About FLIP
Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP) is a leadership development opportunity where students can contribute to a better future for our region. Participants in this new program will learn more about the northeastern region and share their thoughts with other teens from Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties. Participants will also meet and interact with selected regional leaders who make key planning decisions in our communities.
FLIP participants gave their final presentation to a group of more than 100 parents, partners and CMAP Board Members on Thursday, April 23. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. CMAP is pleased to announce that the agency will be able to continue the program with a new group of students in the fall of 2009.
Youth Speak
FLIP participants around the region have been interviewed by local newspapers about their experience in the program. The Lake County Journal quoted Paula Yoder as saying “our voices need to be heard in order to change the future.” We couldn't agree more. The Pioneer Press featured a story about Laura Berman, whose civic-mindedness has the Stevenson High School junior following in the footsteps of her father, Buffalo Grove Trustee Jeff Berman. Most recently, the Naperville Sun covered featured a great summary of the entire 2009 program.
FLIP participants regularly contribute to the CMAP blog. To read Lynda Lopez's interview with Josh Edelman, the Executive Officer of the Chicago Public Schools’ Office of New Schools, click here.
As part of the educational component of FLIP, participants regularly write reflections relating what they learn from session activities to what they see in their own communities. To read the latest in a series of CMAP blog entries featuring these reflections, click here. Stay tuned for additional CMAP blog entries. We encourage all readers, of all ages, to post comments.
FLIP participants are also developing PowerPoint slides for their final presentation on existing conditions in the region and reccommendations for improvement. The ideas in these slides do not necessarily represent those of CMAP. To view some of these slides and read youth comments to each other, click here.
Adults Speak
Many adults in the fields of planning, housing, environmental protection, transportation, land use, human services and community and economic development have had the opportunity to interact with FLIP participants. Here is what some of them have to say.
“I thought [the expert interview day] was very well organized (kudos!) and was impressed by how much the students were already up to speed with planning issues.” - Emily Tapia, Metro Planning Council
"I was very impressed the final presentation last Thursday. Even though the presentations were very brief, I could see and feel their minds behind the slides. Some of the issues they identified were never in my thoughts. Some of the solutions seemed to be just imagination. But with the rapid development of advanced technology, they will be possible." Wei Gao, FLIP Parent
"The students involved in FLIP are engaging and engaged. It is bracing to hear and see the level of creativity and insight into local, regional, national and international issues demonstrated by the participants." - Patricia Berry, Principal Planner
"That's why we love FLIP so much - it is challenging but more importantly gets the kids to think about THEIR future and THEIR communities." - Therese Schmidt, FLIP Parent
More Information
To receive periodic updates on FLIP, including opportunities for involvement, sign up for the listserv.
To meet other youth in the region and blog about issues affecting your community, visit the Facebook or MySpace page.
For more information, please take a look at the 2010 FLIP application.