans in key areas: Energy, Food/Waste, Green Infrastructure, and Climate Education. These plans will align with the existing sustainability and climate policies of each participating governing body, including Climate Ready Oak Park, the comprehensive climate action and resilience plan adopted by the village in 2022.
Working groups, composed of internal staff, students, and external technical experts, have already convened twice. They are actively developing strategies that can be implemented within an 18-month timeframe.
One of the initial strategies involves assessing D97’s school-based composting and food waste reduction efforts. Partnering with Less is More, a local green consulting firm, the initiative aims to identify gaps, solutions, and steps to systematize composting, share tables, and Offer vs. Serve programs across the district. Another strategy CASE has prioritized is finding effective ways to connect school programs to homes, and vice versa. By bridging sustainability at school and at home, CASE aims to foster a community-wide commitment to environmental goals and a more holistic approach to developing sustainable habits.
CASE is addressing a number of challenges, including inconsistencies in sorting stations and waste diversion efforts within both D97 and D200. The project aims to systematize the process for sorting stations at all schools, and find consistent sources of volunteers to help with school waste reduction programs. Since volunteers tend to be current parents and students, turnover is high, which can create discontinuity and hamper the success of these programs. Additionally, there’s a push to bring share tables to all D97 schools, further reducing food waste and promoting resource sharing.
The Cross Agency Sustainability Exchange is a truly collaborative approach to streamlining and scaling sustainability efforts across governing bodies, and represents a significant step towards a more sustainable and resilient Oak Park. As a member of the Cross Community Climate Collaborative (C4), Oak Park’s work through CASE can serve as a model for other C4 communities looking to maximize environmental impact across governmental agencies. By fostering collaboration and implementing practical strategies, CASE is paving the way for a greener future for the Oak Park community and beyond.