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121 results found.
Confianza, Savings, and Retirement: A Study of Mexican Immigrants (1.2MB)
December, 2012
This report examines the social, cultural, and economic factors influencing Mexican immigrants? savings and preparedness for retirement. The product of a unique partnership between an anthropologist and an economist, the report combines ethnographic research conducted in the Chicago metropolitan area in 2009 and 2010 with statistical analyses of large national, local, and comparative data sets. The report examines cultural values and social practices that influence Mexican immigrants? financial perspectives and behavior in both the formal and informal banking system. The report concludes with recommendations for financial and public policy makers to help enfranchise immigrants into the financial market and insure their retirement security.
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Economics, Families
The Economic Impact of the Landscape and Lawn Care Services Industry on U.S. Latinos (1.8MB)
November, 2011
This report presents findings of a study commissioned by the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) and conducted by the Inter-University Program for Latino Research (IUPLR) to examine the economic impact of the Landscape and Lawn Care Services Industry on US Latinos. It includes analysis of income, employment and business ownership data and is intended to provide insight into the industry's impact upon (and value to) the U.S. Latino community.
Keywords: Economics
The State of Latino Chicago 2010: The New Equation (7.5MB)
November, 2011
This second report in the Institute's State of Latino Chicago series follows up 2005's This is Home Now by analyzing the economic contribution of Chicago-area Latinos in 2010. Using the most recent US Census data available, the report finds that Chicago-area Latinos earned $26.2 billion, which translates to $12.3 billion in spending power, yielding a total impact of $23 billion after accounting for the indirect impact of Latino consumption spending on goods and services. The report also finds that Latinos contribute almost $1.2 billion more in tax revenues than they cost in the delivery of public services like education, health care, and other services like public safety.
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Economics, Demographics
Strength in Unity: Mapping Community Needs and Priorities in Proviso Township (7.5MB)
December, 2010
A report of the Community Alliance organized around the municipalities of Melrose Park, Bellwood, Stone Park, Maywood, and Northlake to foster collaboration and understanding and set goals for connecting community assets with community needs. A cooperative effort among community agencies, local community leadership, and service providers in Proviso Township, the Community Alliance provides a model for local community development in Chicago suburbs with growing Latino populations. This report includes a demographic overview, a summary of the Community Alliance's strategies for community development, and a directory of Latino-serving organizations in Proviso Township.
Keywords: Activism, Chicago Area/Illinois, Community, Demographics, Families, Health, Housing, Immigration, Midwest, Social Services
Latinos in Chicago: Reflections of an American Landscape (6.6MB)
June, 2010
Latinos in Chicago: Reflections of an American Landscape focuses on Latinos in metropolitan Chicago with the goal of locating them within Chicago?s economic, political, and educational context and understanding the critical role that they can play in enhancing the present and future well-being of the metropolitan area. Latinos are on the frontline of a demographic revolution that in all likelihood will transform the social and economic landscape of Chicago and the nation. The white papers in this volume survey the existing state of knowledge, theoretical and factual, about metropolitan Chicago Latinos in four areas: education, work and the economy, civic participation, and urban change. The white papers are designed to be a starting point for decision-makers, stakeholders, CBOs, and other parties interested in digesting the information, understanding its implications, and using it to frame effective policies that incorporate the present reality and future prospects of Latinos within the American landscape.
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Demographics, Midwest, Economics
The Chicago Latino Congregations Study (CLCS): Methodological Considerations (617KB)
May, 2010
This report describes the methodology behind the Chicago Latino Congregations Study (CLCS). The CLCS is a multi-level study of Latino congregations in the Chicago area. Data collection was completed in 2007, and included quantitative surveys of clergy, lay leaders, and adult and youth congregants, as well as focus groups and qualitative interviews. The CLCS was designed to provide an in-depth look at various aspects of Latino congregations, their leaders and members, and their connections to other community organizations.
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Religion - Ecumenical
Student Research Brief 3.7: Fictive Kinship and Acquaintance Networks as Sources of Support and Social Capital for Mexican Transmigrants in South Bend (2.6MB)
May, 2010
Grounded in extensive literature review and primary ethnographic research in the Mexican immigrant community, this research explores the role of social networks as essential sources of support and generators of social capital for Latino immigrants as they adjust to life in the United States. Whereas in U.S. "American" culture, kinship is defined as biogenetic, Latino culture is characteristically more flexible with its inter- pretation. "Family" includes extended relatives and even close friends who are incorporated into the tightly-knit kin network via fictive kinship relationships.
Student Research Brief 3.6: Oppositional Youth Sub-Culture and the Second Generation of Mexican Transmigrants (1.5MB)
May, 2010
Overall, demographic studies supported by the Pew His- panic Trust, a member organization of the Pew Charitable Trusts, pre- dict that by the middle of the 21st century Latino immigrants and their children and grandchildren will account for more than one-third of working-aged adults in the United States. Latinos or Hispanics (of which Mexicans constitute nearly 65%) are the "majority minority" in the United States, currently accounting for 15.8% of the total population (Pew Hispanic Center). Research pertaining to this more and more numerous demographic group can be used to shape effective public policy and community organization, resulting in a more peaceful, prosperous incorporation of Latino transmigrants. Oppositional youth sub-culture is perhaps the antithesis of peace and prosperity; increased comprehension through research may be groundwork needed to affect change.
Healing Hands: The Health of Latino/a Churchgoers and Health Outreach among Latino Congregations in Chicago (2.9MB)
April, 2010
The health status of US Latinos/as1 has been described as a ?paradox.? Though Latinos/as as a group have a lower socioeconomic status than non-Hispanic whites and African
Americans, they do not suffer from comparatively higher mortality rates in infancy (Hummer et al. 2007), adulthood (Palloni and Arias 2004), or among the elderly (Hummer, Benjamins, and Rogers 2004). In fact, the opposite is true?a reality Markides and Coreil dubbed the ?Hispanic epidemiologic paradox? (Markides and Coreil 1986).
Keywords: Health, Chicago Area/Illinois, Religion - Catholic, Religion - Ecumenical
Student Research Brief 3.5: Political Participation and Civic Engagement Among Latinos in South Bend (1.3MB)
November, 2009
This study of how Mexican immigrants in South Bend participate politically, either in the United States or Mexico or both, seeks to fill a gap in the current knowledge base while providing a different viewpoint on their assimilation and transnational behavior. Adding a political dimension to current research is a step to- wards a more holistic picture of the Mexican community in South Bend. Actions in the political sphere provide an additional framework to describe and measure both assimilation into American life and transnational identification with home communities. Whether or not immigrants seek U.S. or dual citizenship, what they expect from politicians, how they participate in Mexican poli- tics and what they know about American politics are all indicators of both how they are assimilating and how they retain ties with Mexico.
