Omar Garcia

Omar joined MPC’s Water team as a Research Assistant in March 2025. He is currently enrolled in UIC’s Master of Urban Planning and Policy program with a specialization in environmental planning and policy.  Omar also works for The Freshwater Lab at UIC, an interdisciplinary program that trains the next generation of water professionals, as a research assistant and coordinator. He currently supports the Lab’s research initiative on wastewater recycling for industrial use in northeastern Illinois along with placing student interns with environmentally focused organizations. Knowledgeable in water planning and policy, Omar is dedicated to utilizing holistic methods towards equitable and ethical resource management at MPC.

Omar earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature and the Humanities from the University of Illinois Chicago. Before coming to MPC, he worked as an intern at the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization on community outreach efforts for lead service line replacements. Omar has lived all over southwest Chicago and its suburbs where he enjoys taking the Orange Line, checking out independent bookstores, swimming at Calumet Beach, and caring for his many pets.