Great Cities Institute’s 30 Years of Impact

 

On December 1, 2025, we will commemorate the Great Cities Institute (GCI)’s 30 Years of Impact, marking three decades of commitment to urban research, policy, and community engagement. This milestone offers an opportunity to reflect on the vision that led to the founding of GCI and to honor the ongoing work that continues to shape cities and communities.

In 1995, the Great Cities Institute was established as part of UIC’s Great Cities Initiative, a bold commitment to addressing urban challenges through research, collaboration, and public engagement. That same year, then-Governor Jim Edgar proclaimed December 1 as Great Cities Day in Illinois, recognizing the role of cities as centers of knowledge, creativity, and economic growth while also acknowledging the complex challenges they face, from housing and employment to education and public health. The resolution emphasized the need for comprehensive and integrated approaches to improving urban life—values that have remained at the core of GCI’s mission.

Over the past 30 years, GCI has been a driving force in advancing urban policy and fostering partnerships between academia, government, businesses, and community organizations. Through research, convenings, and direct engagement, GCI has worked to address critical issues in Chicago and beyond, reinforcing UIC’s role as a university that is deeply connected to its urban environment.

As we mark this important milestone, we will reflect on the legacy of the Great Cities concept and look ahead to community-centered research to help address pressing issues facing cities. We hope you will join us on December 1, 2025, to commemorate this momentous occasion and the impact of the Great Cities Institute over the past three decades.

More details on the event are provided below. Stay tuned for updates!

We would also like to invite you to make a gift today to GCI (click here or the image below) to help advance urban research and community partnerships that build more just, vibrant, and resilient cities. Your generosity will help fuel the next 30 years of impact.

Please click here to RSVP. To download flyer, please click here.

 

Event Details:

Date: Monday, December 1st, 2025

Program Time: 2 PM to 5 PM

Reception Time: 5 PM to 7 PM

Location: UIC Student Center East (750 S. Halsted St)
 

Program Agenda:

1. Opening

     • Welcome by Teresa Córdova, Director, Great Cities Institute and Professor of Urban Planning and Policy

     • Opening Comments by Wim Wiewel, First Director of the Great Cities Institute; former President of Portland State University and Lewis and Clark University

2. Video Presentation: The Great Cities Institute: 30 Years of Impact

3. Reflections: 30 Years of Issues and Impact

     • Teresa Córdova, Director, Great Cities Institute

4. Spoken Word Performance

     • Flaco Navaja, Singer, Poet, Actor

5. Panel Discussion: Cities, Democracy, and the Work Ahead

As we look toward the future, this panel discussion will explore how cities like Chicago can lead in defining the next era of equity, democracy, and community life. The conversation will be highly relevant given that Chicago is ground zero for how our values regarding multi-racial democracy and living together in urban communities are being contested. Chicago has been a historic city in the labor movement, the civil rights movement, multi-racial and multi-ethnic movements in the arts and culture, community development, and urban innovation—and so much more. Chicago is a testing ground for how we get through our current test of democracy and community.

Moderator:

     • Laura Washington, Contributing Columnist and Political Analyst, Chicago Tribune and ABC-7 Chicago

Panelists:

     • Kari Moe, Former Chief of Staff and Deputy Commissioner for Economic Development, Mayor Harold Washington’s Administration

     • David Doig, President, Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives

     • Juan Salgado, Chancellor, City Colleges of Chicago; President of the Board, MacArthur Foundation

     • Ric Estrada, President and CEO, Metropolitan Family Services

     • Grace Chan McKibben, Executive Director, Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community

     • Brenda M. Palms, President and CEO of North Lawndale Employment Network; Founder of Sweet Beginnings LLC

     • Juan González, Senior Fellow, Great Cities Institute; Co-Host, Democracy Now!

     • Reverend Jamar A. Boyd, II, Pastor, Kenwood United Church of Christ; Associate, Office of the President at the MacArthur Foundation

     • Ed Yohnka, Director of Communications and Public Policy, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Illinois

6. Inspirational Reflection

     • Reverend Damien C. Durr, Chief Operations Officer, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference

7. The Great Cities Commitment and the Engaged University

     • Chancellor Marie Lynn Miranda, University of Illinois Chicago

8. Reception

     • Music by Flaco Navaja and the Razor Blades

 

Featured Speaker Biographies:

Marie Lynn Miranda

Marie Lynn Miranda became the 10th Chancellor of the University of Illinois Chicago in July 2023. A nationally recognized leader in higher education and geospatial health informatics, she also serves as a faculty member in the Departments of Pediatrics and Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science. As Chancellor, Miranda champions equity and excellence at scale, introducing five strategic priorities to strengthen student success, expand UIC’s research profile, advance health and educational equity, foster external partnerships, and elevate UIC as a destination for top faculty and staff. Miranda is also director of the Children’s Environmental Health Initiative, known for groundbreaking work on childhood lead exposure and, more recently, research on racial residential segregation and its effects on health and education disparities. She is active in civic life through the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Club of Chicago, and The Chicago Network, and she serves on several national boards including the Doris Duke Foundation and the Environmental Defense Fund. Before joining UIC, Miranda held leadership roles at Notre Dame, Rice University, the University of Michigan, and Duke University. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Duke, she earned her Ph.D. and master’s degrees from Harvard University and is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

 

