Evanston150 to collaborate with DM for brainstorming session

Community idea initiative Evanston150 will collaborate with Northwestern Dance Marathon to solicit student input May 20, representatives from both organizations confirmed this week.

The on-campus event, which will also be sponsored by the Evanston Community Foundation, will additionally serve as an outreach effort to attract student applicants for the Evanston150 selection jury, said Stephanie Kulke, the project’s director.

The final panel will narrow down all submitted ideas on how to improve the city to the 100 most viable proposals, according to the Evanston150 website. That curated list will then be voted on by the community at large this summer.

Kulke said Monday that only a dozen applications have been submitted for the selection jury, despite “giving out hundreds” at a community rally March 26. All applications, which can be downloaded from the group’s website, are due June 1 and open to anyone 15 and older.

“We’re four weeks out from our deadline, and we need many, many more,” Kulke said.

University spokesman Al Cubbage, who represents NU on the Evanston150 steering committee, agreed the application total is currently underwhelming.

But Cubbage said he predicts most applicants – especially procrastination-prone students – will wait until the last minute to throw their hats in the race.

“We’re confident that we will have a good pool – but not until the end of this month,” he said.

Cubbage added he is “really looking forward” to the May 20 brainstorming session, although the meeting’s logistics are still being finalized. An NUDM representative said Tuesday those details would be nailed down after a conference call with Evanston150 organizers today.

– Patrick Svitek