Community Impact Report 2023

Community Impact Report 2023

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Letters

From Ayesha Jaco, Executive Director

From Eve Shapiro, Sr. Director Of Programs & Evaluation

As we reflect on 2023, three words come to mind: Magnify. Align. Measure.

I am inspired by the shared commitment of our staff, healthcare partners, funders, and community partners. Collectively, we are committed to eliminating the life expectancy gap between Chicago’s Loop and the West Side. Our audacious stance requires multi-pronged, sustainable, and measurable solutions that are community driven.

  • I am proud of our work in the pre-launch phase of the Sankofa Wellness Village. The Village is slated to open in 2025 and is rooted in community ownership, multisector partnerships, and a promise to honor and amplify the visions of residents and their ability to live long vibrant lives in Garfield Park. In this year’s report, we highlight the expansion of our One West Side partnership with Blackhawks Charities. We were awarded $50,000 for a Village early activation effort which included the expansion of pop-grocery stores curated by the Garfield Park Community Council. Behind the scenes, our team worked with Kearney, residents and local leaders to analyze the feasibility of a grocer option to replace the former Aldi’s at Madison and Hamlin.

    As a convenor of 6 health systems, we aim to magnify, measure, and align our efforts to address Maternal Health, Hypertension and access to care disparities. This year’s report provides a snapshot of our health and healthcare work across the region and our continued partnerships with Wellness West and the Chicago Department of Public Health.

    The first visual that outlined our problem statement was a map designed by Rush University Medical Center outlining the life expectancy along train lines that operate from the Loop to Oak Park. This year’s report highlights a train design created by West Side Resident and Internationally renowned Artist Steph Skills. I view it as a freedom train that unloads and picks up everyone who has committed to supporting West Side residents on their journey to increased health and wealth. Our community impact maps highlight how each of our strategies canvas the entire region. All aboard. Next stop 2024!

2023 was a year of deliberation and refocusing. Over the past year, WSU has continued to push resources into and build up our core programming of anchor mission, hypertension, maternal and child health, food access, and community engagement.

  • We completed our 1,000 day strategic plan in June and have since been preparing for the work that will carry us through the next phase. Staff have each developed strategic plans to guide their initiatives and have been circulating those with partners and workgroup members to begin implementation. We brought on experts from Hansra to guide us through deeper strategy resets for our workforce development and local hiring initiatives and are working with McKinsey in 2024 to refresh our Nutritious Food Access programming. As we embark on our sixth year, we look forward to a new phase of work that aligns with community needs, utilizes the strength of our partners, and demonstrates impact.

    In June, we held our Annual Convening, bringing together community members, West Side organizations, residents, and hospital staff to review our accomplishments of the previous year and codify our revised mission. Prior, WSU convened a North Star Advisory Group to review population health data, consider the trends of life expectancy post-COVID, and respond to community feedback that WSU should eliminate the life expectancy gap between the West Side and downtown, not merely shorten it. Our road ahead to health equity is even steeper than in years past, but we feel readied for the journey and hope you will travel with us.

OUR MISSION

ELIMINATE THE LIFE EXPECTANCY GAP

Between Chicago’s West Side Neighborhoods And Downtown

Our vision is to improve neighborhood health by addressing inequities in healthcare, education, economic vitality and the physical environment using cross-sector, place-based strategies. Partners include healthcare providers, education providers, the faith community, business, government and others working together to coordinate services and share outcomes.

WSU TEAM

  • Ayesha Jaco

    Executive Director

    Ayesha Jaco, MAM, as Executive Director of West Side United, leads efforts to bridge a significant life expectancy gap in Chicago through diverse partnerships and community-driven strategies in economic, educational, health, and environmental sectors.

  • Eve Shapiro

    Senior Director of Programs and Evaluation

    Eve Shapiro, a health researcher and evaluator at West Side United, focuses on reducing health disparities and improving access to healthcare, education, and livelihoods in Chicago, drawing on her background in community organization and public health analysis.

