Veterinary Residency Partnership Outlined at Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Meeting

Forest Preserve District Cook County (FPDCC) Board Meeting
February 8, 2022

Board Action:

• The 2021 Annual Report from the “Racial Equity Diversity Inclusion Committee” (REDI) was received and filed.  The FPDCC is committed to advancing racial equity, diversity and inclusion, striving to make everyone feel welcome in the Forest Preserves.  This committee was formed November 2018 and consists of employees from across the Forest Preserves and continued in the past year to advance community engagement projects.  In 2019 a Land Acknowledgment was created highlighting the relationship Native Americans in Cook County have with the forest preserves.  FPDCC acknowledges the lands of the Council of Three Fires (Ojibwa, Ottawa, Potawatomi), the Miami, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sauk and Meskwaki peoples.  The FPDCC continues to collaborate with organizations serving Native American communities.  The REDI committee was awarded the 2021 Social Justice award from the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials. 
• Advertising and promotional services for FPDCC was approved.  Advertising would align with the 2022 communication goal of focused outreach to communities and populations impacted by a history of racial inequity and would highlight goals of the FPDCC’s “Next Century Conservation Plan”
• A partnership was authorized for the FPDCC, U of I Champaign, and the Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield to support a three-year veterinary residency program focused on wildlife health management in urban areas.  The resident would provide veterinary care for FPDCC Nature Centers’ managed animals, wildlife field studies/disease management programs.  The resident would work with U of I’s Wildlife Epidemiology Lab for health/disease studies and practice zoological medicine at Brookfield Zoo in association with FPDCC’s research programs.  This partnership will further investigation into zoonotic disease (disease transmitted to humans from animals) and wildlife health as part of conservation efforts in Cook County.  This veterinary residency would be one of only two programs focused on wildlife health management and lead to board certification as a Diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine.
• Payment was approved for the Friends of the Forest Preserves to administer paid employment programs that provide youth and young adults  job skills training within the conservation field, with a focus on ecological restoration in the preserves.  The Palos Conservation Corps and Forest Preserve Experience program also provide, besides pay, environmental education.  The Forest Preserve Experience program has a partnership with the Cook County Housing Authority to hire and train a diverse group of young people hopefully to be the next generation of conservation leaders.
• The Sustainability and Climate Resiliency Plan Progress Report FY2018-FY2021 was received and filed: This report covers the progress to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration. This plan is found HERE.

Observer:  Michele Niccolai