Mission

The Gidwitz Center for Urban Policy and Community Development seeks to develop and advocate for public policy responsive to the needs and aspirations of citizens in the City of Chicago. The Center, through its associates and partners, will promote policies that:

· Support the development of sustainable communities and

· Contribute to the quality of community life through equity, justice, and the capacity of people to shape and influence decisions that affect their day-to-day lives.

Values

· Social justice

· Community partnership

· Community self-reliance and interdependence

· Cultural diversity

Vision

· Fulfill the College of Arts and Sciences and National-Louis University’s mission and vision

· Improvement of the lives of people in the urban population through self-determination and information provided through the Center’s research.

· Enhance community partners in furthering their missions and visions as a result of collaboration with our expertise in research and practice

· Support and advance student research in the area of urban policy and community development

· Engage interested NLU faculty in pursuit of urban policy and community development research and projects

· Creation of urban policy forums that discuss topics of importance and interest that highlight the Center’s work and the faculty and community members who perform it.

· Dissemination of research results that allows for a broader audience for this type of research and community involvement

Areas of Interest

· Health care

· Economic development

· Education

· Crime prevention

· Community wellness

· Urban planning

· Workforce development (including literacy)

· Applied gerontology

· Sustainable environment

· English language and literacy development