Student Research Brief 3.4: Language and Identity of Latinos in South Bend (1.2MB)
November, 2009
It is particularly important to examine the phenomenon of language behavior and bilingualism in South Bend, because Latinos represent the biggest, fastest-growing minority in the area. As bilingualism is one of the primary modes of expression among Latinos, it is a phenomenon whose prevalence will continue to increase. Thus, the more we know about it, the better equipped we will be to address the changes that accompany its spread. We can fear it as a sign of doom, or be grateful for the vitality it brings to the South Bend community and work towards a greater understanding of it. Then, we can use our knowledge to establish greater communication among members of the community as a whole.
Student Research Brief 3.3: Women, Men, and the Changing Role of Gender in Immigration (2.6MB)
November, 2009
Over the past few decades, Latino immigrants, primarily of Mexican descent, have been immigrating to the United States at increasing rates in search of economic opportunities that are not readily available in Mexico and Central America. The west side of South Bend has witnessed this rapid influx of Mexican immigrants, causing a shift in the demographic composition of the community. Over a period of ten years, South Bend's Latino population increased from 3% of the total population in 1990 to 8% of the total population in 2000.
Given the rapid growth of the Mexican population in South Bend, it is essential that a more comprehensive understanding of this group be developed. Gender is a useful lens for examination of the Latino population in South Bend.
Student Research Brief 3.2: The Mexican Transnational Family Experience in South Bend (2.3MB)
November, 2009
Family is the most fundamental building block of society. The institutions of marriage and family link people and groups in a common social system, and anthropological and sociological studies exploring seemingly all facets of the immigrant and transnational life have shed light on these most basic social institutions. These schol- ars have drawn attention to the need to explain exactly what "family" means in our dynamic society, which includes immigrants of Mexican origin who constitute the largest ethnic population in the U.S.: "The Latino family has a powerful influence on its members, and familial ties and loyalties probably exert an influence that is even more powerful than is typically observed in many non-Latino families"
Student Research Brief 3.1: The Effects of Immigration on the Family (1.5MB)
November, 2009
This research began as an at- tempt to understand the immigration process, specific to Mexican-Americans, from a legal and legalistic perspective. The U.S. government has established lengthy requirements for the legalization process to mirror a general "pro-immigrant" sentiment. However, the fear of the "other" prevalent in American society prevents our country from welcoming Mexican immigrants.
The Housing Crisis and Latino Home Ownership in Chicago: Mortgage Applications, Foreclosures, and Property Values (3.7MB)
October, 2009
The present economic downturn is rooted in a housing crisis that has spilled over to other areas of the economy. The combination of socioeconomic vulnerability with riskier credits contribute to the fact that Latinos entered this crisis in a severely disadvantaged position. This report provides an overview of the effect of the present crisis on housing-related issues for Latinos and Latino neighborhoods in Chicago and a comparison with the effects on whites and African Americans. The report concentrates on three interrelated dimensions: mortgage credit availability, foreclosure levels, and property values.
Keywords: Housing
Student Research Brief 2.6: Latino Employment and Entrepreneurship in South Bend (3.1MB)
May, 2009
The first influx of Mexicans to the South Bend area occurred in the 1940?s: "As early as 1946 some migrants from the southwest came to work on the farms of South Bend's west side". Because many of the original Hispanic settlers to the area were Mexican Americans from the Southwest, the Bracero program is thought to be largely responsible for opening the doors to the new wave of immigrants to the South Bend area. After this initial colonization, Mexican immigration to our community increased exponentially from 1965-1971, forming two large Mexican American enclaves on South Bend?s west side.
Latino Poetry Review
May, 2009
Established in 2008, Latino Poetry Review (LPR) publishes book reviews, essays, and interviews with an eye towards spurring inquiry and dialogue.
Keywords: Literature
Latino Immigrant Civic Engagement in the Chicago Region (446KB)
January, 2009
At the very core of our society is the active participation of its members. However, not all members of our society, particularly immigrants, have access to
our more official form of participation, namely voting. It is important that all have access to various forms of participation so that their voices can be heard and needs be met. This paper examines the civic participation of Latino immigrants in the metropolitan Chicago region, as well as the role of community-based organizations as facilitators for many Latino immigrants? civic engagement.
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Immigration
Representing and Connecting: Immigrant-Serving Organizations in Metro Chicago (296KB)
January, 2009
Have non-profit agencies kept up with metro Chicago?s population shifts? What do these demographic changes mean for non-profits in terms of meeting the needs of immigrant and disadvantaged groups? In this paper we examine several indicators, such as racial/ethnic distribution, poverty, and nativity, for both the geography and the organizations themselves as a step towards finding answers to these important questions.
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Immigration, Social Services
Horizons 2009 (2.4MB)
December, 2009
Latinos in Indiana (1.0MB)
December, 2008
The Latino population of Indiana is growing at a faster pace than other racial and ethnic groups, but Latinos tend to be concentrated in urban areas and in a few counties. Although the number of Latinos in a rural area might be small, they could represent the largest minority group in an area. This section explores the demographic distribution of Latinos in Indiana, place of origin, age structure, and fertility.
Keywords: Demographics, Indiana, Midwest, Education, Economics, Health
Student Research Brief 2.5: Financial Literacy Among South Bend Latinos (296KB)
December, 2008
This research is intended to offer a community-based perspective on an important and relatively unaddressed issue: financial literacy in the United States, especially among immigrant communities. We studied the Mexican community in the city of South Bend, Indiana, in order to explore four major points of study. While somewhat limited by both depth and breadth in the exploration of these issues, we nonetheless hope that our findings can offer insight and suggest future courses of actions to those involved with the Mexican community in South Bend, as well as other immigrant communities.
Student Research Brief 2.4: Healthcare Access for Latinos in South Bend (610KB)
December, 2008
Navigating the American healthcare system is a challenge for the average wealthy, insured, American-born, English-speaking, white citizen. With the variety of coverage plans, regulations and high prices on medicine, medical philosophies of physicians, and drug warnings and advertisements, it is quite a challenge to obtain quality health care and live a healthy lifestyle without feeling overwhelmed by inconsistent information, high prices and red tape. Considering all of these challenges, it is nearly impossible for poor, uninsured, foreign-born, non-English-speaking, minority non-citizens to obtain healthcare that suits their needs, if they access healthcare at all. Regardless of insurance and citizenship status, immigrants receive about half of the healthcare that native-born Americans do (Moharity 2005). With its ever-growing Latino population, the city of South Bend has cultivated several programs and initiatives to meet healthcare needs of Latinos. As everywhere in the U.S., there are still gaps in clinical interpretation, Spanish- language advertising, and health disparities, but for such a small city, South Bend offers a great deal of health services specific to the Latino community.
