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Events

Upcoming Events

The DMC Practitioner in Residence Josh Friedman is excited host a Participatory Workshop to shape and influence the course of his research looking comparatively at the right to adequate food and the right to adequate housing for refugees living in Chicago and Vienna, Austria.

Objective: Before we start collecting data, we are organizing a workshop to bring together refugee experts, service providers, and community members in Chicago to assist us in designing the scope and extent of our qualitative research. We know the direction, but we want your thoughts, experiences, and suggestions about how best to take it forward and get the sort of results that will be most useful to promoting refugees’ rights to food and housing.

Workshop Details:

Date: February 27, 2025

Time: 9:30 am ~ 12 noon

Materials and Light Breakfast Provided.

Why Participate? By participating in this workshop, you will contribute your expertise towards designing practical solutions that can improve refugees’ right to adequate food and right to adequate housing, gain insights into research that is important to your work and community, and learn from peers and meet new colleagues. Participatory workshops have proven useful in making sure that research is connected to the real issues.

If you or someone you know would like to participate by meaningfully sharing your knowledge, please contact migration@depaul.edu or jfried36@depaul.edu for more information.

​​Past Events

Participatory Feedback Mechanisms with Chicago Immigration Legal Services: A Discussion of Findings (January 7, 2024)

To start off the new year, DMC Practitioner in Residence Ellen Miller met with Chicago immigration legal service providers to discuss her report and the resources she created to aid organizations in gathering feedback from participants.The first half of the session focused on Ellen’s initial report, examining key data and demonstrating how to utilize the resources provided. She emphasized the importance of gathering feedback, addressing current challenges, and offering creative solutions for overcoming barriers to data collection such as staff capacity, language, etc. This was followed by a discussion where legal service providers expressed their appreciation for translated survey questions and asked further about implementation logistics. Ellen then shared a preview of her initial findings from focus group participants, detailing their experiences accessing legal services and the barriers they face. She then invited attendees to return in February for a presentation of her full findings. The session concluded with an engaging Q&A and a discussion of her focus group results, leaving attendees eager to learn more and anticipating the release of the second report.

Speakers: Speaker: Ellen Miller (Practitioner in Residence)
Click to view the Report and Resources

Solutions Lab Info Session (October 8th, 2024)

The Solutions Lab Information Session on October 8th, 2024, from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM (via Zoom) prepared participants for the Solutions Lab application process.The session covered the application process, funding, partnerships, student involvement, and included a Q&A.


Solutions Lab: Innovation and Immigration 3 Part Series (May 2024)

The DMC Solutions Lab Series, held throughout May 2024, showcased the powerful intersection of academic research and community partnerships aimed at addressing critical social issues. On May 8, Dr. Black and his research assistant, Kyle Jennings, presented their work on migrant finances, highlighting the challenges undocumented migrants face in accessing financial services and exploring innovative technologies to bridge these gaps. Their research, conducted in collaboration with Mano a Mano, emphasized the importance of accessible banking practices for migrants. On May 15, Dr. Arnold and her student team shared their research on country conditions for asylum cases, a partnership with The Resurrection Project, which has resulted in vital reports for legal service providers and empowered students to volunteer in immigrant justice work. Dr. Arnold's team has studied conditions in 14 countries, providing essential resources for those unable to afford expert witnesses. Finally, on May 20, Dr. Cooper discussed her project, "Building a Resilient Volunteer Tutor Program to Serve Refugees," in collaboration with FORA. Her research focused on nonprofit sustainability and volunteer resilience, with students contributing through phases of communication consulting, focus groups, and social media outreach. Together, these presentations highlighted the important role of research and collaboration in supporting marginalized communities.

Cities and Migration: Plan, Policies, and Action (April 11, 2024)

The DePaul Migration Collaborative's Second Annual convening brought experts, nonprofit leaders, students, scholars of migration, policy makers, and legal advisors to discuss contemporary migration issues in our Cities and Migration: Plans, Policies, and Action Symposium. This symposium answered urgent and timely questions related to youth, health, law, housing, data and research, and labor with innovative solutions. This event offered 5 CLE credits to those applicable and CEU credit.

Speakers:  Symposium Speaker Bios 2024.pdf

Final Report: Final Report- 2024 Symposium

Stakeholder Roundtable: Response to Illinois Migration and Report Findings (March 14, 2024)

DMC Practitioner in Residence Rob Paral hosted a discussion following the release of his report, "Building a Plane While It's Flying: Illinois Confronts a New Era of Forced Migration." The report provides a demographic analysis of forced migrants recently arriving in Chicago from regions such as Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Venezuela, alongside recommendations for improving state support. Non-profit leaders and City of Chicago representatives participated, sharing insights, experiences, and organizational actions. The group of over 30 participants brainstormed strategies for inclusive support, emphasizing the need for innovative communication tools and cross-organizational collaboration. They stressed the importance of involving migrants in future discussions and ensuring state and local programming supports all marginalized communities in Chicago.

