Center for Urban Research and Learning

Loyola University Chicago

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

American Indian Health Services Needs Assessment Study - Chicago Metropolitan Region

(2004)

American Indian Health Services (AIHS) is a health care organization that provides direct services to American Indians and Alaska Natives in Metropolitan Chicago. The organization sought to undertake a review of the health status of American Indian/ Alaska Native people in its service areas so as to ascertain health needs. The team produced a comprehensive needs assessment report including not only the health assessment data but also identified the need for further education and outreach to the American Indians and Alaska Natives in the Chicago Region. 

Download Report American Indian Health Services Needs Assessment Study - Chicago Metropolitan Region

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Native Gathering: A Meeting with Native Americans Elders, Activists, Select Funders and Scholars

(2003)

On June 20-21, 2003, the Marguerite Casey Foundation (MCF) brought together a group of Native people from across the country to participate in a consultative session designed to help the Foundation develop a comprehensive strategy to strengthen and support indigenous families and communities. With the help of CURL, a report was written up documenting the meeting.

Download Final Report Native Gathering: A Meeting with Native American Elders, Activists, Select Funders and Scholars

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Minding the Gap: An Assessment of Racial Disparity in Metropolitan Chicago

(2003)

In cooperation with the Human Relations Foundation of Chicago (HRF), CURL and the Jane Addams Hull House examined seven quality of life measurements: income, wealth and employment, education, housing, transportation, health, the lives of children and the criminal justice system.  This report, by examining these seven systems, not just one, creates a unique context for understanding both the complexity of these individual systems and the relationships between these systems.

Download Final Report Minding the Gap: An Assessment of Racial Disparity in Metropolitan Chicago

Download Executive Summary Minding the Gap: An Assessment of Racial Disparity in Metropolitan Chicago Executive Summary

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The Future of Grassroots America: Local Perspectives on Current and Emerging Issues Facing Urban, Suburban and Rural Communities

(2003)

CURL worked with the National Neighborhood Coalition (a coalition of national and local organizations concerned with building the capacity of neighborhood-level organizations throughout the U.S.) to collect survey data and conduct focus groups that gave NNC an understanding of current and emerging policy issues at the local level.

Download Final Report The Future of Grassroots America: Local Perspectives on Current and Emerging Issues Facing Urban, Suburban and Rural Communities

Download Case Studies Getting It Together: Connecting Local Neighborhoods and National Advocates

Girl Driven Research Project

(2003)

 In partnership with CURL, Girl World designed and implemented Participatory Research asking the question “How do young African American women feel about their hair and what influences them to feel that way?” Issues of self esteem, self perception, cultural norms, racism and the creation of beauty images were all confronted as part of this project.  

Download Report Girl Driven Research Project

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Affordable Housing in the Chicago Region: Perspectives and Strategies

(2003)

The following four essays were written in response to the need for frank and open discussion regarding the future of affordable housing in the Chicago region. These essays came about through a collaborative project of Roosevelt University’s Institute for Metropolitan Affairs and the Center for Urban Research and Learning at Loyola University Chicago, and their community partners called Housing Affordability Research Consortium (HARC).

Download Report Affordable Housing in the Chicago Region: Perspectives and Strategies

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United Power for Action and Justice: Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness Reports - Policy Brief

(2002)

With funding from Department of Health and Human Services secured by United Power for Action and Justice, CURL partnered with United Power for  Chicago Health OutreachDeborah’s Place and Lakefront SRO to evaluate their systems integration demonstration project. The overall goal of the demonstration project was to break the cycle of homelessness by providing services in a coordinated fashion.  

Download Policy Report Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness Demonstration Project - Policy Report

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The Uptown Housing and Land Use Study

(2002)

In collaboration with Organization of the NorthEast (ONE) CURL set out to compile a thorough account of changes within the community and how those changes were affecting their respective constituents. The report is organized into three broad sections. First, a brief history of Uptown is provided to give readers a context for the setting of the study. Second, changes are examined that occurred in key demographic, housing and land use variables between 1990 and 2000. Finally, a variety of maps, graphs, and tables, to be found in the appendix, are used in presenting a more detailed picture of the community area.

Download Final Report The Uptown Housing and Land Use Study

Download Executive Summary

Download Charts and Maps

Download Web Exclusive Content

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Providing a Way Station: A Study to Provide Employment Services to Immigrant Women Victims of Domestic Violence

(2001)

This report examines an innovative partnership designed to assist the employment needs of immigrant women who are survivors of domestic violence. This report examines the first eighteen months of the partnership in which Apna Ghar referred twelve women to The Enterprising Kitchen's (TEK) training slots. It looks at how the TEK model served the needs of both the immigrant women referred by Apna Ghar and the general TEK population, which is primarily composed of African American women. Data was gathered from interviews, focus groups, participant observations, and a review of all TEK and selected Apna Ghar case records.

Download Final Report Providing a Way Station: A Study to Provide Employment Services to Immigrant Women Victims of Domestic Violence

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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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