Standing for Community, Justice, and 30 Years of Impact
In recent weeks, many across Chicago and Illinois have expressed growing concern over the presence of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in neighborhoods throughout the region. Families are feeling the weight of uncertainty, and communities are grappling with fear and disruption. At the Great Cities Institute (GCI), we want to acknowledge this moment with clarity and compassion.
We are deeply aware that such actions strike at the heart of community trust, safety, and belonging. Chicago has long prided itself on being a city of immigrants – a city where people from around the world have come to live, work, and build better futures. This diversity is our strength. As a public research institute grounded in values of justice and inclusion, we affirm our commitment to these principles and to the protections enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. Everyone, regardless of background or immigration status, is entitled to due process and the dignity that comes with human rights.
Our work at the Great Cities Institute has always been rooted in advancing those rights through rigorous research, policy engagement, and community collaboration. Over the past three decades, GCI has been a space where scholarship meets action; where data informs justice; and where partnerships across neighborhoods, universities, and government come together to create real, measurable impact.
As we mark 30 years of the Great Cities Institute, we are taking time to reflect on what it means to serve a city and a region during times of both hope and hardship. From our earliest initiatives on neighborhood revitalization and workforce development to our more recent projects addressing youth joblessness, fair employment, and regional economic equity, our guiding question remains the same: How can research help build stronger, more just communities?
Through projects like our studies on youth unemployment and joblessness in Chicago, we have illuminated the structural barriers facing young people, especially in communities of color, and brought data-driven solutions to policymakers and advocates. Our work on manufacturing and the future of work has informed strategies to retain and grow middle-income jobs, while our research on reentry and fair-chance employment highlights the power of opportunity in reducing recidivism and strengthening communities.
Beyond research, GCI continues to play an active role in public dialogue. We convene residents, practitioners, and decision-makers to explore pathways toward economic vitality and social equity. Working closely with policymakers at the city, county, and state levels, we help bridge research and action to inform policies that promote inclusion, economic mobility, and community resilience. Our collaborations with community-based organizations – from North Lawndale to South Chicago – have helped translate ideas into practice, supporting local leadership and capacity-building efforts that expand opportunity and strengthen community well-being.
In the face of today’s social and political challenges, these commitments take on even greater urgency. As immigration enforcement intensifies and as economic uncertainty persists, the need for grounded, data-informed, and community-centered research is more critical than ever. Our collective response must reaffirm what makes Chicago strong: solidarity, fairness, and the unwavering belief that every resident deserves a voice and a future in this city.
We also recognize that this work is not done alone. The Great Cities Institute’s achievements are the result of partnerships with faculty, students, community organizations, public officials, and residents who care deeply about justice and opportunity. Together, we have built a model of engaged research that bridges the university and the city, demonstrating how knowledge can serve the public good.
We hope you will join us in celebrating this legacy at our special anniversary event, “30 Years of Impact,” on Monday, December 1st, 2025, at the University of Illinois Chicago Student Center East from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., followed by a reception. The event will bring together generations of partners, scholars, and community leaders to reflect on GCI’s contributions and to envision the work ahead. It will be a day to honor those who have shaped this institute – and, more importantly, to recommit ourselves to the ideals that have guided us since our founding: that cities are for everyone, and that research, collaboration, and civic engagement can make them more equitable and inclusive.
In this moment of heightened fear and division, we remain steadfast in our belief that communities thrive when we stand together in defense of justice and humanity. As we look ahead to the next chapter of GCI’s work, we do so with humility and resolve, knowing that the challenges are great, but the collective capacity for positive change is even greater.
We thank all of you – our partners, supporters, and colleagues – for being part of this ongoing journey. We hope to see you on December 1st as we celebrate 30 Years of Impact and renew our shared commitment to building great cities for all.
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