Wim Wiewel

Dr. Wim Wiewel is an academic leader, urban planning expert, and advocate for community engagement. He served as President of Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon from 2017 until his retirement in 2022. During these years the endowment doubled in value, and enrollment reached an all-time high. He served as the President of Portland State University from 2008 to 2017, where he spearheaded initiatives to strengthen civic partnerships, enhance student success, and elevate PSU’s global presence. Before that, he was the provost at the University of Baltimore, and was at UIC from 1979 until 2004, serving in successive roles as director of the Center for Urban Economic Development, Special Assistant to the Chancellor for Great Cities, director of the Great Cities Institute, and dean of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs and the School of Business Administration. Beyond academia, Wiewel has been deeply involved in the civic and cultural landscape of the cities where he has lived, as well as national academic, environmental, and urban development organizations. Wiewel is the author or editor of eleven books and over 70 academic articles and chapters. He holds degrees in sociology and urban planning from the University of Amsterdam and earned his Ph.D. in sociology from Northwestern University.

 

 
 
 
 

Flaco Navaja

A Bronx-born singer, poet, and actor, Flaco Navaja brings spoken word, music, and performance together to tell stories of resilience and community. Known for his dynamic stage presence, he blends salsa, soul, and hip-hop in both his poetry and musical performances.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Teresa Córdova

Dr. Teresa Córdova serves as Director of the Great Cities Institute (GCI) and Professor of Urban Planning and Policy at the University of Illinois Chicago. A community-based planner, political economist, and applied theorist, she integrates research, teaching, and public service to advance equitable community and economic development. Her work addresses the impacts of global economic restructuring on local communities, focusing on chronic youth joblessness, rebuilding the manufacturing sector, and promoting investment without displacement in disinvested neighborhoods. An expert in community–university partnerships and engaged research, she is widely recognized for connecting academic research to real-world challenges. Her leadership and advisory roles include Chair of the Chicago Plan Commission (2019–2022), service on Cook County’s Economic Development Advisory Committee, and board memberships with the Grand Victoria Foundation and Chicago Community Trust’s We Rise Together initiative. She frequently keynotes at conferences and community forums on a range of community and economic development issues. She earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley, and continues to publish and speak widely on the intersections of urban development, economic equity, building community, and Chicano and Latino Studies.

 

 

Laura Washington

Laura S. Washington is a contributing columnist for the Chicago Tribune and political analyst at ABC-7 Chicago. A veteran journalist and nonprofit leader, she brings more than two decades of award-winning experience covering politics, race, and social justice. She previously served as editor and publisher of The Chicago Reporter, as the Ida B. Wells-Barnett University Professor at DePaul University, and as deputy press secretary to Mayor Harold Washington. Her work has been recognized with dozens of awards, including Chicago Emmys, the Studs Terkel Award for Community Journalism, and induction into both the Medill School of Journalism Hall of Achievement and the Chicago Women’s Journalism Hall of Fame. Washington earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School, where she has also taught and lectured. She is frequently featured in national media and is a sought-after moderator and speaker on politics and race.

 
 
 

Kari Moe

Dr. Kari Moe is a public servant and educator whose career spans more than four decades in senior government leadership and leadership development. She played key roles for Mayor Harold Washington, U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone, Congressman Keith Ellison (now Attorney General of Minnesota), and Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, serving in positions such as Deputy Commissioner for Economic Development, Deputy Mayor for Community Services, and Chief of Staff. Earlier in her career, she worked as a teacher and social worker with community-based organizations serving low-income youth in Chicago. From 2000 to 2006, Moe directed leadership training at the George Washington University’s Center for Excellence in Public Leadership, where she designed and taught courses in policy analysis, strategic planning, and leadership for change. She continues to train federal managers in congressional relations and has been a featured speaker at leading universities and institutes across the country. Moe is also a committed mentor, having coached dozens of young public servants who now lead organizations nationwide. She is a certified leadership coach and is focused on helping to raise a new generation of public leaders.

 
 

 
 

David Doig

David Doig is President of Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives (CNI) and brings more than 30 years of experience in community development, real estate, finance, and government. At CNI, he has led transformative projects that spur investment and job creation in Chicago’s neighborhoods. Previously, Doig served in Mayor Richard M. Daley’s administration, including as General Superintendent and CEO of the Chicago Park District, where he managed a $350 million budget and 3,000 employees, and as First Deputy in the Department of Planning and Development. He began his career in the City’s Department of Housing, gaining a deep understanding of urban development from the ground up. Through decades of public service and nonprofit leadership, Doig has become a recognized expert on how cities and neighborhoods thrive.

 
 
 

 
 

Juan Salgado

Juan Salgado is Chancellor of City Colleges of Chicago, where he oversees a system of seven colleges serving more than 80,000 students. For over two decades, his career has focused on expanding education and economic opportunity for low-income communities and immigrants. From 2001 to 2017, Salgado led Instituto del Progreso Latino, advancing programs in education, citizenship, and workforce development that empowered Chicago’s Southwest Side residents to achieve lasting stability. His leadership has been nationally recognized, including being named a 2015 MacArthur Fellow. A community college graduate himself, Salgado earned an associate’s degree from Moraine Valley Community College, a bachelor’s from Illinois Wesleyan University, and a master’s in urban planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

 
 
 

 
 

Ric Estrada

Ric Estrada is President and CEO of Metropolitan Family Services, one of Illinois’ largest and most respected human services organizations. With more than 30 years of leadership in social services, he has guided Metropolitan through remarkable growth—quadrupling its revenue and expanding programs that empower families across the region. Before joining Metropolitan, Estrada served as First Deputy Commissioner of Chicago’s Department of Family and Support Services and as Executive Director of Erie Neighborhood House. He serves on the boards of ComEd, Metra, the Grand Victoria Foundation, and the National Museum of Mexican Art. A Marshall Memorial Fellow and Leadership Greater Chicago Distinguished Fellow, Estrada holds degrees from Loyola University Chicago, the University of Chicago, and the University of Illinois Chicago.

