Loyola University Chicago
Here you will find all of CURL's research projects and publications.
(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
(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
(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:
(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
(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
(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
(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
(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
(2005)
The Sara Lee Foundation funded a collaborative project between Apna Ghar Inc. and CURL to investigate effective models of service and outreach that are used to address the needs of domestic violence survivors within the context of South Asian immigrant culture and circumstance; the current status of policies and laws impacting immigrant women who access social services; and the incidence and the trends of domestic violence in Metropolitan Chicago, particularly with respect to the South Asian population.
Download Final Report Hardly a Leg to Stand On: The Civil and Social Rights of Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence
(2005)
In an effort to bridge the digital divide, 76 organizations throughout the state of Illinois received Illinois Community Technology Fund (ICTF) grants between the years of 2000 and 2001 to provide technology services to Illinois residents representing a broad spectrum of ages and populations. After the disbursement of the grants, CURL was invited to collaborate with ICTF to evaluate the effectiveness of the grants.
Download Report Success and Challenges Among Community Technology Programs in Illinois
Download Policy Brief Beyond Bridging the Divide: The Case for Integrating Technology in Our Communities