Just Public Systems

Our region is changing, yet racial and economic inequities persist. Change Lab, MPC’s learning laboratory, offers a systems solution. Change Lab equips advocates, the public sector, and private entities with the knowledge, skills and tools to affect structural change and institutionalize equity.

For 90 years MPC has worked to create prosperous, equitable, and sustainable communities throughout northeastern Illinois and the Chicago region. Our work results in vibrant neighborhoods, quality housing and transportation, a strong economy, well-managed natural assets, and efficient delivery of government services. Here are our 2024 recommendations for policy change in the City of Chicago.

For 90 years MPC has worked to create prosperous, equitable, and sustainable communities throughout northeastern Illinois and the Chicago region. Our work results in vibrant neighborhoods, quality housing and transportation, a strong economy, well-managed natural assets, and efficient delivery of government services. Here are our 2024 recommendations for policy change in the State of Illinois.

Clean, abundant drinking water is the backbone of any community. MPC works with partners and stakeholders across Northeastern Illinois to ensure appropriate investment, coordinated planning and 21st Century best practices for equitably managing our drinking water supply and systems.

MPC has released its 2023 Mayoral Briefing Book, a wide-ranging outline of priorities that includes specific action items for the next administration. Outlined priorities relate to the urban built environment and include public transit and transportation, stormwater management, safe drinking water, and inclusive, community-based planning.

Collective planning is a tool for residents and stakeholders to co-create a vision for their city, a plan for funding projects, and solutions to implement the shared vision. In 2020 MPC helped co-create the inclusive, community-informed planning process that led to "We Will Chicago."

Civic participation and effective government are cornerstones of our region’s viability. That’s why MPC advances policies and programs that improve the efficiency, responsiveness, and accountability of our government institutions. Through our partnership with Transform Illinois and our new program to build municipal capacity, we promote and support local government efficiency and effectiveness.

The Metropolitan Planning Council, together with Urban Institute and a team of policy advisors, is leading a groundbreaking, two-year research and policy initiative. The first phase of the work—detailed in the report at right—reveals that segregation costs the Chicago region billions in lost income, lost lives and lost potential each year.

The independent Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) works with governments, businesses, community leaders, and advocacy groups to promote racially equitable and environmentally sustainable planning and policy solutions necessary for every neighborhood to thrive.  To this end, MPC’s work focuses on creating Thriving Communities, Equitable Infrastructure and Just Public Systems.

The independent Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) works with governments, businesses, community leaders, and advocacy groups to promote racially equitable and environmentally sustainable planning and policy solutions necessary for every neighborhood to thrive.  To this end, MPC’s work focuses on creating Thriving Communities, Equitable Infrastructure and Just Public Systems.

Zoning and land use are policy and planning tools that can help shape the way residents interact with their neighborhoods and lead to greater equitable and sustainable development.

Lead service lines pose serious health concerns not just to our region, but across the entire State of Illinois. Replacing them touches on persistent questions of equity. MPC and broad coalition of partners are pursuing new strategies to help communities tackle a critical statewide infrastructural issue.