Greater Humboldt Park Community of Wellness - Latest news

Sept. Calendar of Free Fitness Programs in Humboldt Park

8/28/2009, 3:50 PM

Download the Humboldt Park activity calendar here

Open Streets: August 1st!

7/27/2009, 10:40 AM

From 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug 1, Open Streets will give friends and families the chance to enjoy the streets the way they want: biking, dancing, playing, walking and more!

The free event combines last year’s two Sunday Parkways event into one huge eight-mile event. Like last year, Open Streets will span from Logan Square to Little Village, passing through Humboldt Park, North Lawndale and Garfield Park along the way.

There is no event registration, and participants can join in at any point along the route.

Take a step off the route at any of the community-run activities. The lively scenes will display each community’s flavor with performances, children’s games, art activities, workout classes, music and much more.

Major funding provided by the Chicago Community Trust. Open Streets is also supported by Local Initiative Support Corporation.

Community of Wellness Newsletter, Summer 09

7/2/2009, 10:56 AM

View the newsletter here.

Helping Her Live: Gaining Control of Breat Cancer

5/29/2009, 11:54 AM

The Helping Her Live/Apoyandola a Vivir (HHL) program at Sinai Urban Health Institute (SUHI) located in Mt. Sinai Hospital is committed to eliminating the disparities found in breast cancer mortality rates between minority and white women. Funded by the AVON Foundation the goal of the Helping Her Live program is to ensure that women in Humboldt Park and North Lawndale do not die unnecessarily from breast cancer.

The Helping Her Live project hopes to empower women with knowledge on breast health, help women who are 40 years and older obtain annual screenings, and work with women and healthcare facilities to eliminate and ensure delays in obtaining test results and ensure follow up as needed. The staff of HHL anticipates accomplishing these goals by providing free workshops and Hotline services.

Helping Her Live community health educators at the Wellness as a Way of Life Resource Fair.

Raymond V. Hall

HHL community health educators are available to make a 30 minute interactive presentation in Spanish or English for anyone in the community interested in learning about breast health. Workshops present information on breast health, how to get low cost or free mammogram in your area, what to do if you have an abnormal mammogram, how to resolve a suspicious result, and how to obtain necessary follow up treatment services.

The HHL hotline (1-877-437-5432) is designed to help women navigate the healthcare system in their area and find services that are accessible to them. The Hotline serves as a tool for scheduling mammography appointments, receiving free or low cost mammograms (if the caller is uninsured), understanding mammography results, reminding women of their annual mammograms, and providing callers with answers to any questions or concerns they may have regarding breast health.

To learn more about the HHL program visit www.HelpingHerLive.org or you can call 1 877 HER LIF 2 (1-877-437-5432). To learn more about the Sinai Urban Health Institute, visit the Web site at www.suhichicago.org

"Everyone Matters" a Success!

5/27/2009, 4:57 PM

Members of the Behavioral Health Task Force at the Wellness as a Way of Life Forum, May 16, 2009.

The Behavioral Health Task Force of the Community of Wellness organized a week of events from Monday, May 11^th through Saturday, May 16^th designed to raise awareness around depression in Humboldt Park entitled “Everyone Matters…Wellness as a Way of Life”.The week featured interactive workshops focused on different aspects of depression.

Many local organizations participated in the planning and execution of the week; Association House of Chicago, Casa Central, C4 (Community Counseling Centers of Chicago), Erie Family Health Center and Roberto Clemente High School all hosted events.

Events included two plays by Erasing the Distance (a non-profit group that sheds light on mental illness through theater), workshops focused on art therapy, depression in children and adolescents, and the impact of depression on the Latino community.

Wanda Figueroa addresses the forum audience.

The series concluded with the Wellness as a Way of Life Forum. The Forum began with a panel discussion, moderated by Viviana Ploper of C4. The panel began with speeches by Wanda Figueroa, the director of Behavioral Health Services at Association House and Carmen Casas, the Deputy Chief Probation Officer, Cook County Juvenile Court. Both speakers focused on the impact of depression on the greater community and the resources available to those in need of treatment for depression. Two community members then shared their personal experiences of dealing with depression and how they were able to seek treatment.

Steve Figueroa of Association House leads a workshop on depression and substance use.

Smaller group sessions facilitated by different organizations in the community followed the panel. The group sessions included presentations on post-partum depression, substance abuse, the positive impact of health lifestyles on depression, depression in seniors and art therapy. The forum concluded with a resource fair where participants could find out more about local resources related to behavioral health.

Daisy Del Valle of La Casa Norte shares resources with a participant.

The Behavioral Health Task Force hopes to make “Everyone Matters…Wellness as a Way of Life” a yearly event. For more information about the Task Force, please contact Vicki Hadaway: vhadaway@casacentral.org

These events were made possible through the generous support of LISC-Chicago.

