WHERE I COME FROM
Jodi moved to Naperville 27 years ago after realizing what a wonderful place to raise a family Naperville is. She and her husband David took advantage of all the amazing schools and amenities our community offers to raise two children, who will both be graduates of DePaul University as of March 2023. Jodi received a B.S. degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois, which she attended on a full scholarship and an M.A. degree in Psychology from Roosevelt University. A life-long learner, Jodi has completed a Master's Certificate in Agroforestry from Mizzou, training in climate change leadership, greenhouse gas management, permaculture design, forest therapy, wilderness first aid, and is currently enrolled in the online Harvard Extension School Master's Sustainability program with a concentration in Sustainable Cities and Communities.
MOVING FORWARD
Jodi currently holds several positions. She serves as the Executive Director for The Resiliency Institute, a non-profit which she founded to focus on resilience and sustainability building for our community, as well as others. Jodi is an Adjunct Faculty Member at the College of DuPage and has won acceptance of an expanded curriculum in permaculture. She was founding chair of the Naperville Environmental Task Force, which now functions as the formal advisory body on sustainability for City Council and has worked behind the scenes and publicly, with our City leadership, school districts, the park district, community organizations, businesses and residents for the past 15 years to ensure our community is proactively moving toward a thriving, safe, resilient future.
This community leadership experience, combined with her non-profit management skills and her continuous advanced education has given her a deep connection to, and a critical understanding for how our community works. Jodi has the strong knowledge base, leadership, education and decision making capacity necessary to be a competent, "ready to hit the ground running" member of our City Council.
Jodi's Experience
15 years of working with the city of Naperville!
Volunteer
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2007: Lobbied AGAINST entering into our current coal energy contract,
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lobbied for Mayor and Council to sign on to the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (and STILL lobbying!)
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2007: Successfully lobbied to have City conduct first greenhouse gas inventory
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2007: Successfully lobbied for the creation of city’s first environmental sustainability plan
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2007: Successfully lobbied for Home Energy Audit and Efficiency program (Discontinued 2015)
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2008: Successfully lobbied with NCEC to add the words “environmental stewardship” to city values (Removed in 2015)
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2008-10: Promoted the City's voluntary Renewable Energy Program
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2009: Served as a founding member of Chamber of Commerce’s “Green Leadership Council”
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2010: Organized the City’s first Earth Day Celebration with North Central College
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2011: Gave away over $50,000 in home energy saving prizes for “Eco Family Photo Contest”
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Business Owner
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2013-Present: Founded The Resiliency Institute to educated others about and help build resilient communities
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Created “Growing Food Security” campaign
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Worked with Northern Illinois Food Bank to implement edible landscaping
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Installed Edible Forest Garden and Fruit Tree Guild projects, including at Naperville Community Gardens and City Hall
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2009 -2012: Wrote, implemented and managed a $10,000 State grant for Zero Waste programming for IPSD 204 and identified over $25,000 worth of savings through waste-reduction measures.
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Eliminated disposables in the lunchroom (had dishwasher installed, worked with Sodexo)
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Implemented school-wide composting, including lunchroom, teacher’s lounge and classrooms
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Had hand dryers installed
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Implemented paper conserving processes
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Initiated and managed student Eco Club and programming
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Installed pollinator gardens (for compost use)
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Helped develop curriculum to integrate students
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Developed all educational and training programming for all initiatives, including “Zero Waste Lunch”, for students, faculty and staff
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Community Leader
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2018: Approached the Naperville Electric Utility to begin discussions about transitioning to clean energy and distributed generation
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2018: Successfully lobbied IPSD Board to install solar for Metea HS, which would save over $1,500,000 in electricity costs
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2018 - 2021: Represented Naperville at the Metropolitan Mayoral Caucus Environmental Committee
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2019 – Present: Serve as Adjunct faculty member at College of DuPage teaching 5 courses in Sustainable Urban Agriculture degree program
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2019: Led effort for the establishment of the Naperville Environment and Sustainability Task Force Council advisory body
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2019-21: Led the effort working with City staff, Council members, community organizations, local businesses and the Chamber of Commerce, and over 40 community expert volunteers to create and author the Sustainable Naperville 2036 report for implementation as directed by City Council
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2021: Initiated first discussion with NCSD 203 to implement solar and electric bus infrastructure
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2022: Began run for City Council