Research Initiative Explores Chicagoland’s Growing Latino Population
Summary
WTTW highlighted the launch of the Great Cities Institute’s Latino Research Initiative, a collaborative effort focused on providing research, data, and policy insight on Chicagoland’s growing Latino population. The article emphasized the initiative’s community-engaged approach and its goal of supporting organizations, policymakers, and advocates through research on issues including education, COVID-19 impacts, gentrification, gender-based violence, and environmental sustainability.
UIC Great Cities Institute Director Teresa Córdova discussed the importance of producing research that responds to the needs of an increasingly diverse Latino population, while Senior Research Fellow Juan González underscored the need for stronger data on demographic shifts, particularly in suburban communities and school systems. The article also highlighted the initiative’s partnerships with organizations such as Mujeres Latinas en Acción and Healthy Communities Foundation, reinforcing its emphasis on research developed collaboratively with communities to inform advocacy and policy change.