Joe Hoereth, PhD, is an urban planner who regularly engages with Chicago communities through his position as Director of the Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement (IPCE) at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). Dr. Hoereth creates opportunities for scholars, community members, students, and the government to participate in public discourse and educational programs addressing current policy issues and social trends. Dr. Hoereth has expertise in community development research and evaluation, having previously worked for university research centers, non-profit organizations, and private consulting firms. He has conducted research projects on urban housing and comprehensive community building and has also authored multiple reports and papers on housing, community economic development, community engagement, and urban planning. Dr. Hoereth, along with his colleagues at IPCE and the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago, will conduct community surveys and special studies throughout the project. Dr. Hoereth resides in Chicago’s south suburbs.