Evaluation of the Transforming Places Pilot Program
(2024-Ongoing)
Project description: CURL is conducting a process evaluation of the implementation of a network model of community capacity-building with United Way Metro Chicago (UWMC) and the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development (BED). UWMC and the County BED are partnering to expand UWMC’s Neighborhood Network Initiative (NNI) into several south suburban Cook County communities through a new program called Transforming Places. The NNI develops the capacity of communities to meet their needs by supporting the formation of networks of local nonprofit, business, and public sector organizations and community members. United Way supports the formation of the networks, and the network members then coordinate their activities to identify the needs of the communities and potential resources and then organize themselves to implement shared programming to meet those needs. At the same time, the County’s BED offers its support and expertise to further strengthen the network formation processes and promote successful outcomes for the south suburban communities. CURL's evaluation aims to examine the implementation of the new partnership between UWMC and the County BED as well as the process of network formation in these communities, providing actionable feedback to strengthen the process and identify short-term outcomes.
Research Team:
S. Young, CURL
T. Roberts, CURL Graduate Fellow
C. Etuk, CURL Undergraduate Fellow
C. Samuels, CURL Urban Studies Student
M. Karaoglan, CURL Urban Studies Student
C. Roos, CURL Urban Studies Student
A. Klinich, CURL Urban Studies Student
T. Crabtree, CURL Urban Studies Student
C. Cozzi, CURL Urban Studies Student
S. Khyari, CURL Urban Studies Student
Community Partners: