Health care institutions, residents, educators, non-profits, businesses, government agencies and faith-based institutions that work, live and congregate on Chicago’s West Side have come together as West Side United to make their neighborhoods stronger, healthier and more vibrant places to live.
Driving Equitable Resource Distribution Framework
The Driving Equitable Resource Distribution framework is a community-driven blueprint for equitable investment in Chicago’s Black and Latino communities. To deliver desired outcomes in health, housing, and education, the framework proposes five strategies and 14 guiding principles to ensure that the work done in the future across government, for-profit, and non-profit sectors creates equitable results. The report was curated by ©CHIBYDESIGN. ChiByDesign is a social and civic innovation design firm pioneering the use of co-design and social science approaches.
West Side United is proud to have been this project’s convener and fiscal manager. We thank our project sponsors: The Chicago Community Trust, Chicago Community Covid-19 Response Fund, the Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice, and United Way. Our community anchor organizations are Austin Coming Together, Enlace, Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corp., Latinos Progresando, Northwest Center, South Shore Works, and The Southwest Organizing Project. We also thank our project manager, Embark Strategies.
2022 Small Business Grant
West Side United is supporting businesses that are creating wealth and job opportunities on Chicago’s West Side with $10,000 grants.
The application window is now closed as of November 7, 2022. Expect an announcement of grant recipients in mid-December, 2022.
Our Impact
West Side United believes that four impact areas – Economic Vitality, Education, Health & Healthcare and Neighborhood & Physical Environment – are the keys to reduce the life expectancy gap between downtown and the West Side of Chicago.
West Side United’s first Community Impact Report
WSU is honored to share our first annual impact report chronicling our passion, purpose and dedication to Chicago and 10 West Side communities.
Our West Side
Our Mission
To build community health and economic wellness on Chicago’s West Side and build healthy, vibrant neighborhoods.