 
 
 

 
 

Grace Chan McKibben

Grace Chan McKibben is Executive Director of the Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community, where she leads efforts in civic education, community planning, and leadership development in Chicago’s Chinatown and surrounding neighborhoods. She has also held senior positions across higher education, government, financial services, consulting, and social services. Chan McKibben’s work in equity and inclusion has earned numerous honors, including the University of Chicago’s Alumni Diversity Award and the Mayor of Chicago’s Medal of Honor. In 2025, she was named one of Crain’s Chicago Business Notable Leaders in Philanthropy. She holds an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management, an MA and BA from the University of Chicago, and is currently a PhD candidate at Adler University.

 
 
 

 

Brenda M. Palms

Brenda M. Palms, a confident and passionate social entrepreneur, has served as President and CEO of the North Lawndale Employment Network (NLEN) since its founding in 1999. In 2004, she launched Sweet Beginnings, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary that harnesses the power of honeybees to transform lives and communities. Through her innovative approach, Brenda advances equity for people of color, particularly those returning from incarceration. Under her leadership, NLEN has grown from 2 to 55 employees, operates with an $8 million budget, and serves more than 1,200 people annually. Sweet Beginnings products are sold in over 43 Mariano’s stores, both O’Hare and Midway airports, and have received numerous awards, including one of the first Benefit Chicago social impact loans. NLEN and Sweet Beginnings have earned over 30 awards collectively, including recognition from the MacArthur Foundation, Bank of America, and Google. Brenda’s work has been featured on CNN, CBS Evening News, and in the Wall Street Journal. She holds a Master of Science in Nonprofit Management from the Spertus Institute in Chicago.

 

 

Juan González

Juan González is a Senior Research Fellow at the Great Cities Institute and one of the most acclaimed Latino journalists in the United States. For nearly 30 years he was a columnist at The Daily News in New York, and since 1996 he has co-hosted the independent news program Democracy Now!. He also served as the Richard D. Heffner Professor of Communications and Public Policy at Rutgers University from 2017 to 2023. González’s investigative reporting on labor, race, and urban policy has earned him two George Polk Awards, and in 2015 he became the first Latino inducted into the New York Journalism Hall of Fame. He is the author of five books, including the classic Harvest of Empire, now in its third edition and adapted into an award-winning documentary, and News for All the People, a New York Times bestseller and Robert F. Kennedy Book Award finalist. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in New York’s East Harlem, González earned his B.A. from Columbia University and has long been a national voice on equity, justice, and Latino history.

 
 

Reverend Jamar A. Boyd, II

Rev. Jamar A. Boyd, II is the 17th Pastor of Kenwood United Church of Christ in Chicago and serves concurrently as Associate in the Office of the President at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. A faith leader, scholar, and advocate, Rev. Boyd’s work bridges theology, justice, and community transformation. He previously served as Senior Manager of Organizational Impact for the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, where he guided strategies to engage African American clergy and emerging leaders in racial justice initiatives. His earlier experience includes roles as a Justice Reform Organizer and Economic Justice Organizer with the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy. Rev. Boyd holds a B.S. in Sports Management and Business from Georgia Southern University and a Master of Divinity from The Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University. A Fellow of both the GIFT Collaborative and the Aspen Institute’s Racial Justice and Religion Collective, he contributes to publications such as Faithfully Magazine, Sojourners, and Baptist News Global. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Oikos Institute for Social Impact and the Hyde Park & Kenwood Interfaith Council, and is co-editor of the forthcoming Complicit No More: Truth, Justice, and the Awakening of Black Faith Communities (Routledge Press).

 

 
 

Ed Yohnka

Ed Yohnka joined the ACLU of Illinois in June 1999 and currently serves as its Director of Communications and Public Policy. As the organization’s primary spokesperson, he represents the ACLU in television, radio, and print media across Illinois and nationally, providing insight on key legal and legislative issues central to the organization’s mission. His commentary and expertise are frequently featured in major news outlets, where he helps shape public understanding of civil rights and civil liberties. Before joining the ACLU, Yohnka spent over a decade with the American Bar Association, primarily as Special Presidential Assistant in the Office of the President, where he supported national initiatives related to the legal profession and public policy.

 
 
 
 

 

Reverend Damien C. Durr

Rev. Damien C. Durr is Chief Operating Officer and Organizational Strategist for the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference in Chicago. A native of Cleveland, he holds a B.A. from American Baptist College and an M.Div. from Vanderbilt University, where he was a Presidential Scholar and Kelly Miller Smith Fellow. Durr has worked across education, faith, and social justice sectors, including serving as a social and emotional specialist in Nashville Public Schools, a community engagement facilitator with the Children’s Defense Fund, and Executive Pastor of Community Development at Friendship-West Baptist Church in Dallas. He has also produced documentaries and programs addressing issues such as juvenile justice, the prison pipeline, and the role of the Black church and hip-hop culture. He is the founder of DCD Empowerment LLC and the Gus Newport Project, continuing his mission of advancing equity and community empowerment.

