Sharing Our River Story

For 47 years, Friends of the Chicago River has worked to transform the Chicago-Calumet River system for people, water, and wildlife. The results were on display during our sunset tour Tuesday night with SOCAP 2026.

Members of Friends’ leadership team including Adam Flickinger, planning director; Becky Lyons, director of community partnerships and engagement; John Quail, policy and conservation director, and Executive Director Margaret Frisbie were joined in our story telling by LeeAnn Tomas-Foster, global city executive, Arcadis and Fulbright Fellow Cesar Almeida, Friends’ partner for Beats on the River. Together they shared a series of stories highlighting the many years of effort, community partnerships, public policy and planning outcomes, and strategic leadership that resulted in a river clean enough to swim in that is alive with wildlife.

“Healing a river cannot be done in one-year, five-year or even 10-year timeframes,” said Frisbie. “Measurable change comes over decades and takes constant re-evaluation of the partners, possibility, and political climate—not to mention fortitude and an entrepreneurial approach. You have to dedicate yourself to long term systemic efforts that play out over years yet be able to pivot on a dime when opportunity presents itself.”

SOCAP 2026 is the flagship conference for the global impact investing and social enterprise ecosystem, and participants gathered in Chicago for the first time this year. The river journey was designed by Mark Beam, beaming; Nikki Eaves, Purpose + Impact Communications; Ryan Christopher Green, DL3 Realty; Mercedes Martin, Mercedes Martin & Co.; Chris Powell, Talmetrix, Inc. and Frisbie.

“Bringing leaders onto the Chicago River last night offered Friends a chance to reflect upon how lasting change takes trust, collaboration, persistence, engagement, and people working together over decades.” Frisbie commented. “It was an honor to share our journey with a community of changemakers committed to creating a more sustainable, equitable future.”