About

Experts in understanding community needs and community change

We provide new demographic, social and economic information, and we assess the human needs of the populations served by our clients. Learn more about our services

Rob Paral and Jim Lewis bring decades of experience in community development, human services, immigrant integration, and social policy issues.  Our strengths include research, data and policy analysis, writing and effective communication. Learn more about our team

We work with non-profit, governmental and philanthropic organizations that  improve the lives of individuals and communities.  Learn more about our clients

We offer insights and policy recommendations on the human issues affecting the Chicago region:

Our work often receives attention in the news media. See stories from recent years

Rob writes a blog about Chicago, immigration, demographics and human services. See the recent posts

And many visitors come to this website just to make use of our unique data tables on Chicago neighborhoods going back to 1930, along with other Chicago demographics. Take a look

The photographs appearing throughout this website are courtesy of Chicago photographer and urban architecture scholar John Morris