 
 
 

 

Please click here to RSVP. To download flyer, please click here.


 

Categories:

Trump’s mass deportation push is crushing local economies

 

This article from CNN reports that former President Trump’s mass deportation campaign has severely disrupted local economies, particularly in Chicago’s Little Village, where businesses have seen sales plummet as residents fear immigration raids. Since “Operation Midway Blitz” began in September, over 1,000 arrests have left streets empty and stores shuttered, with business owners reporting losses up to 60%. The article emphasizes that undocumented immigrants are vital consumers, contributing around $300 billion in spending and $90 billion in taxes annually, supporting local and state budgets. Experts like Teresa Córdova of UIC’s Great Cities Institute warn that the crackdown threatens Chicago’s broader economy, given immigrants’ historic role in revitalizing disinvested neighborhoods. While the White House defends the deportations as necessary to curb the costs of illegal immigration, economists and industry leaders note declining consumer activity, business bankruptcies, and reduced sales among Hispanic-focused brands—signaling that escalating deportations could further depress employment, spending, and tax revenues nationwide.

 

Full Text

‘It’s killing business’: Trump’s mass deportation push is crushing local economies

By Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN
In Chicago’s Little Village, the Trump administration’s sweeping deportation push has paralyzed the economy.

Business owners in Little Village, which is 81% Hispanic, said customers are too frightened to walk the streets of Chicago’s second busiest commercial corridor. Sales have plunged, employees are staying home, and stores have temporarily closed since the administration’s deportation push in Chicago began on September 8. More than 1,000 people have been arrested in the Department of Homeland Security’s “Operation Midway Blitz.”

The economic fallout from deportations is typically focused on the impact to industries with large unauthorized immigrant workforces, such as construction and agriculture. But undocumented immigrants aren’t just people who simply go to work each day. They’re consumers, too. They spent roughly $300 billion in 2023, buying goods and services that power the economy.

“It’s killing business,” said Mike Moreno, the owner of Moreno’s liquor store and speakeasy bar. His father opened the store in Little Village in the 1970s, and it was the first Latino-owned liquor store in Illinois.

He said sales have dropped 60% since September. Local residents and longtime business owners alike have been traumatized by immigration agents roaming around the neighborhood, Moreno said, arresting both unauthorized immigrants and US citizens.

“They’re going up and down the streets around in loops to scare us,” he said. “I never thought in a million years I’d see something like this.”

Marcela Rodriguez, a franchise operator of Los Mangos, a small Mexican-style ice cream chain, said “people are not stepping outside. Kids are not going to school. It’s unbelievable.”

Her business “just completely went downhill” beginning in September, and several fearful employees changed their schedules to prepare food when the store is locked and closed to customers.

Ice cream sales now correlate with how visible immigration agents are in the neighborhood, she said.

“On quiet days with not a lot of detainments, we see an uptick in customers.”

‘Economic lifeline’

The Trump administration said last month it’s on track to deport 600,000 unauthorized immigrants this year.

But that push is hurting businesses and local economies that rely on immigrants, both legal and undocumented, who buy everything from food to cars to homes.

A record 14 million unauthorized immigrants, roughly 5.6% of total households, lived in the United States in 2023. Twenty-six million people live in a household with at least one person who lacks legal status.

Not only does this group spend hundreds of billions annually, they also paid more than $90 billion in federal, state and local taxes in 2024, helping fund social services and programs like Social Security. Sales, property, business and other taxes they paid help prop up municipal and state budgets.

That’s why a slowdown in Little Village threatens to have a spillover effect on Chicago. The city may see lower tax revenues from retail sales, as well as store closures, reduced orders along the supply chain, and a hit to the real estate market, said Teresa Córdova, the director of the Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois Chicago.

Little Village became a landing spot for Hispanic immigrants coming to the United States beginning in the 1960s and 1970s. They helped stabilize the neighborhood, which had emptied out as Chicago lost manufacturing jobs and people left for the suburbs.

“Were it not for Latinos in Chicago, we would not be able to revitalize like we did,” Córdova said.

A similar story of immigrants reviving areas in decline played out in many northern industrial cities during the mid-twentieth century and later in the South, said A. K. Sandoval-Strausz, a history professor at Penn State University and author of the book “Barrio America: How Latino Immigrants Saved the American City.”

“The influx of immigrants to these neighborhoods has been an economic lifeline,” he said.

But White House spokesperson Kush Desai called looking at how much unauthorized immigrants spend and pay in taxes in isolation an “idiotic exercise” because “the costs that Americans pay due to illegal immigration are incalculable: crime, strained healthcare systems, inflated real estate costs, and schools being overburdened with costly ESL students.”

The White House pointed to research from the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which advocates for lower immigration levels, that said American taxpayers spend at least $182 billion annually to cover costs for unauthorized immigrants.

Mazola corn oil and subprime car loans

Immigrants and families unsure of their future in the United States are sending more money to their home countries — remittances to many Latin American countries are seeing double-digit increases — and they’re tightening their wallets.

TD Bank estimated that undocumented workers who are spending less will subtract 0.7 percentage points from consumer spending growth this year.

When Tricolor, a subprime auto lender primarily for unauthorized immigrants in the Southwest, filed for bankruptcy last month, analysts said it was a sign of the pressure on the economy catering to undocumented immigrants.

Major food brands and retailers are also noticing an impact.

PepsiCo, Constellation Brands, Mondelez, Wingstop and Ross said Hispanic customers are spending less, particularly at stores concentrated in heavily Hispanic neighborhoods.

