On Tuesday, October 31st, John Hagedorn died peacefully in his home with his family at his side. We deeply mourn the loss of our dear friend and colleague.
Our Beloved John Hagedorn Has Joined the Angels.
The Current Migrant Crisis: How U.S. Policy Toward Latin America Has Fueled Historic Numbers of Asylum Seekers
This report briefly outlines the evidence that U.S. economic warfare against three specific countries – Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua – is a significant cause of the latest migration surge. It argues, furthermore, that progressive U.S. leaders and the general public should advocate for a more humane and responsible foreign policy – one that could not only dramatically reduce migration from the region but also address the mushrooming labor shortage within the U.S.
Read the Full Report Here.
Mayor Brandon Johnson releases FY2024 Chicago City Budget released with a nod to community engagement.
On October 11, 2023, Mayor Brandon Johnson delivered his $16.6 billion budget recommendations for the City of Chicago to the City Council. In July, the City of Chicago Office of Budget Management (OBM), the Mayor’s Office of Community Engagement, and the Office of Equity and Racial Justice (OERJ) partnered with UIC’s Neighborhoods Initiative (UICNI) at the Great Cities Institute to co-design and conduct engagement activities around the City’s 2024 budget. The “City of Chicago 2024 Budget Engagement Report” documents the 2024 budget engagement process and provides critical results from the engagement activities.
Read the Full Report Here.
Juan González Headlines Great Cities Launch of Latino Research Initiative
Juan González, Senior Fellow at Great Cities Institute, Co-Host of Democracy Now, and Author of Harvest of Empire will headline the launch of GCI’s Latino Research Initiative on September 12, 2023, from 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Student Center East Room 301 (750 S. Halsted). In Juan’s speech, he will bring a national and international context to his reflections on issues and opportunities facing Latinos in Chicagoland.
Here is the Link to RSVP.
New Great Cities Institute Report – “Chicago’s 2023 Mayoral Race: A Progressive Victory Amidst Shocking Low Turnout by Black and Latino Voters.”
Brandon Johnson’s election this past April as Chicago’s new mayor has been hailed across the country as an electrifying victory by progressive Democrats. But a detailed analysis of vote tallies and turnout conducted by Juan González and Matthew Wilson of the Great Cities Institute finds “a startling gap in voter turnout continues to persist along racial and ethnic lines” in Chicago.
Read the Full Report Here.
Great Cities Releases Eight Reports over the Last Month
Great Cities, with several of its partners, has released eight reports over the last month on topics including empowerment of women experiencing domestic abuse, a statewide profile of groups doing racial equity work, impacts of COVID on youth joblessness, conditions affecting immigrant communities, neighborhood profiles on Pilsen and Puerto Rico Town, and water recycling.
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Great Cities Congratulates Chicago’s New Mayor
As Brandon Johnson is sworn in today as Chicago’s New Mayor, staff of the Great Cities Institute are serving on his transition committees. Juan González, Senior Fellow at GCI, is serving on the Transition Committee while GCI Director, Teresa Córdova, is serving on the Subcommittee on Economic Vitality and Equity, […]
Getting Back in Touch
It’s been a while since you have heard from us, but we think of you often as we busily work with partners on an array of projects. In the coming weeks, we will catch you up on some of what we have been doing over the last few months.
Great Cities Releases Updated Hardship Index for Chicago Community Areas
Originally developed as an index to compare the economic disparities between the suburbs and inner cities, the Great Cities Institute utilized the methodology and applied it to Chicago community areas.