During the Spring 2009 semester, 35 Loyola students enrolled in the course, Seminar in Community-based Research and Leadership (UNIV 291), and worked in groups with six different community organizations on research-based projects. Each of the research projects were organized and defined by the community members in advance of the class. The six different student groups consisted of 5 - 7 students and worked all over the Chicago-land area, from the South Loop to Uptown, and from West Rogers Park to Little Village. The Loyola students facilitated the community-based research projects with the following community organizations:
LIFT (Uptown): Loyola students assessed the resources already available to low-income residents of two Chicago neighborhoods (Pilsen and Hyde Park) into which LIFT is considering expanding their efforts in the future.
(left, back row) Steven Monroy (LIFT), Eddie Barm, Mike Donahue, Josh Jagust, George Papadakis, and Nick Lefere; (front row) Jonnie Powers, David McNelly (LIFT) Rebecca Prendergast (LIFT), Sheida Ahmadzadeh
The students presented their final community-based research projects to the community partners at the end of April and provided the community organizations with valuable data. Each research project consisted of a written report with data collected and organized in spreadsheets or community maps. Some student groups utilized campus resources, such as the Digital Media Lab to produce wall-size asset maps for the organization. Other students connected with David Treering, the GIS Specialist in the Center for Urban Environmental Research and Policy, to produce GIS maps for the community organization. Still another group produced a video of the research project, in order to encourage the community members to continue the research and to mobilize for action.