Sales of Mazola corn oil have dropped among Hispanic consumers in the South, parent company Associated British Foods said last month on an earnings call.

“We have a very large share of Hispanic consumers in Mazola, and there’s a lot of fear in that community,” CEO George Weston said. “We really hope that that’s temporary for all sorts of reasons.”

But the administration is ramping up its detention capabilities to reach its goal of one million deportations a year, and Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act triples the budget for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The further the Trump administration goes, the larger the blow will be to consumer spending, employment and taxes that boost cities and states, said Eric Rodriguez, the senior vice president of policy and advocacy at UnidosUS, a Hispanic civil rights group. Mass deportations have been found to reduce employment and wages for native-born citizens, too.

“There’s no sign that what we’re seeing right now is going to stop or de-escalate,” he said. “As the government builds up mass deportations, the economic effects will be greater.”

 

From CNN (To go to the actual article, please click on this link.)

 

Standing for Community, Justice, and 30 Years of Impact

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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Residents at the Table: 2026 Budget Engagement Findings

Executive Summary:

Mayor Brandon Johnson will deliver his budget recommendations for the City of Chicago to the City Council today, October 16, 2025. The recommendations are informed by engagement activities conducted by the City of Chicago Office of Budget Management (OBM) and the Mayor’s Office of Community Engagement in partnership with UIC’s Neighborhoods Initiative (UICNI) at the Great Cities Institute in June and July 2025. The “City of Chicago 2026 Budget Engagement Report” documents the 2025 budget engagement process, community priorities, and reflects the complex reality facing City officials: balancing essential public services, community needs, and commitments to equity and progress during a period of heightened financial and political strain.

Activities were available both in person at three public roundtables and one youth engagement event, and online. More than 1,200 Chicago residents engaged through surveys, roundtables, and youth-specific activities. Engagement activities gathered feedback from community members on the budget, approaches to property taxes, and potential revenue sources, as well as community priorities on programs and services by issue area, and general comments regarding the budget or engagement. UICNI designed and implemented the research process, guided by principles of transparency, documenting community priorities, and analyzing both qualitative and quantitative feedback. Data sources included tabletop notes from roundtables, comment cards (paper and online), and surveys (paper and online) available in English and Spanish. In total, participants submitted 1,005 surveys and 1,157 comment cards, providing a robust mix of perspectives.

Engagement results revealed both areas of consensus and differences across groups. In public health, nearly half of both adults and youth prioritized crisis response teams (48% and 51%), signaling strong support for non-police responses to mental health crises. Adults emphasized maintaining mental health clinics (24%), while youth leaned toward prevention and wellness (23%). On youth and children’s services, adults prioritized out-of-school programming (36%) and childcare (25%), while youth emphasized employment opportunities (38%) and accessible activities (34%). For community safety, public respondents placed their highest support on violence prevention (33%), while youth prioritized justice system alternatives (26%) and support for victims and survivors (22%). In economic development, 64% of adults and 63% of youth prioritized investments in historically disinvested neighborhoods.

On environmental justice and infrastructure, adults leaned toward air pollution reduction and water system repairs, while youth favored renewable energy and clean infrastructure. For neighborhood development, adults prioritized vacant lot cleanup and reuse (42%), while youth placed greater emphasis on accessibility, digital inclusion, and simplified processes. Residents had mixed views on how to balance city service levels with property taxes; the largest share favored raising taxes to expand services. When asked about new or expanded revenue sources, respondents expressed more substantial support for options that place responsibility on corporations, institutions, or property owners rather than on individual households.

The report includes detailed results on participant demographics and analysis of community priorities and comments by topic area. Additionally, an appendix provides the full record of qualitative comments. Together, these findings illustrate a process that engaged over 1,200 residents, surfaced clear community priorities, and revealed gaps in participation for future processes to improve.

 

 

Author:

Thea Crum
Associate Director of Neighborhoods Initiative

Katherine Faydash
GCI Affiliated Researcher

 

 

Read and Download the Full Report Here.

 

Commentary: Let’s consider who’s profiting from the detention center business

 

In her Crain’s Chicago Business commentary, Teresa Córdova underscores how immigration crackdowns disrupt Chicago’s economy while fueling corporate profits for private detention companies. Drawing on history, she highlights immigrants’ vital role in building Chicago’s prosperity, warns against fearmongering tactics that harm families and commerce, and criticizes wasteful spending on detention facilities that enrich CoreCivic and The GEO Group. Córdova calls for policies that uphold Illinois’ values by rejecting profiteering from human suffering and reinvesting in communities. You can also watch Teresa Córdova discuss this topic further in her appearance on Fox 32 Chicago News; the video is available below.

 

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Chicago remains one of the most interesting cities, most certainly in the U.S. and perhaps even in the world. I often think back to the bustling days of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when new technologies spurred investments, wealth was visible in the architecture and arts, and Chicago grew into a major hub of economic and cultural activity. But if we focus only on the grandeur of the “Gilded Age,” we miss the essential point: It was all made possible by companies that actively recruited immigrants who crossed oceans and borders to keep the engines of commerce running.

The low wages, poor working conditions and inadequate housing endured by these workers were major concerns for reformers of the “Progressive Era.” Labor organizers, photographers, social reformers and journalists argued that immigrants should be viewed as more than just cheap, exploitable labor. Upton Sinclair’s exposés on the meatpacking, oil, coal and auto industries, for instance, spurred significant reform efforts.