Keywords: Health
Student Research Brief 2.3: Mexican Gangs in South Bend (504KB)
December, 2008
Gangs are not unique to this era, to the Hispanic community, or to South Bend. There exists an unmistakable correlation between gang violence and cities, specifically the poorest neighborhoods where immigrant communities tend to be located. In this brief we will discuss how these trends relate to the Mexican population in South Bend. We will also report on the prevalence of gangs in South Bend, exploring themes such as location, ethnic composition, motivation, popular media?s influence, gang violence, and measures being taken to help the youth.
Student Research Brief 2.2: Latino's Housing Dilemma and Their Absence in the Homeless Community of South Bend (472KB)
December, 2008
The question of why migrants from Mexico make up no more than one percent of the homeless population in South Bend goes along with inquiries into the costs and availability of affordable local housing, where Mexican immigrants are living, and whether they take advantage of local establishments' services (for home owners, renters and the homeless). General housing trends must be taken into account, as well as specific locations of primarily Mexican neighborhoods and business districts. Staff members and research reports from the Notre Dame Institute for Latino Studies are helpful in identifying relevant information about these Mexican communities in South Bend. The use of visuals—photographs of where the Mexican population subsists (neighborhoods, community centers, etc)—will 'put a face' on the questions and issues at hand.
Student Research Brief 2.1: Ethnic Transitions between Poles and Mexicans (560KB)
December, 2008
The city of South Bend has a very diverse ethnic background. The history of this small Midwestern city chronicles both opportunity and depression, community building and segregation, development and disarray. This research brief 1) describes the origins of the Polish community and the role it has played in shaping South Bend, 2) describes and demystifies the entrance of the Mexican community on the South Bend cultural stage, and 3) explains the ethnic transition South Bend has recently experienced.
The Latino Landscape: A Metro Chicago Guide and Nonprofit Directory (6.0MB)
December, 2008
In addition to a directory of Latino-serving and Latino-led nonprofit organizations in the metropolitan Chicago area, this publication provides a demographic overview of the Latino population in the region, a brief chronicle highlighting events in Latino history, and profiles of Latino groups by country of origin and by residence patterns over time in five metro Chicago suburban municipalities. For an interactive, searchable version of the directory go to http://latinostudies.nd.edu/cmci/latinolandscape/.
Keywords: Activism, Chicago Area/Illinois, Community, Demographics, Families, Health, History, Housing, Immigration, Labor, Midwest, Social Services
Latino Educational Equity: Introducing a Web-Based Index plus Three Essays on Best Practice in Latino Education in the United States (12MB) Smaller, low-resolution version of document (2.8MB)
October, 2008
The future of the United States and the well-being of all Americans depend on the quality of education that our nation?s children receive. If we are to achieve the American ideal of a society in which there is equal opportunity for all, we must ensure that access to high-quality learning opportunities and resources is universal and equitable. Latinos are the fastest growing segment of the US population but historically have been among the least well-served by schools.In addition to juxtaposing information about achievement and access to learning-relevant resources through the web-based index, we hope that the information in these papers on Best Practices will help to guide efforts to improve learning outcomes, especially for Latino students.
See also the web-based educational equity index at latinostudies.nd.edu/equityindex.
Keywords: Education, Community, Families
What Can Seminaries Do to Prepare Their Students for Ministry in the Latino Community? (340KB)
October, 2008
As custodians of the next generation of pastors and lay religious leaders, seminaries and graduate schools of theology must constantly adapt their programming to keep up with the changing needs of the churches and communities their students will go on to serve. The ongoing growth of the Hispanic population in both Catholic and Protestant congregations has spurred such institutions to evaluate their curricula and general academic cultures to identify how to best prepare ministers for service to and with Latinos/as. This final report in this series investigating the experiences of Latino/a seminarians explores which institutional practices and programs help ensure that these future ministers are prepared to be effective leaders in the church.
Keywords: Education, Religion - Ecumenical
Latino/a Seminarians? Evaluations of Their Institutions? Quality and Commitment (1.1MB)
July, 2008
This fifth report in a series of Latino Research@ND reports on Latinos/as and theological education investigates how Latino/a seminarians assess their schools on a variety of social, cultural, and academic factors and what this reveals about how effectively seminaries and graduate schools of theology are meeting the needs of their Latino/a students. We find that Latino/a seminarians offer positive assessments of the general climate toward diversity at their schools but are more negative about how adeptly their schools have integrated and incorporated Latino perspectives into the curriculum and academic environment. The presence of attentive, available faculty members who are sensitive and receptive to Latino theology, culture, and perspectives makes a substantial difference in Latinos/as? experience of seminary, as does the inclusion of minority perspectives into the curriculum.
Keywords: Education, Religion - Ecumenical
La Tercera Edad: Latinos' Pensions, Retirement and Impact on Families (884KB)
June, 2008
There is a pressing need to bolster Latinos' retirement security, according to this report by the Center for Migration and Border Studies (CMBS) in the University of Notre Dame?s Institute for Latino Studies (ILS). Funded by the National Endowment for Financial Education,"La Tercera Edad: Latinos' Pensions, Retirement and Impact on Families" combines analysis of national data on pensions and financial literacy and focus group studies of Latino workers and retirees in Chicago.
Keywords: Economics, Families, Social Services
Finding the Right Seminary: Influences on Institutional Choice, Expectations, and Satisfaction among Latino/a Seminarians (304KB)
May, 2008
This fourth report in a series of Latino Research@ND reports on Latinos/as and theological education identifies the key factors that influence Latino/a seminarians? choice of educational institution and examines whether these students? institutional expectations are being met. We find that Latino/a seminarians share many of the same concerns as their white and especially African American counterparts for a theologically compatible, quality education without undue financial burden. Though they are generally satisfied with the institutions they choose to attend, there is a pronounced gap between the importance ascribed to finances in choosing one?s seminary and the adequacy of the financial aid one?s institution offers.
Keywords: Religion - Ecumenical, Education
Student Research Brief 1.2: Latino Religions in South Bend (528KB)
March, 2008
Latinos are the largest and fastest growing minority group in the United States today. This phenomenon has not only brought changes in America?s politics, business and education, but among congregations and parishes. Latinos as a whole are a highly religious ethnic group, with over nine-in-ten associating with a particular religion, according to the Pew Hispanic Center. While Latinos continue to be predominantly Catholic in both Latin America and the U.S., in the post-World War II period Protestantism has been gaining popularity. While there are 68% of Latinos identifying as Catholic, these numbers will fluctuate as conversion to Protestantism increases.
Mapping Compassion on the Frontlines: a National Directory of Latino-Serving Faith-Based Organizations (1.2MB)
March, 2008
This directory lists Latino-serving faith-based organizations in 45 cities throughout the Easter, Southeastern, Midwest, and Western regions of the United States. Most entries include details about the religious and ethnic identity of each organization, the social services it provides, and whether it has certain organizational structures in place (e.g., annual budget, a board of directors, 501(c)(3) status).
