MacArthur Fellow, architect, and urban planner Jeanne Gang designs with a fondness for wildlife. Her work includes such nature-inspired buildings as the tortoise-inspired boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo, and Starlight Theater in Rockford, IL, the roof of which opens like a flower.

She is perhaps best known for her 82-story Aqua building in the city's "New East Side"– her next big idea reflected in its oscillating windows: the Chicago River

 In her new book, "Reverse Effect," Gang effectively proposes undoing the 19th century engineering feat that changed the flow of the Chicago river from east to west.  Gang's idea began as a solution for the Asian carp problem, but soon opened up new possibilities for improving the quality of life in the city.

As part of her plan, Gang proposes building a barrier that would separate watersheds back to their natural state, creating an opportunity to reclaim the surrounding, long-abandoned industrial land for redevelopment, as well as provide potential for recreational water access. Gang's innovative plan involves manipulating the landscape in a way that would put nature right in the middle of the city amidst inescapable urban sprawl. 

While the idea of reversing the Chicago River is not new: Gang's broad, holistic approach makes it stand out as a realistic plan to unlock the potential of the area's waterways. The plan includes solutions for everything from more efficient water treatment and introducing green infrastructure to keeping our basements drier. 

Donors Forum is pleased to host Jeanne Gang for the second event in its Author Series, a new opportunity for connecting grantmakers, nonprofits, and advisors with each other and national experts. Event details are as follows.

When: Feb. 6
Time: 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Where: Access Living, 115 W. Chicago Ave, Chicago
Fees: $30 for Forum Partners, Members, and Associate Members; $45 standard fee
Registration: Register here

 ~Kathleen Murphy, on behalf of Donors Forum