High school students complete school-year program by meeting with officials from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP)

High school students completing a regional leadership development program will present their ideas for how to plan for improved quality of life in the seven counties of northeastern Illinois.  

Media representatives are encouraged to attend the event on Thursday, April 23, 2009, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Adler Planetarium on Chicago's lakefront.

Selected from schools across the region, the Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) students participated in the program that was created by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP).  They will make their presentations to members of the CMAP Board, in addition to other leaders and decision makers.

Each student will deliver a formal presentation sharing what he or she has learned about the region, including their recommendations to shape a better future.  They will address important regional issues such as economic development, environment and natural resources, housing, human services, and transportation.

The 38 students have learned about comprehensive planning issues, having committed 45 hours to the FLIP program that includes monthly meetings and workshops throughout the 2008-09 school year.

See http://www.cmap.illinois.gov/flipkids for a PDF with more details of the event, and http://www.cmap.illinois.gov/flip.aspx for more about the program.