Keywords: Religion - Ecumenical, Social Services
Compassion on the Frontlines: an Assessment of Latino-Serving Faith-Based Organizations (1.1MB)
March, 2008
Though increased attention to the role of religion in American public life has helped to highlight important connections between religious commitment and the development of social capital within communities, little research has focused specifically on the social impact of Latino-serving faith-based organizations (FBOs). This report presents the findings of a survey of faith-based organizations that serve Latinos/as in four metro areas that together account for nearly a quarter of the Latino population in the United States. It finds that these organizations offer a large range of services primarily concentrated on educational and job training needs, advocacy, children and youth, immigration, family services, and health concerns, and offer nearly half of such programs in collaboration with other organizations. The report also documents the concrete impact that capacity-training projects have on the organizational development and infrastructure of such community-serving organizations.
Keywords: Religion - Ecumenical, Social Services
SB 345/HB 1219: Economic and Demographic Impacts on Indiana (580KB)
March, 2008
The Institute for Latino Studies is pleased to announce the release of SB 345/HB 1219: Economic and Demographic Impacts on Indiana, a policy brief describing the effects of proposed legislation aimed at controlling unauthorized immigration currently being considered by the Indiana Legislature.
The report highlights the possible unintended consequences that this law could have on the short- and long-term economic cycles of production and consumption and on the demographics of Indiana. Many of these unintended consequences are the result of common ? but incorrect ? beliefs about the characteristics, costs, and economic effects of immigration.
Keywords: Indiana, Immigration, Economics, Demographics
Toward the Preservation of a Heritage: Latin American and Latino Art in the Midwestern United States
March, 2008
The first reference book of its kind on twentieth-century Latin American and Latino art history in the Midwest provides a chronological overview, selected bibliography, and exhibition lists of events, artists, and organizations in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Click the link above to browse the bibliography, browse the exhibition list and add or edit entires, and join the discussion.
Keywords: Visual Arts, History, Midwest
Student Research Brief 1.1: Latino Immigrants in South Bend (440KB)
February, 2008
Latino immigrants in South Bend are a growing population that must be better understood as they continue to become a more dominant presence in our midst. In 1990, census data estimated that about 3% of the South Bend population was Latino. In 2000, that percentage had grown to 8%. Over these ten years, the Latino population grew by 157%, while the African-American population increased by only 20% and the Caucasian population decreased by 11%. While the Latino population continues to grow in South Bend, the overall population is actually decreasing. From 2000 to 2006 the population of South Bend has decreased 3.2%. Other data from the American Community Survey in 2006 suggests that the South Bend population has increased to 11% Latino. The Latino population is consistently growing and this trend is not likely to end anytime soon, though it may ebb and flow under various conditions.
Horizons 2008 (8.9MB)
December, 2008
A Focus Group Study On the Effects of Retirement On Latino Families (6.9MB)
December, 2007
This study of focus group information collected from Latino retirees and Latino working adults reveals that neither the retirees nor their extended families have sufficient income to live comfortably now, let alone to prepare for the future. They help one another adapt to these difficult conditions through informal exchanges of food, childcare, transportation, and money. Latino seniors and Latino working adults are anxious about their own and their children?s future retirement security. They want government and business policies to change in order to address this looming crisis.
Keywords: Economics, Families, Social Services
Preparing for the Future: Latinos? Financial Literacy and Retirement Planning (296KB)
December, 2007
Over the past three decades, the burden of responsibility for retirement savings has shifted from employer to employee. Saving for retirement has changed from an insured, employer-provided benefit to an uninsured employee-provided deduction from a paycheck. When retirement planning and investment decision-making is largely relegated to individuals, financial literacy is essential. Financial illiteracy, however, is widespread throughout the population and is of particular concern for Latinos. Closing the gap between what American workers generally and Latino workers, in particular, need to know to prepare for retirement and their current level of preparation is an urgent need.
Keywords: Economics, Social Services
Causes of Latinos' Low Pension Coverage (405KB)
November, 2007
This study advances the current literature on Latinos? pension participation by separating voluntary exclusion from the involuntary exclusion. Logistic regression analysis of the 2001 Survey of Income Program Participants (SIPP) reveals that immigrant status and country of origin explain why Latinos would voluntarily opt out of participating in their employer?s pension plan. Policy reforms that would bolster Latino retirement income security include encouraging plan coverage of part-time and seasonal workers, offering refundable tax credits to low-income workers, requiring automatic enrollment, and enfranchising Latinos into the US financial and Social Security systems.
Keywords: Economics, Social Services
Faith and Values in Action: Religion, Politics, and Social Attitudes Among US Latinos/as (1.4MB)
November, 2007
Religion plays a considerable role in shaping many Americans? civic engagement
and political behavior, including how they vote and what political party they
prefer. Few studies have explored in great depth the extent to which this is so
among Latinos/as. Analyzing the Pew Hispanic Center's 2004 National Survey
of Latinos, this report attempts to shed light on how religious affiliation and
regular church attendance influence Latinos/as? volunteering rates, political
party identification, and positions on social and moral issues.
Keywords: Religion - Ecumenical, Activism, Community, Social Services, Politics
Forging the Tools for Unity: A Report on Metro Chicago?s Mayors Roundtables on Latino Integration (3.4MB)
November, 2007
In spring 2007 the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus partnered with the Center for Metropolitan Chicago Initiatives of the Institute for Latinos Studies at the University of Notre Dame to host four Suburban Latino Roundtables that focused on the issue of the incorporation of the Latino community in the Chicago metropolitan area.
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Community, Public Policy, Social Services
Latino/a Seminarians? Vocational Motivations and Views about the Church?s Role in Society (704KB)
September, 2007
This report examines the vocational motivations and aspirations of Latino/a seminarians and analyzes their views about the role that churches should play in society. We find that Latinos/as pursue theological education out of a desire to serve others and express strong support for religious congregations taking an active role around issues such as poverty, racism, and the environment and they favor collaborating with government agencies, public officials, and people of other faiths to do so. This is the third in a series of Latino Research@ND reports focusing on Latinos/as and theological education.
Keywords: Religion - Ecumenical, Activism, Community, Social Services, Education
What Do Black And White Residents of Metropolitan Chicago Think about Latin American and Mexican Immigrants? Findings from the Chicago-Area Survey (1.0MB)
July, 2007
In a recent research brief we reported that white and black residents of Chicago have generally positive views of immigrants, regardless of their national origin. In this issue we turn our attention to perceptions of Latin American immigrants, the largest immigrant group in Chicago.
