current and PAST projects
All Projects Ordered by Category
children and Youth
Current Projects
- Creating a Comprehensive Professional Development Plan for Early Child Care Providers
- Creating Culturally Competent Measures for Integrated Arts, Literacy and Cultural Identity Curricula Project – Changing Worlds
- Erie Neighborhood House TEAM Evaluation
- Building for the Future: Continuing the McCormick Foundation’s Initiative for the Professional Development of Childcare Educators
Past Projects
- A Comparative Analysis of Existing Secondary School Districts
- Chicago Freedom School
- Chicago Girl's Coalition: Youth-Led research on Aggressive Behavior
- Creating Community Connections: A Neighborhood Approach For Improving Early Childhood Education Programs
- Girls Transitioning to Women: Bethany Brethren Community Center (BBCC)
- Howard Area Alternative High School Accreditation
- Partnership for a Curriculum on Civic Engagement
- Maneuvering Multiple Risks: Preventing Health Compromising Behavior in Urban Pre-adolescents
- Needs Assessment of the Street Interventions Program
- North of Howard Development Project
- Open Book (Produced curriculum for after-school program to increase literacy. Operates in 6 school on south and west sides)
- Passport to Chicago Community Network: A curriculum
- Teen Leadership Training and Evaluation
- Youth Radio (Collaboration between WLUW and various youth orgs to produce youth designed and produced radio shows)
- Youth Voices in Policy (Youth VIP) - Among its products was the development of "Girl Driven Research Project"
- Youth Participatory Evaluation for Community Change Workshop
- Young Women's Action Team (YWAT)
- The Status of Young Women & Girls in Illinois
Community Capacity Building and strategic planning
Current Project
- Ounce of Prevention Fund Community Assessment
- Building for the Future: Continuing the McCormick Foundation’s Initiative for the Professional Development of Childcare Educators
- Legal Prep Charter Academies and CURL: Assessing Community Outreach Strategy
Past Projects
- Understanding Landlord Related Issues in Permanent Supportive Housing
- A Community Needs Assessment Guide: A Brief Guide on How to Conduct a Needs Assessment
- Creating a Comprehensive Professional Development Plan for Early Child Care Providers
- Neighborhood Voices (Based on the research reported on in the June summit and the additional case studies, NNC completed a final report in December 2003)
- The future of grassroots America: Local perspectives on current and emerging issues facing urban, suburban and rural communities
- Strategic Planning for the Community Economic Development Team at Access Living
- Who is Listening to Local Communities?
Community Needs/asset mapping
Past Projects
- Legal Prep Charter Academies and CURL: Assessing Community Outreach Strategy
- American Indian Health Services Needs Assessment Study: Chicago Metropolitan Region
- Anawim Community Dispersion and Needs Assessment Study
- Bethel New Life
- Catholic Charities: Research & Planning Related to Development of Full Service Community Centers
- ChicagoServes (Collaborative project with United Way. Provided online database of volunteer opportunities throughout metropolitan area)
- Expanded advocacy for Mayan populations in Guatemala and Chicago
- Latino Electoral and Non-electoral Political Participation: Findings from the 1996 Chicago Latino Registered Voter Survey
- Madden/Wells Oakwood Shores Loyola Partnership
- Minding the Gap: Closing the Gap to Create a Just and Equal Society
- Native Gathering: A Meeting with Native American Elders, Activists, Select Funders and Scholars
- Quality Home Child Care Business Feasibility
- SAAPRI Oral History Project
- The Directory of Service Providers and Community-based Organizations in Rogers Park, Edgewater, and Uptown
Community Safety
Current Project
- Examining the Impact of Community Policing
- CIVITAS Child Law Center Lead Safe Housing Initiative Evaluation
Past Projects
- A Defensible Space Project: Deterring Crime and Building Community in Rogers Park
- Chicago Girl's Coalition: Youth-Led research on Aggressive Behavior
- The SECURE Program
conferences, lectures, and journals
Current Project
Past Projects
- Bridges to Latino Health: ¡Sí Se Puede!
