Partnering for Impact in Chicago and Beyond
Learn more about Civic Engagement at the University of Chicago
Featured news
The heart of Hyde Park: With UChicago support, black-owned businesses thrive on 53rd Street
For more than 15 years, Eric Williams’s shop, The Silver Room, set trends on Chicago’s North Side with an expertly curated mix of merchandise and an annual block party that drew thousands. But by 2...
Featured news
Nonprofits focused on housing issues find support at the Community Programs Accelerator
UChicago students who sign on to help with projects for the South Side nonprofit Featherfist begin by going on a ride-along with the team that reaches out nightly to people experiencing homelessnes...
Featured news
Through Polsky Center, South Side entrepreneurs find a place to grow
Steve Jobs famously advised budding entrepreneurs to “stay hungry.” For Boyede Sobitan, hunger was more than a metaphor: The Bronzeville resident was tired of having to travel to specialty markets ...
Featured news
UChicago invests in local businesses to help build a stronger community
The people in charge of buying supplies for large institutions can be a tough group to reach, according to Jackie Dyess, owner of Inter-City Supply, a Chatham-based distributor of janitorial and of...
Our areas of focus
Public Safety
Through research, evidence-based programming, and direct service, UChicago is working with community partners on the South Side and beyond to build safer communities, save lives, and heal traumatic emotional wounds inflicted by violence.
K-12 Education
We demonstrate our commitment to urban education by developing and investing in programs and initiatives that serve children from pre-K through high school and by working with teachers and principals to improve our city’s school system.
Community Health
UChicago is committed to promoting health equity and improving access to care on the South Side, so all residents have the opportunity to thrive.
Economic Opportunity and Entrepreneurship
We leverage UChicago’s financial resources and expertise to foster entrepreneurship and create economic opportunities for community residents and local businesses.
Civic Infrastructure
To strengthen Chicago’s civic infrastructure, we offer community-based training for emerging leaders and help to build local organizations’ capacity to grow, thrive, and achieve their missions.
Arts and Culture
As a partner in the South Side’s rich and storied arts community, we work to provide cultural opportunities, resources, and programs that reflect our community, resonate across the city, and are renowned around the world.
Upcoming event
Sep 25th, 2019 | 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
The Power of Prosecutors in the Decarceration Movement
This conversation will examine how the current shift toward progressive prosecution could be leveraged to reduce the use of mass incarceration.
