Projects Announced:
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Sustainable 47: Learn the tenets of effective community engagement and principles of sustainable urbanism while formulating an actionable sustainability plan for a Chicago Ward.
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Sustainable Business Incubator: Gain experience in sustainable entrepreneurship, product research and business planning by creating an dynamic new enterprise.
For a full program description, please read below or download the PDF on the link to your left.
Empowering Tomorrow's Sustainability Leaders
Live project experience, innovative methodology, unparalleled networking. At Foresight, we use design to understand and solve today’s most demanding challenges. Our intensive summer program invites 16 young professionals to share the creative, multidisciplinary, and holistic process that Foresight has pioneered for over eight years. Through hands-on assignments for real clients, meetings with Chicago’s top innovators, field trips and readings, our participants emerge with the knowledge and skills necessary to forge a sustainable future.
Invitation
What skills and knowledge are required of those who will lead the evolution toward greater sustainability? In the rush to embrace what has become a vibrant trend, few are stopping to ask such pertinent questions. Since its first term in 2003, back when the program was known as the Urban Sustainable Design Studio, Foresight Immersion has empowered participants to more effectively engage the pursuit of greater sustainability. Through a highly participatory learning experience, graduates leave with knowledge of the methodologies and tools necessary to address systemic issues and influence change.
Every summer we look forward to opening our studio to a group of creative forward thinkers. They are united by their passion for understanding and pursuing sustainability, and their willingness to pursue that intention in an exploratory environment. Sharing experience developed over more than ten years of learning and practicing, we strive to create a dynamic program that is challenging and empowering. If this sounds like a rewarding journey, worth participating in and contributing to, we look forward to receiving your application.
Challenge
The urgency and scope of climate change and related issues require systemic change, yet afford fewer resources with which to forge this evolution. To meet this demand we need more sustainable communities that embrace the interdependence of social justice, environmental preservation, and economic vitality. This transition requires innovative leadership.
Foresight Immersion empowers participants with effective processes for achieving social change.
As an early driver of the Chicago sustainability movement, Foresight has honed a methodology for understanding complex challenges and developing informed solutions. By using design to add value in the social realm, we help catalyze more sustainable systems, behaviors, and cities. Fellows leave the program with a working knowledge and mastery of this design methodology.
In order to maximize benefit to participants, Immersion has the following primary objectives:
1) Provide a firm grounding in sustainability—the issues, trends, organizations, technologies, and businesses
2) Share a methodology for envisioning more effective solutions to multifaceted sustainability issues
3) Develop leadership capacity and professional aptitude by fostering confidence and skills through projects
Participants
Foresight Immersion attracts dynamic and driven individuals from across the city, country, and world. The program is ideal for college graduates and young professional looking to develop skills and gain experience in the sustainability sector. Up to 16 applicants will be selected to participate. Knowledge of Sustainability, Environmental Science, and/or Design is not a prerequisite and should not deter anyone from applying. More important is resourcefulness, flexibility, and a passion for learning about and pursuing sustainability in an urban setting. The collaborative nature of the program encourages bonding between participants, many of whom form lasting friendships.
Experience
With Chicago as our classroom, this dynamic program provides a comprehensive training in sustainability initiatives. Travelling throughout the city for trips and meetings and events gives participants an insider look at its sustainability community. In this fast-paced program, each week is a combination of project work, site visits, meetings with sector leaders, readings, activities, and discussions.
Immersion runs Monday through Thursday from 9 to 5 and Friday from 9am to Noon, with frequent independent project work outside of these hours. At the beginning of the summer, the schedule for group outings and trips is clearly set. This schedule becomes more flexible as weeks progress in order to give participants time to finalize projects. As we have a broad agenda to fulfill in a limited time, missing days or parts of days is strongly discouraged. Work environments include the Immersion studio, libraries, the field (i.e. site visits), public meeting places, and coffee shops.
Engaging the Issues—Weekly discussions on a variety of books, news, articles, blogs, movies and presentations broaden and refine participants’ understanding of sustainability.
Experiencing the Field—Participants visit cutting-edge facilities and meet with a variety of sustainability experts. Past guests include leading urban planners, senior local government officials, innovative nonprofit leaders, directors of social venture enterprises, and sustainable architects. Potential field trips include a tour of Chicago’s first zero energy home, a green paper mill, and a large urban farm. Interests of the participants help inform trip and speaker selection.
Meaningful Connections—Meetings with industry leaders grant access to the forefront of Chicago’s sustainability community. Additionally, participants are strongly encouraged to attend Foresight’s monthly Green Drinks events. These evening gatherings are prime networking opportunities that draw a wide range of attendees and provide a dynamic way to understand sustainability in Chicago.
Enjoying Chicago—Exploring the city’s abundant cultural offerings helps inspire creativity and foster group bonding. Chicago celebrates summers with weekly neighborhood festival, lakefront recreation, movies and concerts in the parks, and farmer’s markets. Many of these activities are free and easily accessible by public transportation.
Advancing Career Development—Each participant has the opportunity to discuss relevant career issues with the program director. In conjunction to Immersion, Foresight hosts a 4-session sustainability careers seminar that meets on Friday afternoons. An extension of Foresight’s popular Sustainability Career Workshops, this seminar will be offered to Immersion participants at a discount rate of $200. The agenda includes a self-assessment process, resume reviews, interview advice, and guidance on identifying and communicating transferable skills.
Details
Timeline
April 12: Application Deadline
April 14-21: Applicant Interviews (Phone or In Person)
April 26: Participants Announced
May 7: Program Deposit Due (Non-Refundable)
May 21: Tuition Due
June 16: Program Begins
August 11: Program Concludes
Cost
Tuition: $2950
Non-Refundable Deposit: $300
Careers Workshop (Optional): $200
Week in Vancouver (Optional): $750
Limited financial aid may be available. Please email Immersion@foresightdesign.org for more information.
Housing
Participants are responsible for securing their own accommodations in Chicago. Foresight has several resources it can forward to those needing housing. Participants can also arrange, via a Google Group set up before the program starts, to find housing together. Rarely have attendees had problems securing affordable lodging.
