2nd Chicago Latino Arts & Culture Summit Connects Latino Arts Leaders With Top Foundations

The annual event brought together leaders from the city’s top foundations with their counterparts at more than 20 Chicago Latino nonprofit arts organizations.

The group, more than 50 strong, spent a full day participating in group dialogue, Q&As, breakout sessions, mentoring, and one-on-one introductions. The topic: developing new strategies and solutions to address the funding gap in Latino arts.

Carlos Tortolero, President and CEO, National Museum of Mexican Art, shared statistics provided by Dr. Teresa Córdova, Director of the Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois-Chicago.

Read the Full Article Here.

 

UIC Study Finds Youth Unemployment Spiked During Pandemic

Matthew Wilson, the associate director for economic and workforce development at UIC’s Great Cities Institute, discusses a new UIC study that reveals how crime goes up when youth unemployment spikes on WTTW News.

“There’s been a lot of evaluations of summer youth employment programs and very robust research designs that have tried to get towards causation,” said Matthew Wilson, associate director for economic and workforce development at UIC’s Great Cities Institute. “And they’ve found that when program participants are working and they’re a part of programs that provide their mentors and counseling, that crime actually drops 50%. If they’re not engaged in those types of programs, there actually is no more effect of that program. … So there’s, I think, a very strong correlation. But I think even we can say from these types of research designs that there actually is a cause of having a job and being enrolled in these types of programs and them reducing crime.”

Read the Full Article on WTTW News.

 

Report Release: Illinois Racial Justice & Equity Landscape Study

Executive Summary:

This groundbreaking study, commissioned by Grand Victoria Foundation (GVF) and the Great Cities Institute (GCI), seeks to shed light on the challenges faced by Black communities across Illinois, with a specific focus on 81 “Black population centers” throughout the state where 30% or more of the residents identify as Black, outside of Chicago and Cook County.

The study represents a crucial step in GVF’s strategic shift towards racial equity and justice grantmaking, recognizing that significant concentrations of Black populations in Illinois outside of Chicago and Cook County often receive little attention, despite their unique predicaments. With a mission-driven approach, GVF and GCI aim to use this research to understand the lived experiences, aspirations, and challenges of these communities, and to identify ways to support their efforts towards equity and justice.

The “Illinois Racial Justice & Equity Landscape Study” is a comprehensive research endeavor that encompasses both quantitative and qualitative data. Through extensive data collection and analysis, including demographic information, socioeconomic indicators, and community input, the study paints a nuanced picture of the current state of Black populations in these areas. The study also identifies over 1500 organizations that are actively working to improve outcomes within these communities, showcasing the resilience and determination of local stakeholders.

The findings of the study provide invaluable insights into the racial justice and equity landscape in Illinois, highlighting the unique issues faced by Black populations outside of major metropolitan areas. The study aims to go beyond mere data and statistics, by elevating the voices and stories of community members, and by recognizing their aspirations for a more equitable and just future.

Based on the research findings, GVF and GCI provide recommendations on how philanthropic, civic, and corporate entities can support these communities in achieving their desired outcomes. These recommendations are rooted in a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities present in these communities, and aim to foster meaningful and sustainable change through grantmaking, strategic support, and collaborative efforts.

Watch the Event Recording Here.

Read the Full Report Here.

 

Report Release: Who Lives in Pilsen: The Trajectory of Gentrification from 2000-2020

 

Executive Summary:

This study identifies demographic and socio-economic changes in the Lower West Side and its
subareas. In 1990, according to U.S. Census data, the Lower West Side, the Chicago community area
in which Pilsen is located, was 88% Hispanic or Latino. By 2020, the percentage decreased to 71%.
While still a majority Latino neighborhood today, this report confirms that in the last two decades,
gentrification solidified in the Eastern Edge of Pilsen, intensified in Central Pilsen, and has spread
throughout the Lower West Side. The demographic trends from 2000 to 2020 make it clear that the
Lower West Side’s population has declined, with the foreign-born population, Hispanic or Latino
family households, and the 18 years and under population being a significant source of this
population loss. The findings also show that the Lower West Side is becoming more educated with
an increasing median household income comparable to that of the City of Chicago. While Hispanic
or Latino household income and educational attainment increased in the Lower West Side, it is still
lower when compared to other race and ethnic groups. The Lower West Side also had a substantial
increase in the share of the employed population working professional jobs. From 2005-2009 to
2016-2020, the Management, Business, Science, and Arts occupational category increased by
151.4%, over 5 times the rate for the City of Chicago. Gross rents, meanwhile, increased from 2005-
2009 to 2016-2020 splitting the Lower West Side between households paying more than $1,000 in
rent and those paying below $1,000 in rent.

If these trends continue, Pilsen is in danger of losing its remaining working-class families,
particularly, if nothing is done to maintain the affordability of the neighborhood. For this reason,
development projects such as the current 18th and Peoria site can play a crucial role – and provide
an example – in helping to alleviate rental housing cost burden to risk further population loss of
working-class Mexican families in the Pilsen neighborhood.

This report was initiated by UIC’s Professor John J. Betancur, whose interest in Pilsen and
gentrification more generally, goes back several decades. GCI compiled the data in this report in
response to a request by Professor Betancur to document, who currently lives in Pilsen.

