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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Latest news
Recent developments in the 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