Panel 3
Local Solutions to Water Challenges
Presenters explored how local organizations are addressing water challenges in the Chicago region. Topics included the use of green infrastructure for stormwater management, water infrastructure, and climate resilience.
PANELISTS
Kate Evasic
Program Lead, Climate Resilience
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
As the Climate Resilience Program lead for the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), Kate Evasic focuses on increasing regional resilience to climate change and preserving one of the region's greatest assets–its freshwater. Her work advances climate resilience through stakeholder coordination, data analysis, policy development, and long-range planning. Evasic manages two regional efforts: the Transportation Resilience Improvement Plan for Northeastern Illinois and the Comprehensive Climate Action Plan for Greater Chicago.
Evasic holds a master's degree in urban planning and policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a bachelor of arts in geography from West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
Anna Jentz
Climate Equity Planner
Greenprint Partners
Anna Jentz is a climate equity planner at Greenprint Partners, an award-winning consulting firm specializing in community-centered environmental infrastructure. She supports Greenprint's planning team on projects nationwide and locally in the Calumet Region and the City of Chicago. Her work includes conducting research and data analysis, writing technical reports and grant proposals, and engaging with community members about their water and greening infrastructure projects.
Jentz believes thoughtful, inclusive, and collaborative urban planning is essential to building a more resilient and equitable future in the face of climate change. She received her BA in environmental policy from Loyola University Chicago in 2020 and is currently pursuing her master's degree in urban planning and policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Debra Shore
Former Regional Administrator, Region 5 (October 2021–January 2025)
US EPA
With a focus on conservation, clean air and water, and social justice, Debra Shore has been one of the Midwest's leading environmental protection advocates for more than 30 years.
Shore served for nearly three terms on the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD), a $1-billion agency responsible for protecting the precious resources of Lake Michigan through wastewater treatment and stormwater management.
In October 2021, President Biden appointed Shore as the Regional Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency's Region 5, including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, and 36 Tribal nations. In that role, Shore oversaw an agency with a $2.5+ billion budget, 1,100 scientists, attorneys, emergency responders, project managers, and many others working to protect public health and the environment. During her term, Shore oversaw one of the largest clean-up operations in agency history in response to the Norfolk Southern trail derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. She also pushed for creating a $40 million environmental justice grant program within the Great Lakes National Program Office.
An award-winning author, Shore founded Chicago Wilderness Magazine, led the regional conservation consortium Chicago Wilderness, and founded Friends of the Forest Preserves. Shore has been an active habitat restoration volunteer in oak woods and savannas, prairies, and wetlands of local forest preserves for more than 25 years. Shore lives with her spouse, Kathleen Gillespie, in Evanston, Illinois.
MODERATOR
Laura Brentner
Advanced Lecturer, School of Environmental Sustainability
Loyola University Chicago
Laura Brentner, PhD, applies biological tools to address environmental issues, including the protection of water resources, restoration of natural landscapes, bioenergy, and climate change. Her background in molecular biology and environmental engineering provides a strong scientific foundation. In addition, her experience in environmental policy and life cycle assessment (LCA) affords her a unique perspective for developing bio-based technology as a tool for sustainability.
PANELISTS
Kate Evasic
Program Lead, Climate Resilience
Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
As the Climate Resilience Program lead for the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), Kate Evasic focuses on increasing regional resilience to climate change and preserving one of the region's greatest assets–its freshwater. Her work advances climate resilience through stakeholder coordination, data analysis, policy development, and long-range planning. Evasic manages two regional efforts: the Transportation Resilience Improvement Plan for Northeastern Illinois and the Comprehensive Climate Action Plan for Greater Chicago.
Evasic holds a master's degree in urban planning and policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a bachelor of arts in geography from West Chester University of Pennsylvania.
Anna Jentz
Climate Equity Planner
Greenprint Partners
Anna Jentz is a climate equity planner at Greenprint Partners, an award-winning consulting firm specializing in community-centered environmental infrastructure. She supports Greenprint's planning team on projects nationwide and locally in the Calumet Region and the City of Chicago. Her work includes conducting research and data analysis, writing technical reports and grant proposals, and engaging with community members about their water and greening infrastructure projects.
Jentz believes thoughtful, inclusive, and collaborative urban planning is essential to building a more resilient and equitable future in the face of climate change. She received her BA in environmental policy from Loyola University Chicago in 2020 and is currently pursuing her master's degree in urban planning and policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Debra Shore
Former Regional Administrator, Region 5 (October 2021–January 2025)
US EPA
With a focus on conservation, clean air and water, and social justice, Debra Shore has been one of the Midwest's leading environmental protection advocates for more than 30 years.
Shore served for nearly three terms on the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD), a $1-billion agency responsible for protecting the precious resources of Lake Michigan through wastewater treatment and stormwater management.
In October 2021, President Biden appointed Shore as the Regional Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency's Region 5, including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, and 36 Tribal nations. In that role, Shore oversaw an agency with a $2.5+ billion budget, 1,100 scientists, attorneys, emergency responders, project managers, and many others working to protect public health and the environment. During her term, Shore oversaw one of the largest clean-up operations in agency history in response to the Norfolk Southern trail derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. She also pushed for creating a $40 million environmental justice grant program within the Great Lakes National Program Office.
An award-winning author, Shore founded Chicago Wilderness Magazine, led the regional conservation consortium Chicago Wilderness, and founded Friends of the Forest Preserves. Shore has been an active habitat restoration volunteer in oak woods and savannas, prairies, and wetlands of local forest preserves for more than 25 years. Shore lives with her spouse, Kathleen Gillespie, in Evanston, Illinois.
MODERATOR
Laura Brentner
Advanced Lecturer, School of Environmental Sustainability
Loyola University Chicago
Laura Brentner, PhD, applies biological tools to address environmental issues, including the protection of water resources, restoration of natural landscapes, bioenergy, and climate change. Her background in molecular biology and environmental engineering provides a strong scientific foundation. In addition, her experience in environmental policy and life cycle assessment (LCA) affords her a unique perspective for developing bio-based technology as a tool for sustainability.