Center for Urban Research and Learning

Loyola University Chicago

Here you will find all of CURL's research projects and publications.

Finding Stability: An Evaluation of Graduates of Chicago Christian Industrial League's Single Adult Program

(2007)

Chicago Christian Industrial League (CCIL) partnered with the Center for Urban Research and Learning (CURL) at Loyola University Chicago to conduct an evaluation of CCIL’s 18-month residential program. Using a collaborative approach, CCIL and CURL conducted a participatory evaluation to assess how former residents of CCIL’s 18-month single male program experience stability after their departure from CCIL.

Download Final Report Finding Stability: An Evaluation of Graduates of Chicago Christian Industrial League's Single Adult Program

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Connecting Fractured Lives to a Fragmented System: A Process Evaluation of the Chicago Housing for Health Partnership

(2007)

CURL partnered with the AIDS Foundation of Chicago to evaluate Chicago Housing to Health Partnership (CHHP). This program uses an innovative housing first model for individuals who are homeless, have chronic medical conditions, and have been recently released from the hospital.

Download Report Connecting Fractured Lives to a Fragmented System: Process Evaluation Report Chicago Housing for Health Partnership

Download Policy Report Connecting Fractured Lives to a Fragmented System: Process Evaluation Report Chicago Housing for Health Partnership

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Chicago Freedom School

(2007)

CURL in partnership with the Chicago Freedom School conducted an evaluation of the Chicago Freedom School's inaugural 6-week summer institute for Chicago youth during the summer of 2007. This final report prepared by CURL includes an overview of the CFS 2007 Summer Leadership Institute, the main evaluation activities, highlights of findings from all data collected, and recommendations. 

Download Report Chicago Freedom School

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Impact of Gentrification and Displacement on Different Racial and Ethnic Communities in Chicago

(2006)

In partnership with the City of Chicago Commission on Human Relations, researchers from CURL and multiple Loyola University departments examined the cycle of community reinvestment, displacement and its impact on low income residents, particularly  those living in predominantly African American or Latino communities.

Download Final Report The Differential Impact of Gentrification on Communities in Chicago

Download Executive Summary The Differential Impact of Gentrification on Communities in Chicago Executive Summary

Download Appendix A Data Tables and Maps

Download Appendix B Interview Schedule 

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From the Perspective of Diverse Users: An Evaluation of the City of Chicago Domestic Violence Help Line

(2006)

The Mayor's Office of Domestic Violence (MODV) and CURL initiated a two-year collaborative evaluation of the City of Chicago Domestic Violence Help Line.  The evaluation accomplished three main goals: 1) it assessed the effectiveness of the Help Line's operation in serving domestic violence victims from Chicago's diverse populations; 2) it described the unique needs of domestic violence victims diverse populations and their experiences using the information, referrals, and linkages received; and 3) it examined key features of the Help Line model.

Download Technical Report Providing a Citywide System of Single Point Access to Domestic Violence Information, Resources, and Referrals to a Diverse Population: An Evaluation of the City of Chicago Domestic Violence Help Line 

Download Executive Summary From the Perspective of Diverse Users: An Evaluation of the City of Chicago Domestic Violence Help Line 

Download summaries of findings from each group of informants:

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Evaluation of the Wireless Community Network: Transforming Vision into Action

(2006)

The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) established pilot projects in the Chicagoland area to deliver very low-cost, high-speed broadband access to homes, small businesses, and community-based institutions. This report describes the process of creating and implementing a wireless network in four unique community settings and the impact of the wireless network upon the anchor/partner organization and community residents (end-users). In addition, the research data was used to help create a business model for sustaining the wireless network.

Download Report Transforming Vision into Action: An Evaluation of the Wireless Community Nework

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Equitable Sustainable Community Development

(2006)

This international project was an effort to document existing successful alternatives to the reinvestment and displacement cycle in communities. We developed a curriculum that can be used either by faculty and students in the university classroom or by community leaders and residents in city and suburban neighborhoods.

View Webpage  Equitable Sustainable Community Development

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Who Is Listening to Local Communities? Connections between Chicago Region Community-Based Organizations and Regional, State, and National Policy Initiatives

(2005)

This report focuses on the role that community-level organizations have had, currently have, and could have in setting regional agendas. Data for the report come from a representative sample of 49 community-based organizations in the City of Chicago, the Illinois counties of Cook, DuPage, Will, and Lake, as well as the Indiana counties of Lake and Porter. We also completed eight case studies of regional initiatives to examine the different ways in which community-based organizations connect with regional and statewide issues. Research was guided by a working group comprised of university-based researchers, community-based organization leaders, and regional group representatives.

Download Final Report Who Is Listening to Local Communities?  Connections between Chicago Region Community-Based Organizations and Regional, State, and National Policy Initiatives 

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The Southwest Foreclosure Project

(2005)

CURL worked with the Southwest Organizing Project (and their membership organizations), Neighborhood Housing Services (Chicago Lawn/Gage Park) and the Greater Southwest Development Corporation and examined the causes, effects, and potential solutions of home mortgage foreclosures in the Chicago Lawn and Gage Park neighborhoods. This project sought to identify where in these community areas foreclosures are most prevalent, and to determine what characteristics of these parts of the neighborhood (usually census tracts) make them more likely to experience high foreclosures. 

Download Final Report The Southwest Foreclosure Project

Download Profile Book Gage Park Chicago Lawn Community Census Tract Profiles

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Native Americans in Philanthropy: A Demographic Profile of Independently Incorporated Native American Foundations and Selected Funds in the United States

(2005)

In partnership with Native Americans In Philanthropy this report gives basic demographic information on 60 grant making entities grouped into three categories: 1) Native foundations that are independently incorporated;  2)  501c3 Native organizations; and  3) tribal funds. These categories capture the variety of Native controlled approaches currently at work in the field.

Download Final Report A Demographic Profile of Independently Incorporated Native American Foundations and Selected Funds in the United States

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