La Cosecha- Fresh Affordable Produce in Humboldt Park

5/11/2009, 3:39 PM

La Cosecha (The Harvest), is a program of CO-OP Humboldt Park (Community Organizing for Obesity Prevention). The program makes fresh fruits and vegetables available to Humboldt Park residents on a bi-monthly basis for a low cost. La Cosecha contains a mixture of culturally relevant produce along with recipes to get you cooking healthier.

Download attachment with program dates through June

Everyone Matters...Wellness as a Way of Life

4/22/2009, 1:52 PM

Join the Community of Wellness for a week of free events designed to raise awareness about depression

Monday, May 11th, 10:00am

Erasing the Distance: theatrical production*

Production of “The People I Know,” a play based on real-life stories of people with mental illness. Facilitated dialog with the audience following the performance.
Association House, 1116 N Kedzie Ave
*Those who wish to attend this event must call (773)772-0654 to RSVP.

Tuesday, May 12th, 6:00-7:30pm

The Impact of Depression in the Latino Community

An interactive discussion introducing clinical depression and its effect on the family and Latino community.
Casa Central, 1343 N California Ave

Wednesday, May 13th, 6:00pm

Depression in Children and Adolescents

Interact and learn about the signs and symptoms of depression in children and adolescents.
Community Counseling Centers of Chicago, 2542 W North Ave

Thursday, May 14th, 6:30-7:30pm

Art Therapy

Mental health professionals will help audience members find self-awareness in the pictures they draw.
Erie Family Health Center, 2750 W North Ave

Saturday, May 16th, 9:30am-1:30pm

Wellness as a Way of Life Forum

An educational panel will hold a discussion about mental health, and smaller group sessions will focus on specific depression-related topics. Also, there will be a Community Resource Fair as well as a free raffle that will award fabulous prizes to audience members. Lunch will be served without charge.
Casa Central, 1343 N California Ave

Made possible through the generous support of LISC/Chicago

Download Event flyers in English and Spanish here

Community of Wellness Newsletter, Spring 2009

3/30/2009, 4:00 PM

Download the newsletter here.

Kelly Hall YMCA Open in West Humboldt Park

1/21/2009, 10:28 AM

Kelly Hall YMCA officially opened its doors on January 15, 2009. Kelly Hall is the product of collaborative efforts between the YMCA, Archdiocese of Chicago and the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Kelly Hall will serve as a resource to the community of West Humboldt Park with programs for youth, families and seniors. The new facility also has a fitness center and gymnasium, giving residents more opportunites to lead active lives.

To learn more about the programs offered at Kelly Hall, visit the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago website: http://www.ymcachgo.org/programs/KellyHallYMCA.php

To see pictures of the the newly renovated building and the grand opening, visit the Our Lady of the Angles Mission website: http://www.ourladyoftheangelsmission.com/

Humboldt Park in Motion

1/7/2009, 1:48 PM

Humboldt Park in Motion took place on the grounds of Humboldt Park on July 20th, August 10th and October 5th 2008. These events promoted active lifestyles in the community, with fun activities such as salsa dancing, aerobics, basketball, bicycle riding, steel drumming and much more.

Community of Wellness Newsletter, December 2008

12/22/2008, 11:06 AM

Read our newsletter to learn more about current projects and events. Download newsletter here.

DePaul Students Present Active Living Resource Guide

12/22/2008, 9:59 AM

Students from the DePaul School for New Learning standing in front of the map they helped to create.

Stay active every day of the week in Humboldt Park!

Use the Humboldt Park Active Lifestyles Calendar, Winter 2008-2009, as your guide to physical activity and nutrition resources in Greater Humboldt Park. The calendar highlights free and low cost classes and resources available to everyone.

Mapping Active Living Resources in Humboldt Park

Students worked with the Active Lifestyles Task Force and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning to develop a map of active living assets and resources are located in Humboldt Park. Download the map here.

See Photos of Sunday Parkways Participants

12/19/2008, 5:55 PM

Sunday Parkways turned our streets into parks on October 5th! Our Active Lifestyles Task force organized many activities at the Humboldt Park Boat House to get residents of the community outside and active.

Kickboxing was one activity offered on October 5. The instructor motivates members of the community to participate in the demonstration. Sunday Parkways will take place again on October 26, connecting Garfield Park, Douglas Park and Little Village.

Below is a slideshow of the activities at the Humboldt Park Boat House.

Community Beat: What's Community Organizing? Humboldt Knows

12/19/2008, 5:51 PM

Ed Finkel

Read a blog posting about the release of "The Next Five Years: Raising the Stakes,” the update to the New Communities Program quality-of-life plan for Humboldt Park.

http://communitybeat.blogspot.com/2008/11/whats-community-organizing-humboldt.html

Experts Foretell Diabetes Epidemic, Glaring Social Costs

12/19/2008, 5:47 PM

Whitney Jackson

An article describing the economic and social impacts of Diabetes on Chicago communities and specifically in Humboldt Park. Publication of the Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University.

Link to artilce here