It is not new that companies and corporations have benefited from immigrant labor. Nor is it new that immigrant presence strengthens an economy. History tells us that the ebbs and flows of the economy often intersect with federal immigration policies. What we see today, however, is something different.

Masked men grabbing people — including citizens and non-criminals — from streets and workplaces with no constitutional authority or due process should alarm us, not only for the individuals and families torn apart, but also for the health of our republic. Beyond the human cost, these actions harm our economy. Fear of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids disrupts the functioning of local and regional economies. Latino immigrants, for example, fill essential jobs, fuel neighborhood commerce and operate small businesses that provide goods, services and stability to our supply chains. They are our neighbors and fellow Illinoisans, adding to the quality of our shared lives.

Raids disrupt industries reliant on immigrant labor, reduce production output, raise costs, dampen consumer spending, shrink tax revenues and depress real estate markets. If immigrant presence is so vital to Chicago and the nation’s economy, and mistreating immigrants raises moral and constitutional concerns, why are these tactics employed by ICE?

Fearmongering, which portrays immigrants as threats, has gained political support for harsh enforcement measures. But who truly benefits from this? Not small businesses or major employers who depend on stability. The ICE budget has skyrocketed, driving up federal debt even as public services are cut. Billions are spent to house so-called “threats” — a system that enriches private prison corporations.

CoreCivic and The GEO Group, the largest builders and operators of detention centers, are at the center of this equation. With the help of former government officials, they spend millions annually lobbying to secure federal appropriations for the infrastructure that feeds detention facilities and processing centers. While they claim not to lobby on who gets detained, they aggressively pursue contracts to build and operate the facilities where detainees are held.

The result: fast-tracked, lucrative no-bid contracts and distorted public policy. Never has so much profit been concentrated in immigrant detention.

In the second quarter of 2025, CoreCivic reported $538.2 million in revenue, while The GEO Group reached $636.2 million, both exceeding 2024 earnings. GEO Group projects 2025 revenues near $2.6 billion, with net income up to $295 million.

Immigration politics are directly tied to the profitability of this volatile industry. And who pays? Taxpayers, at great social and economic cost. A high-profile and striking example of bad policy and wasted public spending that enriches the private detention business is “Alligator Alcatraz.” After a $250 million expenditure, it’s already been ordered to close.

Cultural centers, commercial corridors and festivals have always been part of Chicago’s fabric. Appreciating immigrant communities is the Chicago way. Propping up corporate profits at the expense of our economy and our values is neither good business nor good public policy. Illinois legislators recognized this when they passed a 2019 law prohibiting private detention centers. Supporting the wisdom of that legislation while reinvesting in rural communities that might otherwise be enticed by the private prison industry are just two ways that we can affirm a civic ethos that no one should profit from human suffering.

 

Video

 

From Crain’s Chicago Business (To go to the actual article, please click on this link.)

Video From Fox 32 Chicago News (link)

 

Immigration crackdown deals a blow to Chicago’s Latino business corridors

A recent Crain’s Chicago Business feature takes a close look at how stepped-up federal immigration enforcement under President Trump’s second term is shaking Latino business corridors across Chicago. For decades, businesses like Moreno’s Liquors in Little Village weathered recessions and economic downturns, but owners now report revenue losses of 20 to 50 percent as fear of raids and deportations keeps customers at home. Restaurants, quinceañera dress shops, party suppliers, and even national brands are feeling the ripple effects of declining Latino consumer spending.

The article underscores the broader economic stakes for Chicago, noting that Latino communities contribute more than $100 billion annually to Illinois’ GDP, with most of that centered in the Chicago metropolitan area. When families scale back spending and celebrations, the impact reverberates through supply chains, tax revenues, and local employment. “Not only are they generating that sales tax, but they’re generating other economic activities throughout the whole supply chain,” explained Teresa Córdova, director of the Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois Chicago. Córdova noted that immigrant families’ freedom of movement and sense of security are directly tied to the city’s economic health.

As businesses brace for Mexican Independence Day festivities amid continued enforcement threats, community leaders stress resilience, but the uncertainty looms large. The decline of once-vibrant traditions, like quinceañera celebrations drawing families from across the Midwest, illustrates how deeply immigration policies are reshaping daily economic life in Chicago’s neighborhoods.

 

From Crain’s Chicago Business (To go to the actual article, please click on this link.)

 

Celebrating Great Cities Institute’s 30 Years of Impact

Great Cities Institute’s 30 Years of Impact

 

We are pleased to share a reminder that on December 1, 2025, we will celebrate the Great Cities Institute (GCI)’s 30 Years of Impact, marking three decades of commitment to urban research, policy, and community engagement. This milestone offers an opportunity to reflect on the vision that led to the founding of GCI and to honor the ongoing work that continues to shape cities and communities.

In 1995, the Great Cities Institute was established as part of UIC’s Great Cities Initiative, a bold commitment to addressing urban challenges through research, collaboration, and public engagement. That same year, then-Governor Jim Edgar proclaimed December 1 as Great Cities Day in Illinois, recognizing the role of cities as centers of knowledge, creativity, and economic growth while also acknowledging the complex challenges they face, from housing and employment to education and public health. The resolution emphasized the need for comprehensive and integrated approaches to improving urban life—values that have remained at the core of GCI’s mission.

