About
ChicagoSpeaks® is a representative survey panel of Chicago residents ages 18 and older that offers timely insights into residents’ thoughts, experiences, and behaviors.
The panel is designed for nonprofits, government agencies, researchers, media organizations, funders, community organizers, and others interested in Chicago’s well-being and ability to thrive. It helps clients understand what Chicagoans think before making a policy decision, editorial framing choice, or philanthropic investment.
Its actionable data help organizations identify differences across communities and over time and improve quality of life for all Chicagoans, particularly those whose voices are often least heard.
ChicagoSpeaks offers an efficient way to gather valuable insights on public policy, social issues, and community sentiment. The result is civic intelligence backed by reliable, timely data you can trust.
Contact Us
How It Works
Choose from three ways to meet your unique needs.
1.
Custom Surveys
We’ll work with you to determine the best questions, sample design, and survey length for your research. Using NORC’s proven methodologies, ChicagoSpeaks integrates data from a variety of sources to capture even the smallest subpopulations, ensuring no community or perspective is overlooked.
2.
Quarterly Surveys
Add targeted questions to a recurring omnibus survey of panelists. By sharing the survey with other clients, you can gather insights effectively while keeping costs down. Quarterly surveys are ideal for projects requiring quick results and tracking attitudes and experiences over time.
3.
Recruitment Surveys
Use ChicagoSpeaks to identify and recruit Chicago residents for qualitative research activities such as interviews and focus groups. Recruitment surveys help connect organizations with participants who reflect the perspectives and experiences of the communities they seek to understand.
Experts
-
Brian Fabes
Senior FellowCo-Director -
Ashani Johnson-Turbes
Vice PresidentCo-Director -
Vince Welch
Associate DirectorMethodology Task Lead -
Jacob M. Stolmeier
ManagerClient Services Task Lead -
Tiaira Porter-Beall
Research ScientistProject Manager -
David Dutwin
Executive Director and Senior Vice President -
Margrethe E. Montgomery
Senior Manager -
Jennifer Benz
Senior Vice President -
Lindsey Witt-Swanson
Senior Research Director -
Roy Ahn
Vice President -
John Roman
Director
Why Choose ChicagoSpeaks
By actively engaging residents from Chicago’s many neighborhoods, ChicagoSpeaks ensures that all voices are heard, capturing the unique perspectives of each community. Our approach reflects the city’s rich variety of experiences and backgrounds, accurately representing the true makeup of Chicago’s neighborhoods.
NORC’s scientific rigor ensures reliable, actionable insights for decision-makers who require trustworthy information. Many other studies on Chicago communities suffer from biased methodologies or unrepresentative samples, which can lead to an inaccurate understanding of the city. NORC’s approach mitigates these risks, providing a clearer, more authentic picture of Chicago’s communities.
ChicagoSpeaks combines the panel-building expertise of AmeriSpeak® with the trusted science of NORC to amplify the voices of Chicago communities. We have a proven track record in delivering high-quality, representative data that ensure ChicagoSpeaks provides reliable insights for impactful decision-making across the city.
VIDEO
Measuring Food Insecurity Across Chicago
In 2026, ChicagoSpeaks supported the Greater Chicago Food Depository in better understanding the prevalence and distribution of food insecurity across the city.
Through quarterly surveys, the Greater Chicago Food Depository tracks small percent changes in hunger and food insecurity. Now equipped with timely data on residents’ perspectives, needs, and lived experiences, the food depository is better positioned to adjust its programming and resource distribution to meet Chicago’s food needs. Hear what it's like to work with ChicagoSpeaks directly from the food depository team in a video about our partnership.
Our Research
Our findings helps Chicago leaders make informed decisions on a range of issues, from public safety to affordability.
Latest Findings
Chicagoans Struggle with Affordability While Grappling with Perceptions of Crime
July 2026
A new ChicagoSpeaks survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago finds that affordability is a major concern for Chicago residents, with Chicagoans more likely than Americans nationwide to describe the cost of living as unaffordable.
Survey Findings
Expert Commentary
ChicagoSpeaks in the News
Survey Schedule
Quarterly Surveys
Wave | Questions Due | Field Survey | Client Delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
Q4 2026 | Wednesday, October 28, 2026 | Mid-November | Wednesday, December 9, 2026 |
Q1 2027 | Late February | Mid-March | Early April |
Q2 2027 | Late May | Mid-June | Early July |
Q3 2027 | Late August | Mid-September | Early October |
Q4 2027 | Late October | Mid-November | Early December |
With Gratitude to Our Funders
