During our 2022 Parks as Democracy? Luncheon and Conference, we celebrated individuals and groups who do so much for Chicago's parks and park users. Click here to return to the full list of VIP (Volunteers-in-Parks) Awardees.
Individual Volunteer
Gail Spreen of Streeterville Organization of Active Residents, DuSable Park PAC, Jane Addams Park PAC
A consummate professional and community advocate, this year’s Individual Volunteer Award goes to Gail Spreen. Gail has been involved with Friends of the Parks for years as an active member of the DuSable Park Coalition via her engagement with SOAR (the Streeterville Organization of Active Residents). She has never wavered in her commitment and consistency to push for the actualization of DuSable Park, and she keeps taking it to another level. She has previously agreed to leverage her involvement on the Jane Addams Park Advisory Council to help the DuSable Park Coalition seed a DuSable Park PAC even before there is an actual park; she continues as a member of both PACs today.
In addition to these roles, during the pandemic she leveraged relationships with both the Magnificent Mile Association and the Native American Chamber of Commerce to add new elements to the annual Commemoration of the Death of DuSable as we innovated to offer virtual elements. This has led to the on-going involvement of the Native American Chamber of Commerce to offer a blessing and land acknowledgement at the annual event. This is a significant contribution to the Coalition’s journey to understand, value, and work toward helping us all acknowledge DuSable’s wife, Kitihawa of the Pottawotami tribe, and the fact that DuSable’s acceptance into the tribe was very important to his success.
This year, Gail accepted the Chicago Park District’s invitation to serve on the DuSable Park Framework Plan Steering Committee alongside various members of the DuSable Park Coalition. In that space, she is playing a strong activist role to make sure the significance of Kitihawa’s part in the DuSable story is incorporated into the park concept and design, in the face of some controversy around that issue.
Also in 2022, Gail and her husband debuted a film they produced: the History of South Streeterville, which includes strong affirmation of the development of more green space in the area, including DuSable Park. It even includes an interview with Curt Bailey of Related Midwest talking proudly about the future DuSable Park.
Thank you for your leadership, Gail!
Gail Spreen of Streeterville Organization of Active Residents, DuSable Park PAC, Jane Addams Park PAC
A consummate professional and community advocate, this year’s Individual Volunteer Award goes to Gail Spreen. Gail has been involved with Friends of the Parks for years as an active member of the DuSable Park Coalition via her engagement with SOAR (the Streeterville Organization of Active Residents). She has never wavered in her commitment and consistency to push for the actualization of DuSable Park, and she keeps taking it to another level. She has previously agreed to leverage her involvement on the Jane Addams Park Advisory Council to help the DuSable Park Coalition seed a DuSable Park PAC even before there is an actual park; she continues as a member of both PACs today.
In addition to these roles, during the pandemic she leveraged relationships with both the Magnificent Mile Association and the Native American Chamber of Commerce to add new elements to the annual Commemoration of the Death of DuSable as we innovated to offer virtual elements. This has led to the on-going involvement of the Native American Chamber of Commerce to offer a blessing and land acknowledgement at the annual event. This is a significant contribution to the Coalition’s journey to understand, value, and work toward helping us all acknowledge DuSable’s wife, Kitihawa of the Pottawotami tribe, and the fact that DuSable’s acceptance into the tribe was very important to his success.
This year, Gail accepted the Chicago Park District’s invitation to serve on the DuSable Park Framework Plan Steering Committee alongside various members of the DuSable Park Coalition. In that space, she is playing a strong activist role to make sure the significance of Kitihawa’s part in the DuSable story is incorporated into the park concept and design, in the face of some controversy around that issue.
Also in 2022, Gail and her husband debuted a film they produced: the History of South Streeterville, which includes strong affirmation of the development of more green space in the area, including DuSable Park. It even includes an interview with Curt Bailey of Related Midwest talking proudly about the future DuSable Park.
Thank you for your leadership, Gail!
