Research Reports
BlackRoots Alliance is dedicated to advancing liberation for all Black people. Our methodology involves organizing and activating Black Chicagoans around the issues that matter to them. Our main campaigns include reparations, community safety, and economic security. We collaborate with other like-minded organizations to share the different paths we've discovered on the road to liberation. One of the methods we use for our joint work is research projects. These publications center Black residents in conversations where we ask questions, although sometimes difficult, to gain their perspective. We take all of this feedback and share it publicly for community consumption with the hopes that the information can ignite new discussions and ultimately create solutions to community issues.
The Blackroots Alliance in collaboration with the National Black Public Defender Association (BPDA), the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender, and a consultant team from Northwestern University, proudly presents the final report of a year-long project. The project, initiated in July 2022, included virtual meetings and conversations with 103 Black people in Chicago and nearby suburbs. The project aimed to undertake a comprehensive public safety assessment in Chicago by engaging Black Chicagoans in community listening sessions.
The Black Liberation Blueprint
The Black Liberation Blueprint is a collaborative project of BlackRoots Alliance, Gorman Publishing, and Gumbo Media. It curates relevant articles, art, and poetry related to each of our five pillars of Black liberation: democracy engagement, health and wholeness, education justice, economic security, and safety. We commissioned artists and writers to offer unique content that reflects the issues presented by our pillars and provide centering commentary from people most impacted by issues of injustice.
We Will Chicago includes the insights of over 10,000 Chicagoans collected through public engagement and surveys. BlackRoots Alliance participated by hosting several community forums focusing on Public Health and Safety, and the discussions from those forums helped shape the results in the report.
