Join Mark Billing and Gary Joy as they talk with Pastor Stephen Puett of CrossWinds Church in Elgin.  The ECN and CrossWinds are moving forward in a partnership, to provide a significant work force on a Neighborhood Improvement Project, aimed at helping a family in need.  From painting, to plumbing, to landscaping and more, Neighborworks Week will offer an opportunity to volunteers to make a difference!

Mark and Gary chat with Mark Hargidon, the managing director of the Janus Theatre here in Elgin. Janus is a professional theater company, dedicated to presenting top notch theater experiences for local audiences.  Often tapping in on the great talent base we have here, Janus truly brings professional level performance to the Fox Valley.  Come hear about how they have evolved, and what they have in mind for the future.

In this installment of the ECN Community Builder audio newsletter, the Southwest Area Neighbors (SWAN) find themselves having to rebuild their organization.  A situation that happens to some neighborhood groups. How do you do it?  What are the challenges?  We chat with Charlene Eckols, new President of SWAN, about their efforts to renew their group, mission and vitality in Elgin.

Mark Billings and Gary Joy talk with Bill Bailey and Sigi Psimenos of the local organization Slow Global Warming of Elgin, as they cover the very real and practical strategies each person can adopt to create change concerning this issue.  In this episode, you can gather - in a real world way, ideas and new habits to make simple changes that will have a huge effect.  Empowering and inspiring talk.

Did you know you can apply for a grant to deconvert your multi dwelling home to a single family home?  Even get a grant to pay you to take down your chain link fence?  There are many grant programs here in Elgin, from city-wide to community block grants.

Mark Billings and Gary Joy chat with Mike Millikan, Program Manager, Department of Planning and Neighborhood Services with the City of Elgin, covering 'everything grants' here in Elgin!  Listening to this podcast is a wise investment.  

Mark and Gary are joined by Carl Missele, President of the ECN, as they cover updates and upcoming meetings and presentations. A few of the topics:

Bikeway meeting open to the public

A presentation on neighborhood association obligations and legal concerns

Some new partnerships the ECN is nurturing

Mark Billings and Gary Joy chat with RuthAnne Hall, Management Analyst for the City Manager's Office at the City of Elgin.  Come learn about some of the grants the City offers to local organizations and citizens ... from neighborhood grants, Historic District grants, Deconversion programs and more.  All aimed at helping citizens improve our community.

In this installment of Community Builder, we chat with Jo Ann Armenta, President of our local League of United Latin American Citizens. Jo Ann covers some background on the organization, and brings us up to date on local activities and goals of LULAC.

In the second half of the program, Carl Missele, President of the ECN, talks about the recent successful movie event, An Inconvenient Truth. The event was held at the Gail Borden Public Library and also featured a discussion afterwards. Carl also covers further activities in the works for informational events.