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Immigration
An Educational and Ministerial Profile of Latino/a Seminarians (1.2MB)
June, 2007
This is the second of a series of Latino Research@ND reports focusing on Latinos/as and theological education. It analyzes what a quantitative survey of Latino/a theological students reveals about the educational and ministerial backgrounds of Latino/a seminarians. We find that Latinos/as arrive at seminary with considerable community and religious leadership experience. They also come from comparatively less formally educated families than their white non-Hispanic peers?a reality that might complicate their social and academic acclimation to graduate school. We conclude that seminaries need both to recognize the challenges that their Latino/a students face and to welcome the experiences and perspectives that they bring to the seminary community.
Keywords: Religion - Ecumenical, Education
Attitudes toward Immigration: Findings from the Chicago-Area Survey (1.1MB)
June, 2007
Throughout its history Chicago has been a prime destination for new immigrants to the United States. Nearly one in five residents of metropolitan Chicago (18 percent) is an immigrant, compared to only 11 percent nationwide. Just under half (47 percent) of all immigrants in the Chicago area are from Latin America?principally Mexico. This paper examines the attitudes of Latino and non- Latino white and black Chicagoans towards immigration, in general, and the perceived impact on the country of immigrants from Mexico, Cuba, Haiti, and various countries in Asia and Europe.
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Immigration
Answering the Call: How Latino Churches Can Respond to the HIV/AIDS Epidemic (1.44MB) Companion Paper (4.4MB)
June, 2007
The past two decades have seen a dramatic rise in HIV/AIDS infection rates in communities of color across the United States. Churches have been shown to play a deterrent role on behaviors that put one at risk for HIV infection. Other studies have found that churches play an important role in social service provision in urban neighborhoods, and that they are often the only institutions that undocumented immigrants can access for help. Using an intensive study of Latino congregations in Chicago, the report examines what Latino churches are currently doing to respond to the epidemic, and what congregational and leadership characteristics appear to contribute to such efforts.
Keywords: Religion - Ecumenical, Health, Activism, Social Services, Chicago Area/Illinois
Promoting and Maintaining Household Ownership among Latino Immigrants (2.2MB)
June, 2007
In 2005 there were approximately 11.7 million Hispanic households in the United States, of which 53 percent, or 6.2 million, were formed of individuals not born here. For this reason the 2007 study of trends in Hispanic housing, the third in the series, focuses on immigrants, who are particularly underrepresented among homeowners.
Keywords: Housing
A Demographic Profile of Latino/a Seminarians (792KB)
March, 2007
This is the first of a series of Latino Research@ND reports focusing on Latinos/as and theological education. While the rapid growth of the Latino population in the United States has led to a concomitant rise in the Latino presence in both Catholic and Protestant congregations, Latinos/as remain underrepresented among the religious leadership of most Christian denominations. Cultivating a well-trained cadre of Latino/a religious leaders is critical for the vitality of the US Latino community. The experiences of Latino/a seminarians highlighted in this report provide an important window into the future of Latino religious leadership.
Keywords: Religion - Ecumenical, Demographics, Education
Preliminary Explorations of Latinos and Politics: Findings from the Chicago-Area Survey (1.7MB)
March, 2007
The 2004 elections underscored the current and future significance of Latinos in US politics at local, state, and national levels. Although this phenomenon has been the focus of considerable research among scholars of the American political system, how partisan and electoral patterns vary among Latinos by national origin, region, and socioeconomic status remains undefined, and a number of claims regarding the extent of participation and voting and the partisan leanings among Latinos remain under dispute.
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Politics
Variations in Political Involvement and Attitudes among Latinos by Place of Birth and Citizenship: Findings from the Chicago-Area Survey (3.2MB)
March, 2007
This paper elaborates on ?Preliminary Explorations of Latinos and Politics? (Latino Research @ ND, Vol. 4, No. 1, March 2007) by John Garcia and Rodney Hero, based on the Chicago-Area Survey (CAS).1 Here we further examine the findings discussed in that paper by differentiating the behavior and attitudes of US-born Latinos from those of the foreign born and those of citizens from those of noncitizens.
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Politics, Activism
The Night Tito Trinidad KO'ed Ricardo Mayorga
January, 2007
Braille for the Heart
January, 2007
Horizons 2007 (3.9MB)
December, 2007
From Here You Can Almost See the End of the Desert
2007
The Naturalization Trail: Mexican Nationality and US Citizenship (1.0MB)
December, 2006
The average span of time between obtaining legal permanent residence and becoming a citizen is 8 years, but for Mexicans and other North American immigrants it is 11 years. Many Mexicans are undocumented and therefore not eligible to apply. But what about those who are eligible? How do they view the road to citizenship? The purpose of this report is to examine the reasons why Mexican immigrants to the Chicago region choose to seek, or not seek, naturalization as US citizens.
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Immigration, Identity
Latino Civic and Community Involvement: Findings from the Chicago-Area Survey (1.1MB)
December, 2006
Nearly half of Chicago-area Latinos are involved in one or more community organizations. Church membership is by far the most commonly cited type of involvement. The foreign born are twice as likely as the US born to be church members. More than 60 percent of survey respondents believe they could have a positive impact on their community. Only 14 percent of Chicago Latinos reported working with neighbors to improve their community in the past two years, compared with 26 percent of Latinos nationally. Well over half said that they would be likely to cooperate with neighbors under certain circumstances.
Overall, survey respondents reported a slight decline in level of community involvement in recent years, more pronounced among the US born than the foreign born.
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Activism, Community
Latino Congregations and Social Service: The Philadelphia Story (776KB)
October, 2006
Recent attention to the role of religion in American public life has highlighted the important role that religious institutions play in generating social capital and volunteering and in helping people develop skills that are critical for effective citizenship. This report presents the findings of an investigation of the organizational behavior and social involvement of Latino congregations in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and identifies the demographic and social characteristics that shape their social and civic engagement.
Keywords: Religion - Ecumenical, Social Services
Hispanic Access to Health Services: Identifying Best Practices for Eligibility and Access to Medicaid and SCHIP Programs (2.5MB)
October, 2006
Research for this report was funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services via the Office of Minority Health. This is a revised and updated version of an earlier publication that appeared on our website in the Web Publications and Online Resources section.
Keywords: Health, Public Policy, Social Services
Equipped To Serve: Latino/a Seminarians and the Future of Religious Leadership in the Latino/a Community (2.3MB)
October, 2006
This report presents a portrait of the next generation of Latino/a religious leaders and examines how effectively their theological education is preparing them to lead and serve Latino/a communities throughout the United States. Through analysis of quantitative survey data and in- depth focus group interviews, we identify the priorities and values that Latino/a seminarians will bring to their work as congregational and community leaders. We also analyze what institutional and curricular characteristics are most critical for preparing these future leaders to respond to the spiritual and material needs of Latinos/as in the United States.