Over the past 30 years, GCI has been a driving force in advancing urban policy and fostering partnerships between academia, government, businesses, and community organizations. Through research, convenings, and direct engagement, GCI has worked to address critical issues in Chicago and beyond, reinforcing UIC’s role as a university that is deeply connected to its urban environment.

As we mark this important milestone, we will reflect on the legacy of the Great Cities concept and look ahead to urban innovation and community-centered research to address pressing issues facing cities. We hope you will join us on December 1, 2025, to celebrate this momentous occasion and the impact of the Great Cities Institute over the past three decades.

More details about the event will be announced soon. Stay tuned for updates! To RSVP, please click here. To download the flyer, please click here.

📅 Date: December 1st, 2025
🕐 Program Time: 2 PM to 5 PM
🕐 Reception Time: 5 PM to 7 PM
📍 Location: UIC Student Center East
📍 Address: 750 S. Halsted St

 

Illinois Language Needs Assessment Report, June 2025

Executive Summary:

This Language Needs Assessment Report was prepared by Rob Paral, Senior Research Specialist at the Great Cities Institute (GCI) at the University of Illinois Chicago, and commissioned by the Illinois Governor’s Office of New Americans in compliance with the Language Equity and Access Act (Public Act 103-0723). The report draws on data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) to provide a comprehensive portrait of the linguistic landscape of Illinois, with particular focus on residents who are Limited-English Proficient (LEP).

The assessment identifies more than one million Illinois residents who speak English less than “very well,” and highlights the geographic, demographic, and linguistic diversity of this population across the state. The findings underscore the need for state agencies to provide equitable, language-accessible services, reflecting both federal mandates and Illinois’ commitment to inclusion and public service equity. The report also documents emerging trends in language use, noting shifts in migration patterns and the evolving composition of LEP communities.

By offering detailed data on language prevalence and English proficiency across counties, municipalities, and community areas, this report is intended to guide policy implementation, resource allocation, and strategic planning efforts aimed at strengthening access to public services for linguistically diverse populations statewide.

Key findings are as follows:

    • One Million Illinois Residents Are LEP:
      Approximately 1 million residents (9% of the population) speak English less than “very well” and may require language assistance to access state services.

    • Illinois Is Linguistically Diverse:
      Over 2.8 million people (24% of the population) speak a language other than English at home. Spanish is the most common, followed by Polish, Chinese, Tagalog, Arabic, and others.

    • LEP Individuals Are Spread Statewide:
      While most LEP residents live in the Chicago metro area, sizable populations exist across the state, including rural counties and mid-sized cities like Rock Island, Champaign, and Springfield.

    • Demographics Show LEP Residents Are Often Older and Female:
      The median age of LEP individuals is 49, with women comprising a slight majority in most language groups.

    • The LEP Population Is Growing Again:
      After a period of decline, the number of LEP residents has risen by 82,000 since 2019, due in part to new migration from countries such as Venezuela and Ukraine.

 

ArcGIS Data Dashboard:

The Illinois Language Needs Assessment Dashboard, developed by the Great Cities Institute, is an interactive mapping tool designed to help users explore the distribution and characteristics of LEP populations across the state. Drawing on U.S. Census Bureau data, the dashboard presents statewide totals as well as detailed demographic information about individuals who speak English less than “very well.” Users can explore LEP data by county, including the total number of LEP residents, the percentage of the county population that is LEP, and demographic characteristics such as age, gender, and place of birth. Additionally, the dashboard highlights the top languages spoken at home in each county, offering insight into the linguistic diversity present throughout Illinois. This tool supports state agencies, policymakers, and community organizations in assessing local language needs and planning more inclusive and accessible public services.

 

Author:

Rob Paral
Senior Research Specialist

 

 

Read and Download the Full Report Here.

 

 

Creative Roots, Equitable Futures: Latino Arts in Chicago

Executive Summary:

Creative Roots, Equitable Futures: Latino Arts in Chicago presents a data-informed analysis of the cultural and economic contributions of Latino arts organizations in Chicago, while also exposing the ongoing inequities in how these organizations are funded and represented. Latino communities make up nearly 30 percent of the city’s population and support a dynamic ecosystem of more than 300 organizations engaged in theater, music, dance, visual arts, film, and multidisciplinary work. These organizations are essential to Chicago’s cultural identity, yet they receive disproportionately low levels of public and philanthropic support.

This report applies a mixed-methods approach to provide a comprehensive picture of the Latino arts landscape. To analyze funding, it draws on data from the Foundation Directory, NEA GrantSearch, and DCASE public records. To assess economic impact, the study uses IMPLAN modeling and ESRI Spending Potential data, along with demographic and economic data from the U.S. Census and Economic Census. To explore issues of visibility and access, the report incorporates media coverage, award systems, and publicly available institutional documents.

Between 2020 and 2022, Latino arts organizations received between 4.2 percent and 6.6 percent of philanthropic arts funding in Chicago, with 5.4 percent in 2022. In total, 56 organizations received 655 grants totaling $21.9 million, the majority of which were small and designated for general operating support. Public arts funding showed similar disparities. NEA grants to Latino organizations typically ranged from $10,000 to $20,000, and were often awarded to larger institutions rather than community-based groups.

Despite these gaps, Latino arts play a vital role in the local economy. Arts and culture contribute $36 billion to Illinois’s economy and support over 216,000 jobs. In Chicago, the arts sector generates $1.72 billion in economic activity and provides 11,000 jobs. Latino arts organizations, from grassroots initiatives to major institutions, contribute significantly through employment, neighborhood activation, cultural tourism, and youth programming. Each dollar invested in the arts yields approximately $1.30 in economic return.

