Illinois Public Interest Research Group
Organization
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Illinois Public Interest Research Group (Illinois PIRG) is a non-profit organization that is part of the state PIRG organizations. It works on a variety of political activities, including childhood obesity, reducing the interest on student loans, and closing tax loopholes.[4][5]
| |
| Formation | 1987[1][2] |
|---|---|
| Type | Advocacy organization |
| Location | |
Key people | Abe Scarr (Director)[3] |
| Website | illinoispirg |
In the United States, Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs) are non-profit organizations that employ grassroots organizing, direct advocacy, investigative journalism, and litigation to affect public policy.[6]
History
Illinois PIRG was founded in 1987, and has offices in Chicago, Springfield, IL, and a national lobbying office in Washington, D.C. called US PIRG.[7]
The PIRGs emerged in the early 1970s on U.S. college campuses. The PIRG model was proposed in the book Action for a Change by Ralph Nader and Donald Ross.[8] Among other early accomplishments, the PIRGs were responsible for much of the Container Container Deposit Legislation in the United States, also known as "bottle bills."[9][10]
Notable members and alumni
Affiliate organizations
- The Fund for Public Interest Research
- Environment Illinois