Futures Resource Group Hub

The Century Plan is a long-term vision for a better, stronger future for northeastern Illinois. Led by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), this initiative invites voices across government, civic spheres, business, and communities to prioritize what the region will need to thrive by midcentury. The multi-year project — which will culminate when the CMAP Board and MPO Policy Committee adopt The Century Plan by Fall 2027 — will build consensus and secure bold commitments for transformative change that will enable residents of our cities, suburbs, and rural communities to meet challenges and make the most of opportunities.

Futures Resource Group

To support the development of The Century Plan, CMAP — and its partner, KerrSmith Design — has invited regional stakeholders to participate in a series of strategic foresight workshops.

Over the course of three, in-person engagements, members of the Futures Resource Group will participate in activities that promote futures thinking and explore possible futures for northeastern Illinois. Each workshop will build upon each other to shape a toolkit for predicting, preparing, and planning for different scenarios. Ultimately, by exploring and understanding existing conditions and trends as well as future impacts and uncertainties, the Resource Group will identify the grand challenges that — regardless of the future — can provide a foundation for regional planning efforts ahead.

This page will serve as a hub for members of the Futures Resource Group and will be updated regularly. Members can find notes and agendas, information on future meetings, resources on foresight and scenario planning practice, and other relevant information.

Information on meeting topics and schedule, as well as a complete overview document, can be found under Futures Resource Group key documents.

Meeting logistics

All in-person sessions will be held at CMAP’s offices at the Old Post Office, 433 W Van Buren St., Suite 1450.

Directions and building logistics can be found under Futures Resource Group key documents.
Members will be provided with access codes at least one week before each meeting.

Who is involved?

The Futures Resource Group is composed of subject matter experts and leaders from across northeastern Illinois.

• Anna Arzuaga, Senior Housing Policy Analyst, Latino Policy Forum
• Becky Wingate, CREATE Program Manager, Association of American Railroads
• Carrie Thomas, Deputy Director, Business Services, Illinois Department of Employment Security
• Chris Hall, Urban Strategy Leader, City Design Practice, SOM
• David Leopold, Senior Partner Development Manager, Microsoft
• Drew Awsumb, Community Development Director, City of Park Ridge
• Emily Blum, Executive Director, Disability Lead
• Horacio Mendez, President & CEO, Woodstock Institute
• Omer Verbas, Technical Lead for Network Modeling and Simulation, Argonne National Laboratory
• Mark VanKerkhoff, Director, Development & Community Services Department, Kane County
• Matt Shomo, Program Manager for Homeownership & Home Equity, Chicago Community Trust
• Dr. Muriel Adams, One World Shared Future Institute
• Petra Hurtado, Chief Foresight & Knowledge Officer, American Planning Association
• Sarah Clark, Senior Director of Strategy and Development, Education Systems Center at Northern Illinois University
• Simone Montgomery, Impact for Equity
• Susan Longworth, Policy Advisor, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago