Great Lakes Leadership Program
The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
- Program Environment
- Program Area Addressing the Freshwater Challenge
- Grant Amount $30,000
- Grant Period May 1, 2018–March 31, 2019
- Location Chicago, IL, United States
- Geographic Focus Illinois
About this grant
The University of Illinois at Chicago’s Freshwater Lab is an initiative on the university campus that endeavors to train a new generation of Great Lakes water leaders; to conduct research on the Great Lakes basin; to communicate findings to the public; and to bring university students, researchers, elected officials, community leaders, and water professionals into productive dialogue. With previous support from the Mott Foundation, the Lab has achieved these goals by hosting summits; developing a curriculum and a digital storytelling site called Freshwater Stories; hosting speakers and events; and coordinating courses on humanities and social science approaches to freshwater issues at the university and other Big Ten schools. To continue and extend work in proven areas of strength, the Lab now hopes to grow new leadership by developing an internship program for university students to work on Great Lakes issues, particularly in urban areas along the southern end of Lake Michigan. This planning grant will enable them to explore existing programs, gaps in what currently exists, and the specific needs that can be addressed by an urban university with one of the most diverse student bodies in North America.