- Conference of Chicago Research and Public Policy, 1998
- Deal Making in Illinois - 3 lectures given by Community Fellow, Doug Dobmeyer
- Fulfilling the Dream: The Chicago Freedom Movement, Fortieth Anniversary 1966-2006
- Safe and Fair Neighborhood Conference - Conference attended by 200 youth and adult leaders
DISABILITY
Past Projects
- Barriers to Independence: A Study of Housing and Personal Assistance Issues for People with Disabilities Residing in Nursing Homes
- Disability Rights Movement and Public Policy: Series of presentations and workshops presented by Community Fellow Rene Luna
- Strategic Planning for the Community Economic Development Team at Access Living
Domestic Violence
Past Projects
- Evaluation of the Chicago Housing Authority’s Victim Assistance Program
- Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network Court Watch Program
- Analysis of Shelter Utilization by Victims of Domestic Violence
- From the Perspective of Diverse Users: An Evaluation of the City of Chicago Domestic Violence Help Line
- Providing a Way Station: A study to Provide Employment Services to Immigrant Women Victims of Domestic Violence
- Transcending Boundaries: Investigating Domestic Violence Among South Asian Immigrant Women
Economic Development and Employment
Past Projects
- Census of Businesses in Andersonville
- Collaborative Evaluation of the STRIVE Career Path Project
- Empirical Evaluation of the Economic Development Impact of the West Side Chicago Wal-Mart
- Equitable Sustainable Community Development
- Evaluation of the Growing Home Transitional Jobs Program (also at "Participatory Evaluation/Community Capacity Building)
- Factors influencing a successful transition from welfare to work
- Healthy Homes
- Looking for Work From the Bottom Up
- Providing a Way Station: A study to Provide Employment Services to Immigrant Women Victims of Domestic Violence
- Small Business Needs and Goals: A Survey of Small Businesses in Rogers Park
education and curriculum development
Past Projects
- Case Study curriculum to be used in Philanthropy and Non-Profit Sector classes
- CPS Adopt-an-Ecosystem Program
- Does Providence-St. Mel Make a Difference in the Lives of its Students?- An Alumni Survey
- Philanthropy and Nonprofit Sector Graduate Certificate Program
- Service Learning (University-wide initiative to create integration of service with learning)
- Sustainable Community Development Curricula
Food/hunger
Past Projects
- Chicago Food System Collaborative
- Food Needs and Welfare Changes: A Preliminary Report for Faith and Community Partners in Action
Health and healthcare
- American Indian Health Services Needs Assessment Study: Chicago Metropolitan Region
- Bridges to Latino Health: ¡Sí Se Puede!
- Cristo Rey Jesuit High School School-based Health Center
- Effects of Gentrification on the Late Stages of Diagnosis of Breast Cancer
- Evaluation of a Community Health Center
- Healthy Teens 2000
- Partnership for Health Access Project of Chicago Health Outreach/Community Counseling Centers
- South Side Partners for Community Health (SSPCH): Analyzed needs assessment data for Department of Health and Human Services proposal
homelessness
Current Project
Past Projects
- Understanding Landlord Related Issues in Permanent Supportive Housing
- Breaking The Cycle of Homelessness Demonstration Project
- CHHP Evaluation - Phase II
- Homeless over 50: The Graying of Chicago's Homeless Population
- St. Leo's Housing for Veterans
Housing and gentrification
Current Project
- Low-income Resident Voice in Housing Policy in the U.S. and Australia
- Creating Stable Diverse Communities
- Housing First Model Fidelity and Implications for Substance Abuse Treatment
Past Projects
- Affordable Housing in the Chicago Region: Perspectives and Strategies (in partnership with the Institute for Metropolitan Affairs at Roosevelt University)
- Affordable Housing Stock Inventory in Kenmore/Winthrop Corridor
- An Asian American Senior Citizen Housing Needs Assessment for the Northern Community Areas of Chicago
- Current State of Stable Racially and Ethnically Diverse Communities
- Demographic Projections for a Discrimination Free Housing Market
- Effects of Gentrification on the Late Stages of Diagnosis of Breast Cancer
- Impact of Gentrification and Displacement on Different Racial and Ethnic Communities in Chicago
- It's ok here. A History of Deborah’s Place, An Organization Serving Women Who Are Homeless or Formerly Homeless in Chicago
- Leadership Council for Metropolitan Open Communities History
- Madden/Wells Oakwood Shores Loyola Partnership
- Rogers Park - Community of Opportunity (Housing database being updated along with assessment of at-risk buildings)
- Southwest Foreclosure Study (including a profile book providing demographic and housing data for census tracts with the communities)
- Strategic Planning for the Community Economic Development Team at Access Living
- Tax Policy Working Group
- The Emergence of Stable Racially and Ethnically diverse urban Communities: A Case Study of Neighborhoods in Nine U.S. Cities (published as a dedicated issue of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's national journal, Cityscape)
- The Role of Property Management of PRIDE in Improving the Life of Tenants
- The Uptown Housing and Land Use Study (prepared for State Representative Larry McKeon, Organization of the NorthEast, and all residents of the Uptown Community Area)
international collaborations
- Low-income Resident Voice in Housing Policy in the U.S. and Australia
- Gateways: International Journal of Community Research and Engagement