Authors:

John J Betancur,
Professor of Urban Planning and Policy, University of Illinois Chicago.

Alexander Linares,
Economic Development Planner, the Great Cities Institute.

Read the Full Report Here.

 

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, and Kathryn Bocanegra, Faculty Fellow at GCI, is serving as Co-Chair of the Public Safety Subcommittee.

Many of our partners and friends throughout the city and state are also serving on various committees, demonstrating the selection of a wide range of individuals and organizations. We predict that that values of accountability and equity will be represented in the actionable recommendations that will be included in the transition plan that will be completed by mid-June.

Other UIC faculty on various committees include Barbara Ransby (Co-Chair, Transition Committee); Renee Hatcher (Economic Vitality and Equity); Elizabeth Todd-Breland (Education); April Jackson (Housing); Liat Ben-Moshe (Human Rights, Equity, and Inclusion).

There are many challenges facing Chicago and other larger metropolitan areas. We look forward to making contributions to the efforts to find solutions and avenues for creating a city that works for everyone.

Unemployment rates for Chicago’s young Black women doubled during pandemic, new study finds

Chalkbeat Chicago reporter Mila Koumpilova wrote on the GCI report titled Data Brief: Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Youth and Young Adult Employment in Chicago, Illinois, and the U.S. The article noted:

Matthew Wilson, an associate director at the Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois and one of the report’s authors, said the increase in the jobless rate for Black women aged 20 to 24 — from 32% in 2019 to almost 60% in 2021 — was the study’s most staggering finding.

Report the Full Report at Chalkbeat Chicago Here.

 

Data Brief: Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Youth and Young Adult Employment in Chicago, Illinois, and the U.S.

Executive Summary:

As previously documented, youth joblessness and disconnection from school and work are ongoing systemic issues in Chicago, with higher rates of violence in areas of concentrated youth joblessness (Córdova and Wilson, 2017a). In this data brief, we seek to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted those rates and what has been the pace, if any, of recovery.

The brief quantifies the pandemic’s impact on jobless, and jobless and out of school rates for young people, breaking down the data by race/ethnicity, and sex for Chicago, Illinois and the U.S. We examine data for 16- to 19- and 20- to 24-year-olds, breaking down the data by race/ethnicity and sex for Chicago, Illinois, and the U.S.

Authors:

Matthew D. Wilson, Ph.D.,
Associate Director for Economic and Workforce Development, Great Cities Institute.

Brandon Patterson, 
James J. Stukel Student Fellow, Great Cities Institute.

Read the Full Report Here.

 

Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson’s plans to double the number of jobs for Chicago’s teens faces many hurdles

WBEZ Chicago discusses the need for job availability among teens and references an upcoming study from the Great Cities Institute.

“The need is high. The jobless rate for 16- to 19-year-olds in Chicago outpaced the national rate in 2021 by nearly 15%, and is higher for Black teens in that age group, according to a forthcoming study from the University of Illinois at Chicago’s (UIC) Great Cities Institute viewed by WBEZ.”

See the Full Article Here.

 

Illinois Immigrant Impact Task Force Report

Executive Summary:

The Immigrant Impact Task Force (IITF) is a statewide effort to review, assess, and recommend a vision for the future of immigrant, refugee, and LEP communities in Illinois, created via SB 2665 the Immigrant Impact Task Force Act. The Immigrant Impact Task Force consists of 27 members representing a wide and diverse group of agencies, organizations, and residents from across the state. The Task Force members will share their perspectives, knowledge, and expertise to link to and leverage existing efforts already underway for immigrants in Illinois. The Task Force will engage and raise the voices of all Illinoisans to understand the realities, needs, and hopes within immigrant, refugee, and LEP communities both now and in the future.

The IITF, along with the support from Governor JB Pritzker, released a report examining various issues affecting immigrant, refugee, and limited English proficiency communities, sharing recommendations the state can take to improve services to immigrant communities. The Task Force identified thirteen issues in the legislation ranging from citizenship assistance, business development, education access, discrimination prevention, immigration detention, COVID-19 relief, language access programs, and more.

The Great Cities Institute of the University of Illinois Chicago conducted research for this report and developed report drafts in consultation with Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS). Rob Paral is principal author of the report. Other Great Cities staff involved with the report include Teresa Córdova, Professor and Great Cities Institute Director.

Press Release:

Pritzker Administration Announces Illinois’ Immigrant Task Force Report – Illinois.Gov

Read the Full Report Here.

 

Equicity: On the Origins, Development and Future Prospects of the Urban Commonwealth

Event Description

Please join Great Cities Institute for a lecture with Simon Park on Tuesday April 11, 2023 from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM.

In this lecture, Parker explores the struggle for housing and basic income in the Global South, and argues that the re-discovery and re-assertion of the urban commonwealth as a space and vehicle for social justice is the best guarantee our highly urbanized world has to meet the multiple challenges of the climate catastrophe, structural inequality, racism, misogyny and forced migration and displacement in order to generate more equitable, tolerant and sustainable societies.

Simon Parker is a Professor in the Department of Politics at the University of York and a Visiting Scholar in the Department of City and Regional Planning and Institute for European Studies at Cornell University.

For disability accommodations please contact Christiana Kinder at (312) 996-8700 christia@uic.edu.

Download Event Flyer here.

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