Our Methods

We are collecting data through a variety of methods to paint a fuller picture of congregational and community life in Chicago.

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The most recent news and features from the Chicago Congregations Project.

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Latest news

Recent developments in the project.

Above: Professor Kraig Beyerlein presents data on rates of congregational survival […]
Research Assistants (RAs) from both Chicago and the University of Notre […]
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What have you learned through your participation in this research project? […]

Research Timeline

The project was first proposed in 2021. Since then, we’ve made steady progress in our data-collection efforts.

Summer 2022

• Virtual canvassing of all 77 Chicago Community Areas (CCAs) completed.
• Over 20 community areas / 200 census tracts physically canvassed by students.

Fall 2022

• Physical canvassing completed of all 50 sampled community areas.

• An additional 10 Chicago-area students hired to help canvass their own neighborhoods.

Fall 2023

• Data collection begins for survey of Chicago religious congregations over a trial period.

Spring 2024

• Survey data collection continues.

Summer 2025

• Shortened survey is sent to congregations that did not complete the longer survey instrument, data collection resumes.

Winter 2025

• Shortened survey completed, producing the first-ever representative survey of congregations in Chicago communities.

Spring 2026

• Data cleaning and analysis.

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the efforts of all the students who worked on this project. Without them, this research would not be possible.

Graduate Research Assistants

Abigail Barth, Rutgers University

Shari Boiskin, University of Chicago

Roger S. Cadena Jr., University of Notre Dame

Jonathan Drake, University of Notre Dame

Lizzie Klink, University of Illinois-Chicago

Fariah Farah, University of Chicago

Isaiah Jeong, University of Illinois-Chicago

Elizabeth Moison, University of Notre Dame

Tryce D. Prince, University of Illinois-Chicago

Jamya Robinson, University of Notre Dame

Manuel Rodriguez, University of Notre Dame

Casey Welby, Loyola University


Other Research Assistants

Lindsey Brownfield

Olafuyi Alli Balogun

Michael Fernandes

Rebekah Monroe

JJ Raymond


Other Contributors

Juan Alvaro Melo, University of Notre Dame

Bridget Curry, University of Notre Dame

Nicholas Dodig, University of Notre Dame

Christina Enciso, University of Notre Dame

Dominic Gamino, University of Notre Dame

Keara Kelly, University of Notre Dame

Cavanaugh MacQuarrie, University of Notre Dame

Michael McClamroch, University of Notre Dame

Karleigh Osborn, University of Notre Dame

Yarely Rubio Gonzalez, University of Notre Dame

Abbie Toth, University of Notre Dame



Special Thanks

The Center for the Study of Religion and Society, University of Notre Dame

The Cushwa Center, University of Notre Dame

Fitzgerald Institute for Real Estate, Church Properties Initiative, University of Notre Dame

Institute for Latino Studies, University of Notre Dame

Institute for the Scholarship in the Liberal Arts, University of Notre Dame

Institute for Social Concerns, University of Notre Dame

Kripke Center, Crieghton University

The Louisville Institute

Mapscorps

The Marty Martin Center, University of Chicago

The Notre Dame Democracy Initiative, University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame Research, Faculty Research Support Program

Office of the Vice President for Research, University of Notre Dame

Population Analytics, University of Notre Dame

Rice University

Rutgers University

Templeton Religion Trust

University of Chicago, Divinity School

Undergraduate Research Assistants

Arely Aguilar, University of Notre Dame

Annabelle Alton, University of Notre Dame

Andres Alvarez, University of Notre Dame

Sam Affaneh, Richard J. Daley College

Brandon Barnes, NYU

Delaney Blandford, University of Notre Dame

Zoë Bonnichsen, University of Notre Dame

Clare Brown, University of Notre Dame

Sydney Brown, University of Notre Dame

Allison Caffrey, University of Notre Dame

Sofia Casillas, University of Notre Dame

Madeline Covington, University of Notre Dame

Caroline Darrow, University of Notre Dame

Kelly Dougherty, University of Notre Dame

Brendan Fahey, University of Notre Dame

Robert Fitzpatrick, University of Notre Dame

Daniella Morales-Garibay, University of Notre Dame

John Gunaldo, University of Notre Dame

Isaiah Hall, University of Notre Dame

Annabelle Hilson, University of Notre Dame

Jack Knott, University of Notre Dame

Monica Latek, University of Notre Dame

Kristen J. Lemus, University of Notre Dame

Nicole Liwanag, University of Notre Dame

Maddie Long, University of Notre Dame

Grace Lynch, University of Notre Dame

Julia Mackey, University of Notre Dame

Helen Mahoney, University of Notre Dame

Kimberly Martinez, University of Notre Dame

Sammie McCarthy, University of Notre Dame

Carter McKenna, University of Notre Dame

Julia McKenna, University of Notre Dame

Colin Morse, University of Notre Dame

Eoin Murphy, University of Notre Dame

Linh Oliver, University of Notre Dame

Pablo Oropeza, University of Notre Dame

Gilbert Velez Ramirez, University of Notre Dame

Jose Rodriguez, University of Notre Dame

Cristina Ruiz, University of Notre Dame

Gabriela Sanchez, University of Notre Dame

Grace Scartz, University of Notre Dame

Katherine Sharp, University of Notre Dame

Kelly Shinnick, University of Notre Dame

Sophia Shroyer, University of Notre Dame

Tess Spesia, University of Notre Dame

Sethi Sumedha, University of Illinois-Chicago

Rebeca Novoa Tarazi, University of Notre Dame

Theresa Tulsiak, University of Notre Dame

Xu-Li Valadez, NYU

Paula Velazquez, University of Notre Dame

Madeleine Viz, University of Notre Dame

Kyra Whitlark, University of Notre Dame

Livie Zimbler, Xavier University

Emma Zurek, University of Notre Dame


Sponsors / Support

We are grateful for the support of our funders, without whom this project would not have been possible:

Crieghton University, Kripke Center

Louisville Institute

Rice University

Rutgers University

Templeton Religion Trust

University of Chicago, Divinity School

Cushwa Center

Democracy Intiative

Fitzgerald Institute for Real Estate, Church Properties Initiative

Institute for the Scholarship in the Liberal Arts

Notre Dame Research, Faculty Research Support Program

Office of the Vice President for Research

Population Analytics