  • LaDarius Curtis

    Senior Director of Community Engagement and Health

    LaDarius Curtis leverages over 15 years of experience in community engagement and partnership development in Chicagoland, with a strong background in government and healthcare, to enhance community health equity and support underrepresented groups in Chicago.

  • Patrick Hendricks

    Director of Development

    Patrick Hendricks, as West Side United’s Director of Development, builds on his extensive background in fund development and strategic partnerships from hospital systems and civic initiatives, including the Obama Foundation, to enhance philanthropic support for WSU’s mission.

  • Sanita Lewis

    Director of Anchor Mission

    Sanita Lewis, as Director of Anchor Mission Strategies at West Side United, leverages her 20-year expertise in project management and strategic initiatives to enhance health and economic vitality in Chicago's west side communities, building effective partnerships and deploying robust programming to address health inequities.

  • Mariah Van Ermen

    Director of Anchor Mission

    Mariah Van Ermen applies her extensive experience in institutional impact measurement within government and academia to drive economic development and address disparities in Chicago, building on her achievements in public safety, school environments, and food access.

  • Jennifer Marcsisin

    Director of Health and Healthcare

    Jennifer Marcsisin, MPH, RDN, LDN, currently the Director of Health and Healthcare at WSU, advances equitable nutrition and healthcare access, building on her extensive background in public health, clinical dietetics, and food sovereignty advocacy.

Founding Hospitals

  • • Allies for Community Business

    • American Medical Association

    • Austin African American Business Networking Association

    • Austin Coming Together

    • Chicago Community Learning Center

    • Chicago Community Loan Fund

    • Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership

    • Chicago Food Policy Action Council

    • Chicago Inclusive Growth Coalition

    • Chicago Urban League

    • Chicagoland Healthcare Workforce Collaborative

    • City Colleges of Chicago Foundation

    • Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection

    • Economic Strategies Development Corporation • IFF

  • • Allies for Community Business

    • American Medical Association

    • Austin African American Business Networking Association

    • Austin Coming Together

    • Chicago Community Learning Center

    • Chicago Community Loan Fund

    • Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership

    • Chicago Food Policy Action Council

    • Chicago Inclusive Growth Coalition

    • Chicago Urban League

    • Chicagoland Healthcare Workforce Collaborative

    • City Colleges of Chicago Foundation

    • Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection

    • Economic Strategies Development Corporation • IFF

  • • Allies for Community Business

    • American Medical Association

    • Austin African American Business Networking Association

    • Austin Coming Together

    • Chicago Community Learning Center

    • Chicago Community Loan Fund

    • Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership

    • Chicago Food Policy Action Council

    • Chicago Inclusive Growth Coalition

    • Chicago Urban League

    • Chicagoland Healthcare Workforce Collaborative

    • City Colleges of Chicago Foundation

    • Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection

    • Economic Strategies Development Corporation • IFF

  • • Allies for Community Business

    • American Medical Association

    • Austin African American Business Networking Association

    • Austin Coming Together

    • Chicago Community Learning Center

    • Chicago Community Loan Fund

    • Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership

    • Chicago Food Policy Action Council

    • Chicago Inclusive Growth Coalition

    • Chicago Urban League

    • Chicagoland Healthcare Workforce Collaborative

    • City Colleges of Chicago Foundation

    • Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection

    • Economic Strategies Development Corporation • IFF

  • • Allies for Community Business

    • American Medical Association

    • Austin African American Business Networking Association

    • Austin Coming Together

    • Chicago Community Learning Center

    • Chicago Community Loan Fund

    • Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership

    • Chicago Food Policy Action Council

    • Chicago Inclusive Growth Coalition

    • Chicago Urban League

    • Chicagoland Healthcare Workforce Collaborative

    • City Colleges of Chicago Foundation

    • Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection

    • Economic Strategies Development Corporation • IFF

Our Funders

• A Better Chicago

• Alta Futures

• American Medical Association

• Anonymous Family Foundation

• Boeing

• Chicago Blackhawks Foundation

• Chicago Community Trust

• Chicago Regional Food System Fund

• Edwardson Family Foundation

• Healthcare Transformation

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