Past Projects
- International Science Shop Network (ISSNET)/ Training and Mentoring of Science Shops (TRAMS)
- Sustainable Community Development Curricula
Participatory Evaluation
Current Projects
- Evaluation of the Chicago Housing Authority’s Victim Assistance Program
- CIVITAS Child Law Center Lead Safe Housing Initiative Evaluation
- Evaluation of IDHS Open Door Demonstration Project
- An Evaluation of Rebuilding Together – Metro Chicago’s National Rebuilding Day Program
- An Evaluation Catholic Charities’ Homelessness Prevention Call Center
- Evaluation of the Illinois Children’s Health Foundation Pipeline Dentistry Project
Past Projects
- Abraham Lincoln Center - Analysis of client information data gathering and SPSS training for staff
- An Evaluation of Service Use and Satisfaction at Lathrop Homes and Henry Horner Homes
- Breaking The Cycle of Homelessness Demonstration Project
- Cabrini-Green HOPE VI Survey
- CHHP Evaluation - Phase II
- Chicago Freedom School
- Collaborative Evaluation of the STRIVE Career Path Project
- Community Wi-Fi Initiative Evaluation
- Cook County Sheriff's Female Furlough Program Evaluation (Preliminary data provided to Sheriff's office)
- CPS Adopt-an-Ecosystem Program
- Documenting the Process and Impact of Bethel New Life's Community Development Efforts in West Garfield Park
- Does Providence-St. Mel Make a Difference in the Lives of its Students?- An Alumni Survey
- Drive-By Peace Evaluation (for "The Peace Museum")
- Evaluation of Footprints Substance Abuse & HIV prevention program
- Evaluation of the Growing Home Transitional Jobs Program
- EDGE/UP School-to-Work Initiative: 1997 Progress Report
- Evaluation of a Community Health Center
- Evaluation of Illinois Community Technology Fund
- Evaluation of Supportive Services Program
- Evaluation of the Chicago Youth Policymakers Initiative – Mikva Challenge
- Every Block a Village Online (Evaluation report and evaluation protocol delivered to Westside Health Authority. Project named one of six "Models that Work" in national competition of U.S. Health Department)
- Finding Stability: An Evaluation of Graduates of Chicago Christian Industrial League's Single Adult Program
- From the Perspective of Diverse Users: An Evaluation of the City of Chicago Domestic Violence Help Line
- Cabrini-Green HOPE VI Survey
- Harm Reduction Institute/Heartland Health
- Home Health Agency Workforce Development, CCHM
- Lao American Community Services - Survey and analysis of organization’s constituents
- Partnership for Health Access Project of Chicago Health Outreach/Community Counseling Centers
- Process Evaluation of the Chicago Housing for Health Partnership System
- Project Process and Recommendations for a Data Analysis System
- Putting Our Values into Action: A Participatory Evaluation
- The Family Centered Services Initiative: An Analysis of Two Local Area Networks
- The SECURE Program
- The Role of Property Management of PRIDE in Improving the Life of Tenants
- St. Leo's Housing for Veterans
- Strategic Planning for the Community Economic Development Team at Access Living
- YMCA Mentoring Program Evaluation
- Youth Participatory Evaluation for Community Change Workshop
- Young Women's Action Team (YWAT)
- An Evaluation of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago’s Case Management Demonstration Project Formative Evaluation
philanthropy
Current Projects
Past Projects
- Case Study curriculum to be used in Philanthropy and Non-Profit Sector classes
- Philanthropy and Nonprofit Sector Graduate Certificate Program
- Course Based Philanthropy Pilot Program
policy research
Current Project
- Immigrant Student National Position Paper
- Low-income Resident Voice in Housing Policy in the U.S. and Australia
- Three City Youth Policy Research in Action Project
Past Projects
- Cracks in the System: Conversations with People surviving Welfare Reform
- Equitable Sustainable Community Development
- Evaluation of the Chicago Youth Policymakers Initiative – Mikva Challenge
- From Welfare to Worse?
- Neighborhood Voices (Based on the research reported on in the June summit and the additional case studies, NNC completed a final report in December 2003)
- Tax Policy Working Group
- The Earned Income Tax Credit: Eligible Families at the Risk of Losing Benefits (Appeared in the Journal of Poverty Law and Policy, Nov-Dec 1999)
- The future of grassroots America: Local perspectives on current and emerging issues facing urban, suburban and rural communities
- Unraveling the Safety Net: 1997 and Welfare Reform
- Who is Listening to Local Communities?
race, ethnicity, and diversity
Current Project
- Immigrant Student National Position Paper
- Creating Stable Diverse Communities
- Diverse Communities / Oak Park Project
Past Projects
- American Indian Health Services Needs Assessment Study: Chicago Metropolitan Region
- Anawim Community Dispersion and Needs Assessment Study
- Diverse Communities Project
- Expanded advocacy for Mayan populations in Guatemala and Chicago
- Fulfilling the Dream: The Chicago Freedom Movement, Fortieth Anniversary 1966-2006
- Impact of Gentrification and Displacement on Different Racial and Ethnic Communities in Chicago
- Latino Electoral and Non-electoral Political Participation: Findings from the 1996 Chicago Latino Registered Voter Survey
- Leadership Council for Metropolitan Open Communities History
- Minding the Gap: Closing the Gap to Create a Just and Equal Society
- Native Gathering: A Meeting with Native American Elders, Activists, Select Funders and Scholars
- SAAPRI Oral History Project