Community Networking News Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County, Inc.

Fall 2009
www.cedaorg.net

CEDA Weatherization Day Press Conference

(left to right) Larry Dawson, Managing Director, Office of Energy Assistance, IL DCEO; Patri-
cia Doherty-Wildner, Executive Vice-President, CEDA; Hon. Seth D. McCormick, Jr., Chairman,
CEDA Board of Directors; Gil Sperling, Senior Advisor for Policy and Programs, US Department
of Energy;Robert L. Wharton, President/CEO, CEDA; and Robin Roy, Vice President Projects and
Policy, Serious Materials at the CEDA Weatherization Day press conference.
As a part of Energy Awareness
Month, CEDA celebrated National
Weatherization Day as an opportunity
to not only highlight the benefits and
importance of home weatherization,
but to also showcase the impact of the
work that CEDA does in communities
throughout Cook county.
See WEATHER page 7
In This Issue
CEDA Southwest
Retirees.................................p.2
CDFI Board Members............p.2
Hispanic Heritage Month...p.3
CINTAS Beautification
Project..................................p.3
Men’s Warehouse Suit
Drive.....................................p.4
Berwyn Business Fair...........p.4
Southland Summit...............p.4
EAN Network.....................p.5
OHS Head Start visit..........p.6
CEDA Success Story...........p.6
Census 2010..........................p.7
Workforce and
Development........................p.9
Southwest Legislative
Breakfast..............................p.9
Holiday Giving 2009
........................................p.10-11

CEDA partners with local legislators to host Energy Fairs for winter season
Tamelya Lett, CEDA Energy Services, ex-
plains LIHEAP application process to Thornton
Township Supervisor Frank Zuccarelli.
In efforts to further prepare com-
munities for cold temperatures, CEDA
partnered with local utility companies
to hold a series of energy fairs this sea-
son.
Held throughout the city and sub-
urban Cook county, these energy fairs
brought CEDA home energy and ener-
gy efficiency programs directly to resi-
dents presenting them the opportunity
to receive hands on attention outside of
standard CEDA offices.
Through partnerships with local
legislators CEDA was able to draw in
hundreds of applicants and commu-
nity members interested in reducing or
receiving assistance with home energy
bills.
“These community energy fairs
presented a wonderful opportunity
where residents can go to get personal
See ENERGY page 8

Our mission is to work in partnership with communities to empower families and individuals
to achieve self-sufficiency and improve their quality of life.

WEATHER cont. from page 1
On Friday October 30, 2009, CEDA
held a press conference and demon-
stration in partnership with Serious
Materials, The US Department of En-
ergy, Illinois Department of Commerce
and Economic Opportunity and the
City of Chicago to make two major an-
nouncements.
CEDA Weatherization is now us-
ing R5 windows in homes that receive
window replacements, which are not
only more energy efficient but also a
higher standard than required. At this
time California-based Manufacturing
company, Serious Materials, is sup-
plying CEDA with R5 windows at a
cheaper price than many manufactur-
ers sell lesser quality windows.
Serious Materials also made the
announcement that they are in the pro-
cess of re-hiring 270 union workers laid
off from Republic Windows and doors,
which they recently purchased in 2008.
“I commend the dedication and
shared aspirations of CEDA, Serious
Material, the Illinois Department of
Commerce and Economic Opportunity,
the U.S. Department of Energy, and all
agencies involved in this project to cre-
ate jobs, save energy and money, better
the lives of our citizens, and improve
the energy security of our nation,” said
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. “We look
forward to sharing our Weatherization
success and experience using super-
insulating windows throughout the
Midwest and across America.”
The press conference drew atten-
tion from local news media and resi-
dents who came armed with questions
regarding policy change and the Amer-
ican Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Gil Sperling, Program Director of the
US Department of Energy, addressed
7
(above) Lana Kennebrew, Cassandra Fricke, Case Manager, CEDA Weatherization; gives an over-
view of the CEDA Weatherization processes and services with John Hamilton, Program Director,
CEDA Weatherization; and Gil Sperling, Program Director of the US Department of Energy.
(below) A Union worker explains how the makeup of R5 windows helps keep homes energy efficient.
these questions from concerned attend- country to save energy, save money
ees, guaranteeing that steps were being and rebuild America’s economy based
taken in Washington to best serve the on home-grown manufacturing inno-
communities in need. vation and leadership.”
Sperling also spoke highly of the
collaboration between CEDA and Seri-
ous Materials and the efforts that both
are making to improve the lives of in-
dividuals nationwide through promot-
ing energy efficiency.
“We are pleased to work with Se-
rious Materials to help make homes
more energy efficient,” said CEDA
President/ CEO Robert L. Wharton.
“They supply a product that is unique
to weatherization, and we believe that
this will greatly benefit not only the
families we serve but the local econo-
my as well through job creation.”
“Efforts like CEDA’s have the po-
tential to create thousands of US manu-
facturing and skilled labor jobs. This is
exactly what we need to so across the

