Carolina Macias
Carolina joined the Metropolitan Planning Council in April 2018. In her role as Program Assistant, she provides administrative support to MPC’s Transportation, Research and Communications Directors as well as organizational-wide support.
Prior to MPC, Carolina worked at the Chicago Park District as a Program and Event Facilitator. There, she developed numerous cultural and nature-inspired events in partnership with community organizations across Bronzeville, Chinatown, Pilsen, and Little Village. She also supported the development of Roots and Routes—a collaborative project that creates and sustains the longest stretch of lakefront natural area within the CPD system, the Burnham Wildlife Corridor (BWC). Through this initiative, Carolina helped cultivate community partnerships and maximize benefits for neighboring communities and nature.
Previous to CPD, Carolina worked at the Rafael Cintron-Ortiz Latino Cultural Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) as Program Coordinator. She developed and facilitated multi-generational community dialogues linking cultural heritage, health and climate justice. These dialogues led to a bilingual dialogue guide for museums and cultural centers through a grant provided by the International Coalition for Sites of Conscience.
Carolina has widespread experience in working in youth community organizing through her work in the PODER program at Central States SER and her volunteerism work with the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO). Carolina is currently a Public Health student at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She grew up in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood and currently lives with her partner in Pilsen. Carolina is constantly seeking ways to support and advance equity work in across the region.