City of Evanston

👋 Meet Brian Zimmerman! Brian serves as the City's Solid Waste Coordinator in the Public Works Agency and has been with the City of Evanston for almost three years. His job involves managing external franchise agreement services for residential collections, recycling, and composting. He also helps with programming, education, and outreach! Watch this video to learn more about his important work throughout Evanston:

Two members of our Human Resources team, Interim Human Resources Division Manager Mary Dankwa, MSHR, and HR Generalist Lourdes Tamayo-Marquez attended the 2024 SHRM Annual Conference & Expo! They connected with industry leaders, gained a wealth of knowledge to bring back to our organization, and soaked up inspirational sessions.

Chief Stewart is a leader in the truest sense. We are so grateful to have her here in Evanston. Check out her episode on the Evanston Rules podcast below.

City of Evanston staff, along with representatives of Northwestern's Office of Neighborhood and Community Relations and the Evanston Community Foundation, attended the International Town-Gown Association Conference in Maryland last week. Representing the City were 2nd Ward Councilmember Krissie Harris, Tasheik Kerr, Damilola Olabanji, and Jessica I. Cooper, MBA, who engaged in sessions and networking opportunities to bring back valuable insights and strategies for strengthening our community relationships!

The winner of the Mayor’s Flag Redesign Contest, 7-year-old Bernie Allen-Harrah, joined Mayor Biss this morning at WBEZ Chicago for a pre-recorded interview where she talked about her flag design and the inspiration behind it! Check out the segment which will air on Monday’s Morning Edition at 6:48 and 8:48 a.m.

We are excited to announce that VolunteerEvanston is getting a significant upgrade! In partnership with the City of Evanston, we have transitioned VolunteerEvanston to UpSquad—a comprehensive platform designed to enhance your organization's online tools and engagement strategies. Join us to discover how UpSquad can help your organization more effectively advertise volunteer opportunities, connect with potential board members, and much more. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your community impact! Register now: https://ow.ly/C2fr50RSKTP #EvanstonCommunityFoundation #CityofEvanston #Volunteer #Community #ForNowForeverForEveryone

Announcing Evanston’s 5th Annual Juneteenth Parade Grand Marshal, Evanston’s own 2nd ward Alderman Krissie Harris! Please join us in congratulating Alderman Krissie Harris! About Krissie: Krissie Harris is a firm believer in giving back to her community. Krissie has worked at Oakton Community College for the past 25 years and prides herself in trying to make a difference in each student she encounters. She says her construction degree prepared her for building people, good citizens and avid learners. She has been in the Higher Education field since 1992 and can’t imagine doing any other work. Krissie co-founded the Pan African American connection at Oakton where the employees of Oakton held a seminar for the surrounding employees of Color. There were panel discussions and brain storming activities where Higher education professionals worked to help make the work environment more conducive to staff of color. She created the day of service, this is where the whole college community, faculty, staff Students and administrators are invited to spend a Friday afternoon doing service in the Oakton College district. All of the groups are mixed up, they get to learn more about each other and the needs in the community. She has coordinated student trips for cultural immersion near and far. Trips to Dusable, Holocaust and Mexican Art Museums in Chicago and most recently to Selma Alabama for the 50th anniversary and hopes to take students to the African American and Native American Museum in Washington D.C. She has participated in numerous volunteer projects ranging from: A Trustee of Second Baptist Church, NAACP-Evanston North Shore, Ronald McDonald House, North Shore CROP Walk, Joe Butch Martin Foundation, volunteer photographer for the Foster Seniors, ETHS Parent Ambassador, Daejae Coleman Foundation, The Family Focus Auxiliary Board, and the African American Youth Achievement Awards co-chair. Krissie also volunteers on an annual basis to the following programs: Race Against Hate, Walk a Mile in Her Shoes, Primm Towers Senior Facility. She believes that service really serves the server. I get the biggest rush when I am helping others. It is so important to give back, it shows others that we all have something to share. Past exec. experiences include: past President of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Omega Pi Zeta chapter, Evanston Parks and Recreation Board, American Association of Women at Community Colleges past President. And currently serves as the Council Member for the 2nd ward in Evanston. There isn’t an educational experience she isn’t willing to try, well maybe math, because education is one of the few things once you are given it NO one can take it back! Sponsorship form & details: https://lnkd.in/gcuCsZ24 Link to sign up for volunteer roles: https://lnkd.in/ga6ntnj8

Join us in giving a big "thank you" to all our Public Works employees for their dedication to the Evanston community. This year's National Public Works Week (May 19-25) theme, "Advancing Quality of Life for All," highlights their crucial role in our community. Their efforts in maintaining and improving our infrastructure enhance the quality of life for everyone in our city. Check out the video below to meet one of our behind-the-scenes Public Works employees, Paulina Albazi, Administrative Lead for Capital Planning & Engineering.

Take a look at the Evanston Fire Department’s new recruitment video! Interested in joining the team? Apply to serve today at applytoserve.com.

After over three decades of service to the City of Evanston, Carlos D Ruiz has announced his retirement effective June 1. Carlos started as the City’s Preservation Coordinator in 1991 and, to many in our community, the preservation program and Carlos are synonymous. Carlos helped the Preservation Commission and City Council adopt a new Preservation Ordinance that continues to act as a model for other communities. Notably, the new ordinance included binding design reviews for landmarks and properties in historic districts, a change Carlos helped guide and implement. He also staffed the Preservation Commission when several new historic districts and landmarks were designated by the Council, helping to grow the body of protected resources in Evanston to over 2,500 properties today. As a trained architect, Carlos appreciates the irreplaceable design that many of Evanston’s historic buildings embody. Carlos loves many aspects of his job but what he will miss most is building relationships and educating people on the importance of preservation and its contribution to Evanston’s unique identity and collective memory of place. Read more about Carlos and his career: https://bit.ly/3yjymI5.