Center for Urban Research and Learning

Loyola University Chicago

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

Filtering by Category: Children and Youth

Status of Young Women and Girls in Illinois

(2009)

CURL formed a partnership with Women and Girls’ Collective Action Network and Chicago Girls’ Coalition to conduct a secondary data analysis to determine how young women and girls are faring in Illinois.  This project aims to provide statistical evidence that will inform on the issues, needs, and solutions required to ensure the healthy development of all young women and girls in Illinois. 

Reports:

Data Tables: 

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Young Women's Action Team

(2008)

CURL conducted an evaluation of Girl Leadership U (GLU), a series of six sessions hosted by Young Women’s Action Team (YWAT) in which emerging young women leaders develop skills that can be utilized in efforts to take action and create social change. The evaluation included a participant survey that examines: leadership development; advocacy; community organizing; self-awareness; ability to think critically; and connecting with other young emerging leaders to form allies for social change. The evaluation included an analysis of participants’ motivation to participate in GLU as well as the participants’ and session speakers’ perceptions of the program. The evaluation results were used to inform future YWAT programming. 

Download Final Report Rogers Park Young Women's Action Team: Executive Summary Final Report

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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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Passport to Chicago Community Network Curriculum

(2001)

Given the prior and current need for civic education, especially among young Americans, CURL, Erie Neighborhood HouseHoward Area Community Center, and Family Matters developed a curriculum, designed as a teacher’s guide, to engage 30 high school-age youth in civic life and public policy.  The Civic Engagement: Passport to Your Future curriculum seeks to provide an inviting, interesting format for instilling political and civic knowledge to youth so that they will become active and informed citizens.

View Passport Curriculum Civic Engagement: Passport to your Future

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Creating Community Connections: A Neighborhood Approach For Improving Early Childhood Education Programs

(2001)

The Early Childhood Network of Edgewater & Rogers Park (ECN) was developed to test a model for improving services through a modest commitment of resources. The model proposes that one coordinator can network diverse child care providers throughout a neighborhood and maximize their ability to acquire the knowledge and resources necessary to improve and expand their programs.  CURL evaluated the program.

Download Report Creating Community Connections: A Neighborhood Approach For Improving Early Childhood Education Programs

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Development of Peer Intervention in Risk-Taking Behavior Among Teenagers

(1997)

This project developed between the principal and the faculty of Pierce Elementary School and CURL researchers to make recommendations for strategic interventions to effect risk taking by their students.  Dr. Vera and her colleagues went on to publish an article in the Journal of Clinical Child Psychology called "A Qualitative Investigation of Perceptions of Violence Risk Factors in Low-Income African American Children."

Download Report A Qualitative Investigation of Perceptions of Violence Risk Factors in Low-Income African American Children

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