Speaker: Rob Paral (DMC Practitioner in Residence)

Central America Monitor: Groundbreaking Data on El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras  (February 20, 2024)

This panel discussion featured international researchers to explore the work of the Central American Monitor, a collaborative research initiative focused on tracking human rights, justice, security, and transparency in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy  contextualized the project, Laura Andrade shared insights from extensive social research,Lissette Vásquez addressed impunity and human rights, and Migdonia Ayestas presented data on crime and violence. The bilingual event, attended by over 70 students, staff, and faculty, highlighted regional challenges and migration implications, emphasizing collaborative efforts for justice and security.

Speakers: Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy (DMC Practitioner in Residence), Laura Andrade -(Director, IUDOP, El Salvador), Lissette Vásquez (Director, Myrna Mack Foundation, Guatemala), Migdonia Ayestas (Director, Violence Observatory, Honduras)

“Taking on Asylum Cases” A Series (October 2023- 2024)

The DePaul's Asylum and Immigration Legal Clinic (AILC) and the DMC’s Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy, led a series entitled “Taking on Asylum Cases: Focus on Country Condition Research, Experts, and Asylum Claims.” Each training focused on a single Central American Country: Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. At each, Dr. Kennedy delved into the current socio-political and judicial landscapes of each country, equipping attendees with crucial information for crafting comprehensive country conditions reports for asylum applicants.

Speaker: Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy (Practitioner in Residence)

Forced Migration To Chicago: What You Should Know Panel (January 30, 2024)

The event explored reasons migrants may flee their home countries, migrant experiences at the US-Mexico border, the journey of migrants being bussed to northern cities, and the unique situation of Ukrainian refugees in the Chicago area. Panelists and participants explored areas of tension including insufficient housing and shelter as well at the impact of current federal and local immigration policies.

Moderator: Jesse Mumm (DePaul Professor)
Speaker: DMC Practitioners in Residence Rob Paral and Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy alongside Laura Rodríguez-Presa (Chicago Tribune Reporter, and Breandán Magee (Senior Director of Programs for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR)).

Country Conditions Expert Witness Training (January 25, 2024)

This training led by Dr. Kennedy was created for faculty members from across the Chicago area to learn how they can support asylum seekers through expert witness testimony. As a recognized expert witness in the country conditions of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, Dr. Kennedy addressed the role country conditions experts play in immigration court proceedings and their significance in asylum outcomes. The training was especially necessary for faculty who hoped to assist those seeking asylum but did not have the particular knowledge of the asylum court system processes. Faculty attended from DePaul, Northwestern, and UIC.

Speaker: Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy (DMC Practitioner in Residence)

Meet the DMC Migration Experts (November 3, 2023)

DePaul Migration Collaborative’s inaugural Practitioners in Residence, Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy and Rob Paral, as they discuss their impactful work supporting migrants and asylum seekers. Dr. Kennedy focuses on human rights, gender, and migration in Central America, producing research and training for immigrant-serving organizations. Rob Paral, a policy consultant, specializes in demographic insights and community needs, using data-driven approaches to assist Chicago's migrant communities.

Speakers: Dr. Elizabeth Kennedy and Rob Paral (DMC Practitioners in Residence)

Inaugural Immigration Summit (April 11, 2022)

The day-long conference brought together scholars, advocates, students and practitioners from the midwest and beyond to share research and insights on significant developments in migration and human rights. 54% of attendees were DePaul alumni, almost all who work in immigration law or with community organizations that serve immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers, 27% of attendees were community practitioners, and 19% were DePaul faculty. The majority of attendees were online – 77%, 23% were in-person. 80% of attendees were highly satisfied and 20% were satisfied with the conference. 65% of attendees found the conference to be very relevant, 27% found it relevant.

The aim of the Summit is to build bridges between professors, community partners, faith leaders, and others who are actively engaging and serving Chicago’s immigrant community. Feedback was very positive for achieving goals to: Lay the foundation for future collaborations at DePaul and in the Chicagoland area; Build bridges between scholars and community partners who are actively engaging and serving Chicago’s immigrant community, and Bring together the diverse faculty across many colleges at DePaul who study these issues.