Tom LaPorte is Assistant Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Water Management. He is responsible not only for media relations, but also for community outreach on matters pertaining to conservation, environmentalism, and community building.His approaches have included teaching recycling through a Recycled Art Program at Senn High School. Neighborhood block clubs provided the raw material and the Edgewater Chamber of Commerce voted to formally support the project. Alderman Mary Ann Smith (48th) lent active support.The Earth Night Concerts in Edgewater (and as last years Green Fest closing ceremony) brought professional musicians together with the Chicago Burning Man community to combine classical music, remixing, projections and fire performance.Tom has worked for the City of Chicago for six and one half years, prior to which he spent 25 years in local radio news (WIND, WMAQ and WBBM).