Category Archives: The Public Defender Project

Tom on TIFs, the State of Democracy, and a Challenge to the Nonprofit Sector on WVON

Tom Tresser on WVON 1-11-25 by Tom Tresser
Tom Tresser (www.tresser.com) was interviewed by Mike Stephen for “Outside the Loop” Radio for WGN on Januaru 11, 2025 (www.outsidetheloopradio.com). We covered the news about the mayor’s proposed use of TIFs and re-visited the reasons why TIFs are corrupting and racist.

“Great Public Report” Podcast Now Available!

“The Great Public Report” – Episode #1 – The Hoover Dam by “The Great Public Report” with Tom Tresser
It’s “The Great Public Report” from Tom Tresser. I’m a long time civic educator and public defender based in Chicago. I’m a co-founder of the CivicLab, a “do tank” dedicated to research, training, fabrication, activation, and leadership development to advance government accountability, civic engagement, and social justice. Contact me at tom@tresser.com.

Subscribe to me on Spotify!

Tom Launches “Great Public Report” – First Episode on the Hoover Dam

I’ve been thinking about “public” and working to define, defend, and expand it for the past 12 years. Here is the first of a new series of webisodes I’m calling the “Great Public Report” as a way to talk about and stimulate dialog around the concept of “public.” Please watch it at our YouTube Channel and subscribe. Follow me at @tomstee and post using #MorePublic. If we don’t protect the Public, it will be taken from us.

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Tom Tresser here. I’m a civic educator and public defender based in Chicago. This is the first episode (5/2/20) of a series of webisodes called “The Great Public Report” which will about lifting up and advancing our public stuff, services, and values.

America Needs #MorePublic. Desperately.

Tom Tresser Urges “More Public!” for 2020
Tom Tresser of the CivicLab in Chicago (www.tresser.com – www.civiclab.us) had these prophetic words for activists gathering in Chicago in April of 2019 for the NewFounders conference. tom@tresser.com #MorePublic #tomstee (4 min, 49 sec) The simple URL for this clip = https://tinyurl.com/Tom-urges-MorePublic

4 minutes, 49 seconds

I gave these short remarks at the April 2019 NewFounders Conference in Chicago. If you agree, please follow me @tomstee!

Why We Need A Robust “Public”!

The utter failure of the Trump Administration to deal with the global pandemic is a stark reminder of why we need a strong, competent, nimble, and service-oriented PUBLIC sector – ready to act powerfully for the public good. Take a look at Douglas Amy’s book “Government is Good – An Unapologetic Defense of a Vital Institution.” If you want a great response to these times, then check out the movement for a Green New Deal and help make it happen!

“More Public!” Fight Song – Sing Along…

Watch me create a fight song for the PUBLIC as part of the Social Justice Retreat activities at Adler University, January 27, 2018. Sing along!

Challenge To The Nonprofit Sector

I gave these remarks at the Chicago Philanthropy Club on February 7, 2017. What do you think? Too much? The video is 39 minutes. The event was recorded by John Sheehan of the Video Catalyst Project.