Keywords: Religion - Ecumenical, Community, Social Services, Education
Emerging Markets and Financial Services in the Latino Community: Problems and Strategies (1.1MB)
June, 2006
Latinos are the fastest growing consumer market in the United States, with a purchasing power of $700 billion that is expected to grow to $1 trillion by 2010. However, they typically use fewer banking services than most Americans. Many financial institutions are seeking to initiate banking relationships with Latino immigrants that eventually lead to full-service customer accounts. US government policies also encourage outreach activities to the Latino market.
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Economics, Social Services
Hispanic Housing in the United States 2006 (5.0MB) Supplemental Table (36KB)
June, 2006
In recent years Hispanics have become a major force in housing markets across the nation. As the fastest growing segment of the US population, Hispanics are forming new households at an unprecedented rate?fueling demand in both the renter- and owner-occupied housing markets. Hispanic immigrant householders and their children, along with the many long-established Hispanic residents of the United States, are creating homes for themselves and their families and have become stakeholders in their communities.
Keywords: Housing
Leadership Matters: The Role of Latino/a Religious Leadership in Social Ministry (2.0MB)
March, 2006
This report?s applied research information about Latino/a congregations and their leaders offers an informed portrait of the needs, aspirations, and challenges facing Latino/a ministers and leaders of faith-based organizations. We look at the role of religious leaders?both clergy and laypersons?who act as catalysts by mobilizing congregations and building grassroots organizations. Also included are specific action steps for pastors and lay leaders who are interested in advancing social ministry in their communities.
The Economic Progress of US- and Foreign-Born Mexicans in Metro Chicago: Indications from the United States Census (780KB)
February, 2006
Metropolitan Chicago is home to a large population of 1.1 million Mexican-origin persons,including more than 504,000 persons born in and almost 563,500 persons born outside of the United States. The socioeconomic progress of these communities is of key interest to policymakers and others interested in the overall social and economic status of the region.
This report examines two key questions involving the Mexican-origin population in the Chicago area: 1) How are Mexican immigrants progressing and 2) how are the US-born Mexican Americans fairing in comparison to the immigrants. The report uses census data to examine the standing of these populations in terms of household income, educational status, poverty levels, and homeownership rate
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Demographics, Immigration, Economics
Anti-Castro Political Ideology among Cuban Americans in the Miami Area: Cohort and Generational Differences (1.0MB) Versión en Español (120KB)
February, 2006
Even though the Florida Cuban American community varies according to generation and the ?wave? of immigration that brought immigrants to the United States, social scientists and the public tend to take the community?s monolithic political profile for granted and assume that it remains unchanged over time. Yet careful analysis of recent data reveals that while most Cuban Americans in South Florida are anti-Castro, the level of their fervor varies greatly among generational and wave cohorts.
Keywords: Religion - Ecumenical
Malinche's Daughter
January, 2006
Pepper Spray
January, 2006
Horizons 2006 (5.6MB)
December, 2006
The State of Latino Chicago: This Is Home Now (5.7MB)
November, 2005
Metropolitan Chicago is undergoing a profound transformation from a region dominated politically and demographically by European Americans to one in which no single racial or ethnic group will be the majority. Long a preeminent center of manufacturing and trade, Chicago is known as a city that works. In The State of Latino Chicago, we examine the status of the region's fastest growing and, arguably, hardest working population.
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Demographics, Immigration, Families, Education, Health, Economics, Public Policy
Measuring the Minority Education Gap in Metropolitan Chicago
July, 2005
The examination of the Illinois educational data system, with a special focus on the gaps that exist in ten suburban Cook County districts, provides a useful case study of the role that state education data systems can play not only in highlighting disparities in educational achievement but also in informing policies that can help achieve the twin goals of educational excellence and equity.
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Education
No Place Like Home: The State of Hispanic Housing in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City, 2003 (431KB)
June, 2005
More detailed, companion paper that provides supplementary information for the published monograph A Roof Over Our Heads.
Keywords: Housing, Chicago Area/Illinois
A Roof Over Our Heads
June, 2005
In recent years Hispanics have become a potent force in the US housing market and they will become even more so in the coming years. As a result of rapid population growth and the youthfulness of the Hispanic population, 30 percent of the growth in US households between 1990 and 2003 is attributable to Hispanics. During the same period Hispanics accounted for one-fifth of the country?s growth in owner-occupied households and fully three-quarters of the growth in rented homes.
Keywords: Housing
Hispanic Clergy and the Task of Ministry in Urban America (1.2MB)
May, 2005
This report seeks to examine the complex role that Latino/a ministers play and the myriad ways they mobilize resources on behalf of their communities. By exploring the experiences, insights, and struggles of Latino/a ministers, we hope to help deepen the understanding of how US Hispanics are faring and to illuminate some of the resources and support that are needed to help strengthen these leaders? efforts to meet the spiritual and social needs of their communities.
Keywords: Religion - Ecumenical, Community, Social Services
Identifying and Preserving the History of Latino Visual Arts: Survey of Archival Initiatives and recommendations
April, 2005
This report includes a nationwide survey of recent Latino arts archival initiatives designed to prevent the loss of important primary sources. It suggests resources for the development of archival practices and how these initiatives could be better coordinated at a national level to preserve a comprehensive historical record of the Latino visual arts. The report is written in response to the 2003 Latino Policy and Issues Brief, also produced by the CSRC, recommending further research on Latino cultural legacy preservation efforts.
Keywords: Visual Arts
Latino-Origin Populations Revisited: Estimating the Latino-Origin Group Populations at the National Level and for Selected States, Counties, Cities, and Metro Chicago (1.1MB)
April, 2005
Since the release of Latino subgroup population data by the Census Bureau in 2001, many Latino advocacy and community organizations, planners, and scholars have suspected that the official census enumeration represents a severe underestimate of Latino-origin group populations in all parts of the country.
Keywords: Demographics, Identity
Mexican Women in Chicago: A Report to the Secretaría De Desarrollo Social De México (1.5MB)
March, 2005
Mexican migration to Chicago has increased dramatically over the past decades. Women typically represent less than half the migrants. Migrants?both men and women?tend to be young, on average 20 years old at the time of migration. Four Mexican states provide almost half the migrants, and most of these arriving directly to the metropolitan Chicago area. As in the rest of the United States, the rates of naturalization lag far behind those of other immigrant populations.
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Gender/Sexuality
SOPEMI Report for Mexico (3.8MB) No Place Like Home statistical source material: excel workbook (196KB)
January, 2005
Mexico has become a country both of immigration and emigration. This report represents an account of both movements based on statistics produced and/ or compiled primarily in Spanish by INM staff for the year 2002-2003. English translations were made by Jorge A. Bustamante; texts in English were written by INM staff.
Keywords: The Border, Transnationalism, Immigration
Guía de Servicios para la Comunidad (288KB)
January, 2005
Students from Anthropology 462, a research and service community based learning course taught here at Notre Dame, compiled a resource booklet that lists social services available to Mexican immigrants in the Michiana area.
