Save the Date: Great Cities Institute’s 30 Years of Impact

 

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!

 

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)

 

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

 

Categories:

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.

 

Full Text

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.

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

 

Crain’s Chicago Business: Chicago’s population is growing again

According to newly revised Census Bureau estimates, Chicago added 22,164 residents from mid-2023 to mid-2024, making it the seventh-largest population gain among U.S. cities. This marks a second consecutive year of growth following nearly a decade of decline, reversing a narrative of urban shrinkage and aligning with broader national trends showing growth in most large U.S. cities.

The Census Bureau attributed the change, in part, to updated methods that better account for humanitarian immigration, including arrivals from Venezuela and Ukraine.

Rob Paral, Senior Researcher at the Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois Chicago, emphasized the role of migration in driving this growth:

“There’s no question this international crisis-driven migration would have a positive population effect on Chicago,” he explained. “We’ve had tens of thousands of people arriving here.”

Paral’s remarks align with the broader observation that Chicago’s recent gains are closely tied to migration flows. The article suggests that changes in federal immigration policy could shape the city’s demographic trajectory moving forward.

 

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

 

Chicago sees 7th largest U.S. population gain, suburbs follow

Chicago recorded the seventh-largest population gain among U.S. cities from mid-2023 to mid-2024, adding over 22,000 residents, marking a second consecutive year of growth after previous declines. The increase is largely attributed to migrant arrivals, many via buses from Texas, as well as voluntary relocation.

While city officials celebrated the growth as a sign of Chicago’s resilience, Rob Paral, Senior Researcher at the Great Cities Institute, provided a cautious perspective. He emphasized that large cities like Chicago depend on immigration for population renewal, warning that federal restrictions on immigration could reverse gains and weaken urban economies by reducing workforce and consumer bases.

Paral also contextualized broader regional trends, noting declines in inner and middle suburbs, contrasted with rapid growth in far-flung suburbs like Plainfield, Hampshire, and Elburn—areas drawing residents with affordable housing, good schools, and lower taxes.

 

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

 

Youth Joblessness and Disconnection: Racial/Geographic Inequities, 2019–2023

Executive Summary:

This data brief examines persistent racial and geographic disparities in youth and young adult joblessness and disconnection from school and work across Chicago, suburban Cook County, Illinois, and the U.S. between 2019 and 2023. Using the most recent American Community Survey data, the analysis reveals stark inequities, particularly for Black and Latino youth in Chicago.

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: Evidence from Chicago and other major cities confirms that summer youth employment programs can reduce violence, improve job readiness, and enhance long-term economic outcomes.

These findings underscore the need for sustained, targeted investments in employment and education opportunities, especially for marginalized youth in the hardest-hit communities.

 

Authors:

Matthew D. Wilson, Ph.D.
Associate Director of Economic & Workforce Development, UIC Great Cities Institute.

Jason “Jay” Campos
Research Associate, UIC Great Cities Institute.

 

 

Read and Download the Full Report Here.