PROGRAMS

Uniting for a Stronger West Side

West Side United brings together hospitals, community organizations, and residents to drive bold, collaborative solutions across Chicago’s West Side.

From launching job-creating enterprises like the Fillmore Laundry Linen Center, to building holistic health hubs like the Sankofa Wellness Village, improving food access through the Community Grocer Initiative, and strengthening local nonprofits via innovative pilots and the COLLAB Network.

Each effort is rooted in community voice, equity, and sustainable impact.

THRIVE WEST SIDE

Featured
Fillmore Center Laundry Linen
Fillmore Center Laundry Linen

The Fillmore Center Laundry Linen project brings hospital laundry services back to the West Side, creating local jobs and economic opportunities while reducing environmental costs through community-focused hiring practices.

  • Keeps jobs and investment local (up to 300 jobs at full scale)

  • Hires West Side residents, including formerly incarcerated individuals

  • Cuts environmental and transportation costs


Learn More

Local Procurement
Local Procurement

Local Procurement redirects millions in hospital purchasing power to West Side businesses, creating jobs and economic stability while helping local vendors secure valuable institutional contracts that fuel community growth.

  • Vendor readiness support

  • Access to a West Side vendor directory

  • Ongoing push to grow local contracts (already $40M+ spent annually)


Learn More

Impact Investing
Impact Investing

Impact Investing channels hospital and partner resources through mission-driven lenders to fuel West Side businesses, affordable housing, and community projects, creating sustainable economic growth and opportunity for residents.

  • Mission-driven CDFIs that support small businesses, nonprofits, and housing

  • A focus on local economic growth and reinvestment


Learn More

The Sankofa Wellness Village
The Sankofa Wellness Village

The Sankofa Wellness Village transforms West Garfield Park through comprehensive healthcare services and community revitalization initiatives, creating opportunity in a historically underserved neighborhood.

Learn More

Workforce Development
Workforce Development

West Side United creates sustainable career pathways by helping residents transition from entry-level positions to clinical roles through comprehensive support programs that simultaneously benefit local hospitals and strengthen community economic stability.

  • Supporting training for clinical roles (e.g., medical assistants)

  • Covering tuition, supplies, transportation

  • Hosting hospital-based hiring events

  • Aligning hospital HR policies with inclusive hiring goals


Learn More

Small Business Accelerator
Small Business Accelerator

West Side United's Small Business Accelerator provides grants, coaching and professional connections to help local entrepreneurs overcome resource gaps and build sustainable businesses that strengthen the West Side economy.

  • Grant funding (non-repayable)

  • Professional coaching (brand marketing, financial support)

  • Connections to hospital contract opportunities


Learn More

LIVE HEALTHY WEST SIDE

Featured
Community Organizations Learning Lifting and Building
Community Organizations Learning Lifting and Building

The COLLAB Network strengthens West Side food access organizations through substantial grants, collaborative training, and resource-sharing opportunities that build capacity and amplify their collective impact on community nutrition.

  • Training on program design, evaluation, and implementation

  • Peer networking and collaboration

  • $40,000 grants to support programming


Learn More

Food Equity Collaborative
Food Equity Collaborative

The Food Equity Collaborative unites diverse West Side organizations to coordinate resources, share strategies, and implement innovative solutions that collectively combat food insecurity across the community.

  • Sharing resources and strategies

  • Coordinating efforts (like volunteer recruitment and grocery initiatives)

  • Amplifying grassroots innovations


Learn More

West Side Healthy Parents and Babies
West Side Healthy Parents and Babies

West Side Healthy Parents and Babies combats maternal health disparities by connecting expecting mothers with doulas, consultants, and social support services for healthier pregnancies and empowered beginnings in their own neighborhoods.

  • Doulas, lactation consultants, and care coordinators

  • Screenings for social needs like food and housing

  • Referrals to appropriate healthcare and social services


Learn More

Wellness West
Wellness West

Wellness West embeds community health workers in trusted local spaces to connect West Side residents with chronic conditions to vital healthcare services, creating a proactive bridge to treatment and support.

  • Embedding community health workers in trusted local orgs

  • Providing screenings, education, and care navigation


Learn More

Community Food Investment
Community Food Investment

Community Food Investment builds sustainable nutrition security on the West Side through community-led projects like grocery store development and innovative food retail solutions that address long-term food access while strengthening local economies.

Learn More

Healthy Chicago Equity Zones
Healthy Chicago Equity Zones

Healthy Chicago Equity Zones combats health disparities by addressing root social and economic factors through community-driven programs that ensure all Chicagoans have equal opportunities for health and wellbeing.

  • Community-driven program design

  • Hyper-local implementation

  • Partnerships with grassroots organizations


Learn More

Live Healthy Chicago
Live Healthy Chicago

Live Healthy Chicago tackles hypertension in West Side communities through comprehensive screenings, care connections, and improved clinical protocols to reduce health disparities and extend lives.

  • Community screenings and outreach

  • Connection to healthcare homes for Medicaid/uninsured

  • Clinic support to adopt best practices in care


Learn More

Hospital Food Pantry Network
Hospital Food Pantry Network

The Hospital-Food Pantry Network pairs local hospitals with food pantries to strengthen emergency food resources and create a seamless connection between healthcare and food security for West Side residents.

Pairs hospitals with local pantries to:

  • Build pantry capacity

  • Support patients experiencing food insecurity

  • Foster collaboration and best-practice sharing among pantries


Learn More