The Inspiration Exchange, is a dynamic community hub that overcomes social barriers, creates opportunity, and models climate justice to Chicago and the world. The project provides essential services to individuals experiencing homelessness in and around the downtown Chicago area while advancing climate action through a concentration of resilience strategies, including an innovative food waste recovery network, net zero carbon construction, affordable and permanent supportive housing, counseling and health services, an emergency resilience hub, waste recovery, nutrition, urban agriculture, and job training.

The Inspiration Exchange takes seriously the notion that climate and social justice, equity, and action are indivisible. The C40 Reinventing Cities Competition offers the City of Chicago a once-in-a-generation opportunity to be a leader of climate action, and advance community resiliency and social and economic equity through a unique cultural project that addresses the immediate needs of the City’s most economically disadvantaged residents while providing an opportunity for all Chicagoans to become socially responsible and active stewards in creating a more equal, just and sustainable planet.