The Wetlands Initiative’s 30th Anniversary Gala

Join Us to Celebrate Three Decades of Impact!


Thursday, November 6, 2025

Morgan Arts Complex
3622 South Morgan Street
Chicago, Illinois 60609

6:00 - 7:00 pm Cocktail Reception
7:00 - 9:00 pm Dinner and Program


Event Co-Chairs

Judith Stockdale and Christopher Burke


Featured Speaker

Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson


Tickets

Tickets are now on sale! Reserve your spot to celebrate three decades of designing, restoring, and creating wetlands with TWI.


Sponsorship Opportunities

Individuals, organizations, and companies are invited to support TWI’s mission through an event sponsorship. All proceeds from the 30th Anniversary Gala support our work transforming wetland habitats to improve water quality, create habitat for plants and wildlife, and build more climate-resilient communities. View sponsorship opportunities for TWI’s 30th Anniversary Gala here. For questions on sponsorship opportunities, contact Abby Mattson at amattson@wetlands-initiative.org.


About Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson

Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is a marine biologist, policy expert, writer, and teacher working to help create the best possible climate future. She is co-founder of Urban Ocean Lab, a think tank for the future of coastal cities, and is the Roux Distinguished Scholar at Bowdoin College. Ayana authored The New York Times bestseller What If We Get it Right?: Visions of Climate Futures, work that is carried on with her newsletter and podcast of the same name. Previously, she co-edited the bestselling anthology All We Can Save, co-created and co-­hosted the Spotify/Gimlet podcast How to Save a Planet, and co-­authored the Blue New Deal, a roadmap for including the ocean in climate policy. Ayana earned a BA in environmental science and public policy from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. in marine biology from Scripps Institution of Oceanography. She serves on the board of directors for Patagonia and GreenWave, and on the advisory board of Environmental Voter Project. Above all: Ayana is in love with climate solutions.