October 2024

We were excited to hear again this year from Evanston’s Director of Parks and Recreation, Audrey Thompson.

If you weren’t able to join us for the Live Webcast, please take a few moments to watch our interview, available in the link below:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/BEY_nB_dEaCQrn2LWcdkP--oaZkPacJFo9wH9StCMD0LWVcyX8sjNeWiG-l3-Pza.ynK6HSTI9IdDETSk

Passcode: aCy?J!F6.

A few takeaways from our conversation with Ms. Thompson include that she wants the Parks & Recreation Department to be a good neighbor to all community members. She said that if there is a noise disruption coming from a park, school yard or even from a neighbor, Evanstonians should call the non-emergency police line to report the matter. The police should come out to ask for a lower noise level. At about the 15 minute mark, there is a lengthy discussion of alcohol service in parks and community centers and the desire by the city to gain an Illinois State License to purchase, sell and pour alcohol. At about the 26 minute mark, Ms. Thompson goes into great detail about the number of lakefront events, the evolution of the size and tenor of the events and details about future events. Finally, Ms. Thompson asks that anyone who has further questions or concerns to please reach out to her directly. We hope to post those questions and answers on our website in the coming weeks. Ms. Thompson can be reached at athompson@cityofevanston.org or by calling the city’s 311 line.

Audrey Thompson

Before being appointed to serve as Evanston's Director of Parks and Recreation, Thompson served as the City’s community services manager since January 2020, where she oversaw the City’s Youth & Young Adult and Senior Services programs. Recently, Thompson has focused on programs designed to prevent youth violence and recidivism, overseeing the launch of the My City, Your City, Our City program, which provides safe, fun, and enriching summer and year-round activities geared towards youth ages 13 to 18 years old.

As part of the City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Thompson led efforts to address food insecurity, assisting nearly 150 families through pop-up food pantries in Evanston. She also helped form the Mayor’s Long-Term Care and Congregate Facilities Work Group, which contributed to Evanston achieving a 100 percent vaccination rate among long-term care facility residents. 

Thompson began her career with the City of Evanston in 2010 as regional ombudsman and program manager. In that role, she led the creation of the Age-Friendly Business Initiative and the Evanston Benefit Card program, which provides seniors with one-step access to City programs, such as the Subsidized Transportation Program, Wheel Tax Discount, and Recreation Program Fee Assistance, as well as discounts at local businesses. Prior to her service to the City, Thompson dedicated 18 years to MS Children’s Home Services in Jackson, Mississippi, rising to the position of central region director for community-based services. 

Thompson is a licensed Master Social Worker and serves as an adjunct professor in the Social Work Department of Northeastern Illinois University. She earned a master’s degree in social work from Jackson State University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Tougaloo College. She is the former chair of the Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse Board of Directors and serves as a member of the advisory boards for North Shore Senior Center and North Shore Village Network. Thompson is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and was the recipient of the 2017 Evanston/North Shore NAACP Community Service Award.

2024 - 2025 - New Board Officers Elected at our October Meeting

The SEA Board is looking always looking for new members. If you are interested in taking time to advocate for the important issues that define Southeast Evanston, please consider reaching out to us at info@southeastevanston.org, for more information.

Josh Bowes-Carlson, SEA President

Martha Ash, SEA Vice President

Zafiro Papastratakos, SEA Treasurer

Mimi Roeder, SEA Secretary

Jean Prindiville, SEA Board Member

Marcus Thimm, SEA Board Member

John Walsh, SEA Board Member

Laurie Zoloth, SEA Board Member

September 2024

The SEA has worked on several matters in the past 6 months, with some success. In the spring, we contacted the City Council to urge them to vote down a proposal to legalize gaming machines in local bars and restaurants; the City Council voted against the measure 5 - 2. Additionally, we have be in touch with city officials regarding the high number of lakefront events that took place this summer. While we are not sure of the impact we made, we are continuing to engage officials in conversations about the future of the lakefront, lakefront concessions and activities. Additionally, we have called for greater transparency within various city offices and even been in touch with the new city Website Manager to urge swift updates to very old or missing data.

The SEA hopes the community and its members will look to this website as a resources for current city matters of concern and policy statements that align with our mission:

*Preserve the essentially residential character of Southeast Evanston through developing citizen participation in the processes of city zoning and planning.

 *Maintain and improve practices and regulations affecting Evanston land use.

 *Aid in the solution of community problems and encourage informed citizen participation in community affairs.

 *Foster research, education and study of various aspects of legislation directly affecting our community.

 *Provide a clearinghouse for information on community affairs.

 *Actively monitoring development along the lakefront, as well as events and uses that are scheduled and requested. We believe in an active, healthy and vibrant lakefront, that allows people to freely enjoy nature without overcrowding or misuse

We welcome thoughts, concerns and efforts to collaborate with our organization.  Our email address is info@southeastevanston.org.

 Sincerely,

Josh Bowes-Carlson, SEA President

Martha Ash, SEA Board Member

Zafiro Papastratakos, SEA Board Member

Jean Prindiville, SEA Board Member

Mimi Roeder, SEA Board Member

Marcus Thimm, SEA Board Member

John Walsh, SEA Board Member

Laurie Zoloth, SEA Board Member

City of Evanston Helpful Tools and Information -

Coming in 2025 - City Council and Mayoral Candidate Forums. Watch for conversations with the candidates in the early winter of 2025.

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City Council Email list:

dbiss@cityofevanston.org, ckelly@cityofevanston.org, dreid@cityofevanston.org, mwynne@cityofevanston.org, kharris@cityofevanston.org, erevelle@cityofevanston.org, jnieuwsma@cityofevanston.org, bburns@cityofevanston.org, tsuffredin@cityofevanston.org, jgeracaris@cityofevanston.org

City Portal with up to date information

https://cityofevanston.civicweb.net/Portal/Default.aspx

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