The Chicago Association of REALTORS®, the “Voice for Real Estate” in Chicago since 1883, represents 17,000 members from all real estate specialties including commercial sales, development, property management, appraisal, auctions and residential sales.
Learn how we help our 17,000 members. Membership options are available for licensed real estate professionals and those affiliated with the real estate industry!
REALTORS® Real Estate School offers all kinds of real estate licensing and training. Browse self-paced, online training or live classes in our modern, downtown classrooms!
How can we help your business succeed? Your membership includes multiple resource guides on industry topics, tools to increase your knowledge and market statistics to help your serve your communities.
We are extremely excited to be partnering with the Peterson Garden Project to create the C.A.R. Bicentennial Garden at Global Garden! We are developing this community garden in honor of Illinois’ 200th birthday with the goal of creating a lasting impact on our many diverse neighborhoods. The Peterson Garden Project is a Chicago-based nonprofit whose mission is to teach everyone how to grow and cook their own food. The garden will provide for local seniors, refugees, children and other community members in need.
Whether you want to get involved in our garden or start your own, we’ve got all the resources you need.
Why Community Gardens?
Community gardens aren’t a new fad in Chicago. In fact, Chicago was home to the most “victory gardens” as they were deemed in World War II with over 1,500 community gardens and 250,000 home gardens. Today, community gardens are popping up all over the city and impacting the community in a variety of positive ways, with components like food-growing education programs, volunteer opportunities, cooking demonstrations and last but not least – food to fill the stomachs of those in need. There are three main factors we find community gardens to be extremely beneficial for:
Food Security
Food insecurity continues to be an issue in low-income areas of Chicago. According to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap study, approximately 14 percent of people in Cook County will experience food insecurity this year. Additionally, many food insecure households do not qualify for federal nutrition assistance programs. This unfortunately leaves those in charge of the households torn between paying for bills, food and other living essentials. Community gardens could bridge this gap, providing inexpensive, nutritious options to those in need.
Clean Food Source
Today, we find ourselves becoming more concerned about the contents of our food. Are our groceries organic or GMO-enhanced? Processed or clean? While some have the liberty of spending more to purchase organic goods, many do not. Hence, the concept of growing your own produce is beginning to trend in the city. Fruits and vegetables planted on your own and in community gardens are free of undesirable chemicals and are usually much less expensive than those found in the grocery store.
Sustainability
According to Green Matters Community Garden in Minnesota, food travels an average of 1300 miles from farm to fork. Producing food locally reduces greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel usage. Plants make city living greener by restoring oxygen in the air, helping reduce pollution and improve overall air quality. Gardens soak up rain water to reduce soil erosion and runoff, lessening flooding in the city.
How to Get Started
Starting a community garden is no easy feat, but it is extremely rewarding. According to LaManda Joy, founder of the Peterson Garden Project, the hardest part may seem like it’s the heavy lifting and getting down in the dirt – but it’s actually building your community. Creating a successful mission statement, doing research on your area of interest and understanding city legal requirements are just a few ways to ensure a successful garden. Check out some of our favorite resources for more information:
Gardens are appearing all over the city, each with their own unique mission and events. Volunteer opportunities range from food pantry deliveries to spending the day planting. Wondering where to find a garden near you? Use the Chicago Park District’s directory.
You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/
We Apologize for the Inconvenience
Our phones are temporarily down. Please email membership@chicagorealtor.com for any immediate needs. We apologize for the inconvenience – thank you for your patience!
Precautionary Measures and Information Regarding COVID-19
Your health and safety is of the utmost importance to us. As COVID-19 is predominantly spread through close contact, out of an abundance of caution, all events through April 30 will be either canceled or postponed, except for Coffee with Your GADs, which will take place virtually. This includes our annual Sales Awards, which we are working to reschedule.
If you have registered for one of our upcoming events, look for an email with further details. All tickets for paid events will be automatically refunded. Please allow 3-5 business days to see the refund on your bank statement. Questions? Please reach out to our events team.
Precautionary Measures and Information Regarding COVID-19
As COVID-19 is predominantly spread through close contact, out of an abundance of caution, all in-person classes scheduled through April 30 will take place virtually.
RRES staff has reached out to those of you who have registered for an affected class with an option to transfer into an online option or reschedule for a later classroom date. CAR to You is available in the meantime to assist you with your education needs and we have a variety of classes being offered online and via webinar for your continued development.
