Derrick James

Derrick comes to ELPC with a passion for the natural world and a belief that we all play a role in protecting it. He hails from the South Side and attributes that love to summers spent at church camp and family trips to visit grandparents in the rural south. His observations about how rural and urban folks interact with nature gave him an appreciation for the low impact well0-designed cities can have to preserve our special spaces. Prior to joining ELPC he handled government affairs for Amtrak, building support for rail expansion. Before that he marketed CTA to visitors and had stints at CNT and CN Rail. He devours historical novels, gardens, built a wooden canoe and is still working on his basement HO-scale model railroad empire.

What’s a place you love in the Midwest?

Mississippi Palisades State Park, Illinois; Trails of Cook County Forest Preserves; Sleeping Bear Dunes, MI

What drives you to do this work?

I had severe allergies as a child that were only relieved when I was in nature. Summer camp was heaven for me.