Keywords: Indiana, Community, Social Services
Cicero Youth Task Force (1.1MB)
January, 2005
The Cicero Youth Task Force is a volunteer coalition of over 40 individuals and organizations who are dedicated to the well-being of youth and families in Cicero, IL. It's mission is to enhance the quality of life for Cicero children and families by working together to prevent youth risk factors.
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Community, Families, Social Services
Latino Demographic Growth in Metropolitan Chicago (1.9MB) Versión en Español (460KB)
January, 2005
With 1.4 million members,the Latino community is a large and growing part of the Metropolitan Chicago region. Latinos, who comprise one in six of the region?s residents, are found throughout the area, from older Chicago neighborhoods to new suburban developments.The population includes nearly as many foreign-born residents as native-born. While the Latino presence has become an especially prominent part of the social fabric of the region in recent years, Latinos have lived in Chicago since the early decades of the twentieth century. During the 1990s two-thirds of all new residents in the region were Latino.
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Demographics, Immigration
MALDEF and the Evolution of Latino Civil Rights (3.7MB)
January, 2005
Civil rights activism within the Latino community ranges from locally based, grassroots organizing to national organizations that rely on highly trained legal professionals and make appeals up to the US Supreme Court. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) is an organization that fits more handily into the latter category. Its stated mission is to protect and promote the civil rights of the 40 million Latinos living in the United States by fostering ?sound public policies, laws, and programs [and] making sure that there are no obstacles preventing this diverse community from realizing its dreams.?
Keywords: History, Activism
Desarollo del Liderazgo Latino: Un Informe sobre el Otorgamiento de Subvenciones de La Fundación Comunitaria de Chicago (3.0MB)
December, 2005
Este informe presenta un resumen de los hallazgos de un estudio llevado a cabo por el Instituto de Estudios Latinos y la Universidad de Notre Dame concerniente a subvenciones otorgadas por La Fundación Comunitaria de Chicago (CCT) para fomentar el desarrollo del liderazgo latino.
Please note: See Web Publications & Online Resources Material for longer and more detailed versions of this report
Horizons 2005 (2.6MB)
December, 2005
From the Tongues of Brick and Stone
2005
Development of Latino Leadership: A Report onThe Chicago Community Trust's Grant Making (3.1MB)
2005
This report presents a summary of the findings of a study undertaken by the Institute for Latino Studies at the University of Notre Dame concerning grants made by The Chicago Community Trust to foster Latino leadership development.
Please note: See Web Publications & Online Resources Material for longer and more detailed versions of this report.
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Community, Social Services
In Search of Economic Parity:The Mexican Labor Force in Chicago (918KB)
December, 2004
This paper will focus on Mexicans and the Mexican labor force in Chicago. Its intent is fundamentally exploratory. Its specific goal is to lay a foundation and to identify some parameters for gauging the relative economic well-being of Mexicans in the Chicago metropolitan area and to identify areas of strengths and weaknesses on the path to economic parity?given a restructuring and evolving labor force and economy. In this sense it is a working paper in anticipation of a larger work on the Mexican labor force in the Chicago metropolitan area.
Keywords: Labor, Chicago Area/Illinois, Economics, Demographics, Immigration
Latinos' Low Pension Coverage and Disenfranchisement from the US Financial System (456KB)
December, 2004
Improving the living standards of older Americans represents a significant victory for US social policy over the past thirty years. Real incomes of the elderly doubled and poverty rates plunged?from over 30 percent in the early 1960s to under 10 percent in 2000 (Census Bureau 2001a)?mainly due to the expansion of the Social Security and employer pension systems. Despite these accomplishments there are serious concerns about the economic prospects of vulnerable groups, including elderly Latinos whose 2000 poverty rates were among the highest at over 20 percent, according to Census 2000.
Keywords: Economics, Families
Electoral Engagement among Latinos (176KB)
November, 2004
This report highlights differences in voter turnout and registrationrates within the Latino community and in comparison to other groups, with a special emphasis on young voters who constitute a larger proportion of the Latino electorate than in other communities. It also examines recent findings about other measures of electoral engagement as revealed in a recent large national survey.
Keywords: Politics, Activism, Demographics
A Shared Future: The Economic Engagement of Greater Chicago and Its Mexican Community
March, 2004
The Chicago Council on Global Affairs' Task Force on the economic engagement of the Mexican community in greater Chicago was formed in October 2005 to examine critical issues related to the integration of the Mexican community into Chicago?s economic, social, and political life. The Task Force pursued three main objectives: to make concrete recommendations for action targeted to public and private institutions and leaders; to stimulate public and leadership discussion of key challenges and opportunities associated with economic engagement; and to encourage other institutions to pursue economic engagement in their own spheres.
The Task Force collaborated with the Institute for Latino Studies at the University of Notre Dame, the Midwest?s most prominent institution devoted to policy-relevant research on Latinos. For more information on the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, please visit: www.thechicagocouncil.org.
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Economics, Immigration, Public Policy
Strategies for Success: Cicero Education Forum Summary (1.2MB) Versión en Español (1.0MB)
March, 2004
Education is undeniably a path to upward mobility, yet Latino access to this path remains limited. The United States is increasingly dependent upon the success of Latinos, both for its labor supply and for the contribution Latinos make to the social security of retirees. Despite this fact, Latinos are the least formally educated group in the nation today, and many Latino youth lack the basic skills and knowledge required for economic and social mobility in today?s economy.
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Education, Community, Families
Religion Matters: Predicting Schooling Success in Latino Youth (380KB)
March, 2004
Does religion improve educational outcomes for Latino youth? Research on the educational trajectories of Latino immigrants in the United States is growing, but we know little about what role, if any, religion plays in the academic success or failure of Latino youth. Dropout rates among some segments of Latino students are alarming. This paper examines the role of religion especially in impoverished inner-city schools.
Keywords: Religion - Ecumenical, Education
Horizons 2004 (1MB)
December, 2004
Arroyo
2004
Latino Population in Illinois and Metropolitan Chicago: Young and Growing Fast! (222KB)
December, 2003
This edition of Latino Research @ ND highlights major demographic changes taking place in Metropolitan Chicago and Illinois, which have profound implications for the delivery of quality educational, health, and social services to the young people of the region and of the state.
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Education, Public Policy, Demographics
School Segregation by Race and Poverty in Metropolitan Chicago (176KB)
December, 2003
The continued segregation of low-income and minority students from more affluent White students is a serious obstacle to the elimination of race - and class - related gaps in student achievement.
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Education, Public Policy, Demographics
Slow Dissolve
January, 2003
Hispanic Churches in American Public Life: Summary of Findings (692KB) Versión en Español (692KB)
January, 2003
This publication presents a summary of the findings of the Hispanic Churches in American Public Life (HCAPL) research project. The HCAPL project was a three-year study, funded by a grant from The Pew Charitable Trusts, that sought to examine the impact of religion on political and civic engagement in the Latino community.