Latino artists and organizations continue to face systemic barriers, including limited access to funding networks, performance space, and leadership roles within grantmaking institutions. Media visibility and award recognition also remain low. However, emerging coalitions, advocacy efforts, and new equity-focused initiatives have begun to shift the landscape toward greater inclusion.

This report calls for sustained and proportionate investment in Latino arts. Supporting this sector is not only an act of cultural equity but a strategic investment in the economic and civic life of Chicago.

Below is a photo from the 2025 Chicago Latino Arts & Culture Summit (CLACS), where findings from the Creative Roots, Equitable Futures report were shared during the opening session on Latino arts, equity, and Chicago’s cultural landscape. Katherine Faydash and Dr. Teresa Córdova led the discussion, offering data-driven insights into the contributions of Latino arts organizations, funding disparities, and strategies for advancing equity across the city’s arts ecosystem. Their presentation helped set the tone for a day centered on resilience, advocacy, and creative leadership.

 

Acknowledgments:

This report was commissioned by the Chicago Latino Arts & Culture Network (CLACN), whose leadership, partnership, and long-standing commitment to cultural equity made this research possible. The core questions that shaped this analysis emerged directly from CLACN’s advocacy and vision—specifically from the desire to better understand the scope, impact, and structural challenges facing Latino arts organizations in Chicago. We are especially grateful for CLACN’s trust and intellectual partnership throughout this process. Special thanks to Jorge Valdivia, for his partnership, clarity of vision, and collaboration in the development of this report. The authors gratefully acknowledge the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation for its generous support of this work. Their investment reflects a meaningful commitment to advancing equity and visibility for culturally rooted organizations across the city.

This report was researched and developed by Katherine Faydash, with the support of colleagues at the UIC Great Cities Institute. Special thanks to Dr. Teresa Córdova, Thea Crum, and Matt Wilson for their guidance, research collaboration, and insight at every stage of development. We also extend our appreciation to the many artists, organizers, and cultural workers whose leadership continues to shape a more vibrant, just, and inclusive arts landscape in Chicago.

 

Author:

Katherine Faydash
Editor and Urban Planner

 

 

Read and Download the Full Report Here.

Download the PowerPoint Presentation Here.

 

Great Cities Institute Releases New Youth Jobless Report

Great Cities Institute Releases New Youth Jobless Report

 

As part of its ongoing commitment to provide timely research and data on youth employment in Chicago and Illinois, the Great Cities Institute (GCI) has released its latest data brief, “Youth Employment Data Brief: Racial and Geographic Inequities in Youth and Young Adult Joblessness and Disconnection in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, and the U.S., 2019–2023.” Commissioned by the Alternative Schools Network, this new report analyzes the most recent five years of census data to track trends in youth joblessness and disconnection from school and work, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, age, and geography.

Despite overall labor market improvements since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, recovery has been incomplete and uneven. Young people of color, especially Black and Latino youth in Chicago, remain disconnected from both work and school at alarmingly high rates. These persistent disparities threaten long-term economic mobility, community stability, and the future prospects of Chicago’s next generation.

Key findings include:

    • Exceptionally High Joblessness: In 2023, over 78% of Black 16- to 19-year-olds in Chicago were jobless, compared to 74.2% of Latino and 73.8% of White youth, rates well above national and state averages.
    • Persistent Disconnection: Black youth in Chicago remain significantly more likely to be out of school and jobless than their peers. In 2023, 14.3% of Black 16- to 19-year-olds were disconnected, more than four times the rate for White youth.
    • Uneven Recovery for Young Adults: Jobless rates for Black 20- to 24-year-olds declined in 2022 but rose again in 2023 to 47.6%, while rates for White and Latino peers steadily fell, widening racial disparities.
    • Stark Spatial Inequities: Maps show jobless and disconnected youth are concentrated in South, West, and Southeast Side neighborhoods in Chicago, where rates often exceed 80% for teens.
    • Programmatic Impacts: The report reviews rigorous research showing that summer youth employment programs are a proven, cost-effective way to reduce violence, improve job readiness, boost academic outcomes, and build social-emotional skills:
      • In Chicago, the One Summer Chicago Plus program produced a 43% reduction in violent crime arrests among participants and showed an 11:1 benefit-cost ratio.
      • Studies from Boston and New York confirm that participants in summer jobs programs develop critical soft skills, build stronger ties to their communities and mentors, and achieve higher rates of academic success.
      • Youth who work during high school are more likely to accumulate wealth, own homes, and participate in the stock market later in life.

A coalition of organizations across Illinois including the Alternative Schools Network and many youth advocacy groups are calling on state lawmakers to allocate $150 million in new funding for summer and year-round youth employment opportunities. Their goal: to employ at least 50,000 young people across Illinois, with a focus on communities most impacted by joblessness and disconnection. As the data in this report makes clear, this level of investment is urgently needed to address persistent inequities and help set the next generation on a path to success.

The report was covered by WGN, NBC 5 Chicago, WBEZ Chicago’s Fresh Air and Morning Edition, WBBM Newsradio 780 & 105.9 FM Late Morning News, WFLD (FOX) Good Day Chicago, and the WVON Morning Show with Ernest Fenton.

See GCI’s Associate Director for Economic and Workforce Development, Matt Wilson, discuss the report’s findings on WGN here: https://wgntv.com/video/chicago-youth-unemployment-report/10731467/