Engaging Our Communities to Promote Health, Wellness and Equity
UI Health remains committed to a community-centered approach for delivering care and promoting the wellbeing of the communities we serve. Direct community engagement at all levels, whether in our neighborhoods or with our elected officials and community leaders, brings awareness to the health issues experienced by our neighborhoods and communities across the state. Through direct events and collaborations with our community we have the opportunity to show up with the community to empower and benefit our patients and their families.
Whether it be in the pursuit of representation in healthcare practice and research, making healthcare more accessible, or informing public health policy, UIC’s academic health enterprise honors its long-standing community-centered commitment of inclusive partnership with the communities across Chicago and around the state – all in the pursuit of health equity.
Assistant Vice Chancellor for External Engagement Dr. Phyllis Hayes shared a few highlights from some recent events that engage with our neighbors and elected officials.
Illinois Senator Lakesia Collins, 5th District, Annual Mother’s Day Community Celebration Heading link
On Saturday, May 11, State Senator Lakesia Collins held her Annual Mother’s Day Event. Dr. Hayes has been a member of the planning committee since joining UI Health three years ago. This year, UI Health hosted a table and distributed informational items to community members. Over six hundred residents from the North Lawndale area visited the U-CAN site located at 3605 West Filmore, in Chicago. Attendees had access to over thirty-five participating organizations including UI Health, UIC, the University of Illinois Cancer Center, and other city services and organizations. Guests were provided healthy food items and activities were plentiful, including free books for children, workshops, resources and live musical entertainment.
Illinois State Representative Edgar Gonzalez, 23rd District, ManUp Father’s Day Event Heading link
On Saturday, June 8, the UIC Office of the Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs was invited to participate in this annual event by Representative Edgar Gonzalez, to spend the day with fathers, mothers and children who came out to celebrate Father’s Day. Our UI Health Team, the University of Illinois Cancer Center and Mile Square Health Center set up our tables and joined this Father’s Day event to encourage Latino men and fathers to pay more attention to their health needs and focus on promoting wellness and health equity. The fact that Latinos and African Americans have some of the highest rates of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, State Representative Edgar Gonzalez and the UI Health team encouraged fathers to focus on improving their health. On site was a mixture of hospitals, community-based organizations and residents from the Little Village Community.
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth’s Annual Southside Baby Shower Heading link
On Saturday, June 29, the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and UI Health Mile Square Health Center (MSHC) joined U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth in partnership with Share Our Space Diaper Bank and the Blue Door Neighborhood Center in Chicago’s Far South Side, to support mothers and families from the south side neighborhood. Attendees had the opportunity to gain experience about safety and pregnancy resources available for families with children up to 3-years old. UI Health and over forty participants provided free food giveaways, vegetable boxes, free diapers, baby essentials, books, maternity education and healthcare services information to mothers and grandmothers. Mile Square served as one of the main participants and hosted an impressive resource table presented by MSHC Senior Director Charisse Franklin and MSHC Marketing Associate Aaron Atchison.
Illinois State Senator Willie Preston, 16th District, Annual End of Summer Bash Heading link
Senator Preston invited the University of Illinois Chicago, UI Health, Mile Square Health Center, the UIC Office of Neighborhood Centers, the Office of Community Engagement and Neighborhood Health Partnerships, and the UIC CHANCE Program, to meet and greet citizens of his district for his End of Summer Bash on Sunday, August 18. UIC was well represented and citizens from the 16th district visited each of our tables to gather information on access to higher education, financial aid, healthcare, summer programming for students, upcoming events and much more.
The Mile Square Health Care Center Auburn Gresham site is located in the 16th District and Senator Preston has been very supportive of our mission since his assuming office last year. The purpose of this event was to engage constituents of his district on the importance of education, economic development, healthcare, home ownership, mitigating violence and having a positive impact on our young people. This event, as stated by the Senator, was created to provide a platform to assist families by preparing them for the back-to-school season. This End of Summer Bash was especially important to community residents and students, especially those families who are currently dealing with economic setbacks. The event offered families access to back-to-school supplies, free physicals, housing support, free haircuts, and back packs in preparation for the new academic year.
Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation, 79th Street Renaissance Festival Heading link
One of the last community events that UI health attends as the summer recedes, is the Annual Greater Auburn Gresham Neighborhood Development Corporation (GAGDC) Renaissance Festival, held this year on Saturday, September 7. With our efforts to continue to reach out and make a difference in the lives in our communities, Dr. Phyllis P. Hayes, assistant vice chancellor for external engagement; Mr. Keith Lewis, senior director of UIC Neighborhood Centers; and Ms. Crystal Stevenson, community coordinator for UIC Neighborhood Centers, attended this 19th Annual Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation Renaissance Festival.
Mile Square Health Center served as a participant for this event under the leadership of Senior Director Charisse Franklin and her team, who spent the entire day providing healthcare information and recruiting new patients to our 79th Street site. Mile Square Health Center physicians on site had the opportunity to engage with community residents about their health concerns and more. This free community festival created by Mr. Carlos Nelson, chief executive officer of GAGDC, attracts more than 20,000 attendees. UI Health remains deeply engaged in this thriving community. During his appearance on stage, Senator Willie Preston thanked UI Health and UIC for its continued support to the residents and communities of the 16th District.