Our History
March 18th
2013
Melissa Brice founds 350 Chicago.
April 10th
2014
Melissa Brice and Larry Coble re-found the organization and begin the Chicago Fossil Fuel Divestment Campaign.
350 Chicago studies Fossil Fuel Divestment issue throughout the remainder of 2014 and launches the first Divestment Education Meetings.
September
Launches Happy Hours to recruit 1st Main Core Group
Spring
2015
Launches public outreach campaign for Fossil Fuel Divestment
350 Chicago adds coordinating effort with Rising Tide for their Flood the System Protest in Chicago.
November
First Aldermanic Meetings begin to discuss divestment.
May 15th
2016
350 Chicago volunteers march in the Break Free from Fossil Fuels protest at the Whiting Indiana BP refinery.
Thousands of people from all over the Midwest attend and 49 people are arrested during acts of civil disobedience.
December 19th
Alderman John Arena (45th Ward) introduces a non-binding resolution to divest the city of Chicago from fossil fuels and 39 city council members sign on to the resolution.
April 29th
350 Chicago assists in the organizing, mobilizing, publicizing, and art work for the People’s Climate March in the city of Chicago.
2017
February 28th
2018
ESG Investment Ordinance was introduced into the Chicago City Council. The ordinance later failed to pass in the Spring of 2019 at the end of the city council term.
September 8th
350 Chicago participates in the organizing, mobilizing, and publicizing of the Rise for Climate Jobs and Justice event in Joliet, Illinois.
350 Chicago joins the Ready for 100 Coalition. Through advocacy and outreach efforts throughout Chicago, the City Council passes a resolution on April 10th, 2019.
350 Chicago joins the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, participating in developing policy and educating the public about the policies, leading to the eventual passage of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act in September of 2021.
March 27th
2019
350 Chicago incorporates as a nonprofit in Illinois.
May 4th - 5th
350 Chicago partners with the American Indian Center to conduct a 2-day pipeline training seminar to instruct non-indigenous protestors about proper protocols to follow during protests on Indigenous lands.
September 19th
First Climate Strike: 350 Chicago begins longtime partnership with Fridays for Future, mentoring students about the methods and means of conducting actions in the Chicagoland area. 350 Chicago leads, mentors, or assists with 5 protests in 4 years with Fridays for Future.
October 18th
350 Chicago gains 501(c)(3) status.
2020
April
2021
350 Chicago participates in the Fossil Free Federal Reserve Campaign, taking a lead role in organizing the Fed Up Climate Day of Action on October 29th, 2021.
March 21st
2022
The city of Chicago formally passes an ordinance by an unanimous vote to divest $70 Million dollars from the Operations and Investment Portfolio, culminating 7 years of effort by 350 Chicago.
September 23rd
350 Chicago partners with Fridays for Future, 350 Wisconsin, 350 Milwaukee and many other climate and environmental justice groups for the Climate Strike/Civil Discobedience Action
October
350 Chicago receives their 1st grant for participation in People vs. Fossil Fuels Campaign to End the Fossil Fuel Era with the 350 Network Council.
January and June
2023
350 Chicago leads the organizing for two End the Fossil Fuel Era Actions with a coalition of organizations to fight for fossil fuel divestment, justice for frontline and environmental justice groups, and to stop the rate hike from Peoples Gas that would further inflict high energy prices upon low-income Chicago ratepayers.
November 18th
350 Chicago formed a coalition with Chicago Teachers Union, Southeast Environmental Task Force, Just Transition Northwest Indiana, Loyola Student Environmental Association and many other Climate and Environmental Justice groups to protest the American Petroleum Institute during their conference in Chicago.
January
2024
350 Chicago forms the Climate Safe Pensions Illinois Coalition with partners Third Act Illinois and Climate Reality Project Chicago Metro Chapter.
350 Chicago launched outreach campaign to educate the public about Fossil Fuel Divestment by tabling at 15 events, gaining 1500 signatures on postcards supporting Divestment in Illinois.
April 19th
350 Chicago participates in the organizing logistics and day of action for the climate strike led by Fridays for Future and Loyola Student Environmental Association.
October 23rd
350 Chicago formally becomes a member of the 350 Network Council and joins the Utility Accountability Campaign.
Summer
350 Chicago volunteers attend the action to support Indigenous Water Protectors during their meeting with leadership at the Canadian Consulate.
January
2025
The Fossil Fuel Divestment Act is re-introduced into both chambers of the Illinois legislature.
350 Chicago educates the public through tabling, outreach to allies, gaining 30 endorsing organizations to sign on, social media, and the forthcoming Speaker Series presentation.
March
350 Chicago launches the Utility Transparency Campaign in collaboration with Citizens Utility Board. Perform outreach and advocacy by tabling and seeking to form allyship with local climate, social, and environmental justice organizations.