Census 2010: It’s in Our Hands

Beginning April 1, 2010 the United
States Census Bureau will issue a call
to action for every resident in our na-
tion to complete a confidential ques-
tionnaire.
Comprised of only ten questions,
this quick and easy survey is conduct-
ed every ten years by the United States
Census Bureau to update demographic
and statistical information.
Each year, nearly $400 billion in
federal funding for critical community
services is distributed to state and local
governments based on census data.
In addition, census data guides lo-
cal planning efforts, such as where to
build new roads and schools and plan-
ning for future water and sewer utility
improvements.
Census data also helps determine
how many seats each state will have in
the U.S. House of Representatives.
By law the Census bureau cannot
share an individuals’s census question-
naire responses with anyone, including
other federal agencies and law enforce-
ment entities.

Fall 2009
8
ENERGY cont. from page 1
attention and information needed to
help them manage their energy costs,”
said Paul Patterson, LIHEAP and
Weatherization Public Relations Coor-
dinator.
At each event, attendees were able
to apply for a one-time utility bill pay-
ment assistance through programs
such as LIHEAP (Low Income Home
Energy Assistance Program), ComEd
Residential Special Hardship Fund and
Peoples Gas Share the Warmth.
Intake workers were also on hand
for those interested in applying for the
Illinois Home Weatherization Assis-
tance Program (IHWAP) as well as NI-
COR Sharing.
On November 4, 2009, the CEDA
Center for Community Action part-
nered with Thornton Township,
ComEd, NICOR, and State Represen-
tative Will Davis hosted an energy fair
for local residents.
More than 700 participants came
to receive the one-time payment on
their gas or electric bill, with Thornton
Township residents receiving addition-
al utility assistance from the township.
Attendees also received smoke de-
tectors courtesy of State Rep. Will Da-
vis’ office.
CEDA distributed energy con-
servation kits to attendees who par-
ticipated in the Energy Efficiency Pre-
sentation given by Deborah Harper,
LIHEAP Field Coordinator, CEDA.
Harper also answered questions from
participants regarding program eligi-
bility.

The energy assistance fairs were held

at the following locations between
September and December 2009:

CEDA Center for Community Action Rainbow/PUSH
Thornton Township Hall 930 E. 50th Street
333 E. 162nd Street Chicago, IL 60615
South Holland, IL 60473
Congressman Luis Gutierrez
Congressman Bobby Rush Westside Technical Institute
Walter Reed Elementary School 2800 S. Western Ave
6350 S. Stewart Chicago, IL 60608
Chicago, IL 60621
CEDA Bloom-Rich
Dwight D. Eisenhower H.S. Bloom-Rich Township Center
12700 S. Sacramento Ave. 425 S. Halsted St.
Blue Island, IL 60406 Chicago Heights, IL 60411
Helping People. Changing
Orland Park Civic Center
14750 S. Ravinia Ave
Orland Park, IL 60462
CEDA Bloom-Rich
Park Forest Village Hall
350 Victory Drive
Park Forest, IL 60466
Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr.
Olive Harvey College
10001 S. Woodlawn
Chicago, IL 60628
Lives.