Keywords: Religion - Ecumenical, Demographics, Politics
Horizons 2003 (3MB)
December, 2003
The Land of Give and Take
January, 2002
Bordering the Mainstream: A Needs Assessment of Latinos in Berwyn and Cicero, Illinois (912KB) Summary Version (488KB)
January, 2002
The Latino populations of Berwyn and Cicero, Illinois?two of Chicago?s oldest suburbs?have increased dramatically in the last decade. What issues matter most to Latinos in the two communities? Our 2002 study, Bordering the Mainstream: A Needs Assessment of Latinos in Berwyn and Cicero, Illinois, provided a timely and valuable snapshot.
The report's release is the first step in a major initiative undertaken by the University of Notre Dame's Institute for Latino Studies to conduct research and promote community capacity-building in Berwyn and Cicero. On April 24, 2002, the Institute held a public briefing to share results of the study with the media and local leaders at the Second Federal Savings and Loan in Cicero.
Among the study's key findings:
- Despite lower education levels and incomes, Latino workers and business owners are making an important contribution to the local economy.
- Church and community organizations, extended families, and nascent citizen participation are among the assets that strengthen the Latino community.
- Both Latino and non-Latino residents of Berwyn and Cicero believe that the most important issues facing the community relate to children, education and youth.
The Institute for Latino Studies produced Bordering the Mainstream with funding from the MacNeal Health Foundation, in partnership with DePaul University's Egan Urban Center and Center for Latino Research and the Interfaith Leadership Project.
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Community, Demographics, Families, Immigration, Public Policy, Social Services
Horizons 2002 (2.9MB)
December, 2002
Fear of Summer
2002
The Listening World
2002
Mark My Words: Five Emerging Poets
December, 2001
Midwest Latino Arts Documentary Heritage Project
The Midwest Latino Arts Documentary Heritage Project is an ongoing, multi-year initiative to locate and preserve primary sources critical to the study of the history of Latino arts and to the understanding of its contribution to American culture and to our communities.
Keywords: Literature, Visual Arts, History, Midwest
ILS Research Exchange Database
An online forum for the exchange of ideas about Latino social, cultural, and religious life.
Keywords: Activism, Anthropology, Visual Arts, Community, Chicago Area/Illinois, Demographics, Economics, Education, Families, Gender/Sexuality, Health, History, Identity, Immigration, Labor, Inter-American Affairs, Politics, Public Policy, Literature, The Border, Religion - Catholic, Religion - Ecumenical, Housing, Social Services, Transnationalism, Indiana, Midwest
Institute for Latino Studies Latino Arts and Culture Oral History Project
Oral history interviews are a major component of the Institute for Latino Studies? effort to document and preserve the history of Latino arts and culture. These primary sources offer scholars and students opportunity for the advancement of knowledge and new understandings of American culture and society. Over sixty interviews have been recorded with Latino/a artists, writers, poets, and leaders from across the nation with a particular emphasis on the Midwestern United States. Audiovisual recordings and transcripts of the interviews are made available to researchers as their processing is completed.
Keywords: Literature, Visual Arts
The Latino Education Equity Index
Latinos are the fastest growing segment of the US population, but historically have been among the least-well-served by schools. Modest progress is being made in improving educational outcomes for students from all backgrounds, including Latinos, but major gaps in achievement remain, as measured by test scores and in high school and college completion rates. These gaps in educational outcomes seriously limit the life prospects and future earnings potential of Latinos. Further, unless progress is greatly accelerated in narrowing the gaps, the enormous potential contribution of Latinos to the nation?s economic and cultural life will not be realized to its full potential.
Keywords: Demographics, Education
Latino Landscape
An Interactive Directory of Latino-Serving Nonprofit Organizations in Metro Chicago.
Keywords: Activism, Chicago Area/Illinois, Community, Education, Families, Gender/Sexuality, Health, Housing, Immigration, Literature, Social Services, Visual Arts
Vive Ligero
At the Vive Ligero web site, you can find useful and timely information and electronic resources aimed at promoting health among Latinos. From news stories and research articles to health tips and recipes, Vive Ligero provides you with the information you need to help you pursue an active, healthy lifestyle.
Próximamente la versión en Español de Vive Ligero.
Keywords: Health
Latino Leadership and Social Change: An Evaluation of Grant Making of the Chicago Community Trust (1.1MB)
This report presents a summary of findings of a study undertaken by the Institute for Latino Studies (ILS) at the University of Notre Dame of grant making for Latino leadership development of The Chicago Community Trust.
Please Note: See Outreach for shorter presentations in English and Spanish.
The Research Challenges Posed by the Latino Experience (1.8MB)
Which statement in the following pairs is true?
Latinos have experienced big job growth.
Latinos have big unemployment problems.
Latinos are deeply concerned that their kids do not always get the best education.
Latinos give their schools very high marks.
Latinos are assimilating to American ways.
Latinos are holding on to distinct expressions of Hispanic identities.
Latinos? beliefs align more with the Democratic Party.
Latinos? hold some beliefs very much in line with the Republican Party.
Latinos are highly concentrated geographically.
Latinos are dispersing geographically.
Keywords: Demographics, Immigration, Identity
Understanding Obstacles and Barriers to Hispanic Baccalaureates (2.5MB)
A report for the RAND Corporation by the Inter-University Program for Latino Research with support from the Hispanic Scholarship Fund.
Keywords: Education
Kids Corner
Highlighting the social condition of Latino children (i.e., persons under 18 years old) by contrasting their status with white non-Latino children or the total population of children.
Keywords: Demographics, The Border, Families, Economics
Virtual Galleries
Institute for Latino Studies art exhibitions, 2002-present
Keywords: Visual Arts
ContraSida-aids.org
A website dedicated to HIV/AIDS prevention in the Latino community. Bilingual English/Spanish.
Keywords: Health, Social Services
Researching Latino Visual Arts
This interactive guide is an ongoing effort to map archival resources and initiatives related to Latino visual arts.
Keywords: Visual Arts
Chicago Fact Finder
Your Census Information Resource for the Chicagoland Area
Keywords: Chicago Area/Illinois, Demographics
Strengthening Hispanic Ministry Across Denominations: A Call To Action (628KB)
Currently numbering 38 million individuals, U.S. Latinos are the nation?s largest and fastest-growing minority group. Both as established residents and new immigrants, Latinos are making major contributions to the country?s economy and society. Hispanic membership is increasing in Christian congregations throughout the United States, posing major opportunities and challenges for the churches that serve them. Overall, the Hispanic community remains disproportionately affected by poverty, low education levels, poor health, and discrimination. Churches that seek to minister to community members in need often do so with limited financial resources and inadequate leadership.