Posted on

West Side United Now Accepting Proposals for First Grant

West Side United is excited to announce that our first grant is now available through a competitive request for proposals (RFP) process to expand Community Health Workers. The intent of this RFP is to leverage and support existing programs to expand the number of Community Health Workers on the West Side.

Please click here to review the eligibility requirements and submission guidelines. Please submit any questions and/or intent to apply applications to info@westsideunited.org.

Posted on

ChiS&E Spring 2018 Parent Orientation and Registration

For young engineers, mathematicians, physicists and computer scientists

The Chicago Pre-College Science and Engineering Program (ChiS&E) provides a pathway for your child to a career in science or engineering.

In partnership with Chicago Public Schools (CPS), the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Colleges of Education and Engineering and Department of Mathematics, ChiS&E offers fun, hands-on learning activities for students in grades K–9.

What’s unique about ChiS&E?

  • Builds science, engineering, and math knowledge through grade levels K–12.
  • Allows continued participation if children move to a new school.
  • Engages and empowers parents as valued partners in their children’s education.
  • Introduces and develops pre-algebra skills in early grades.
  • Works with families to prepare students to succeed in undergraduate engineering and science programs in top universities.

Spring 2018 orientation and registration

ChiS&E’s Spring 2018 Orientation and Registration will take place on Saturday, April 21, 2018, from 9:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. at Pershing Magnet School, 3200 South Calumet Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616.

Registration will be open to new and current students in grades K–2 and 5–9. Please bring your child’s most recent report card.

For more details about registration and class offerings, view our registration flier.

Also, find more information about ChiS&E at our website, http://www.chiprep.org.

Posted on

One Year Progress Report and the Road Ahead

In January 2017, health care and civic institutions convened groups of people and organizations to share ideas and feedback on how to improve health. Cooperation on a scale equal to these challenges is needed as initiatives offered by one institution or focused on one disease do not address the underlying causes of poor health.

Nearly 120 individuals and 50 organizations started to more systematically identify the obstacles and challenges to health, and a Planning Committee, with seats allocated to neighborhood representatives, government, non-profits, and health care institutions, was formed.

On February 28, 2018, West Side United (WSU) was officially launched and plans were shared on how to improve health in West Side communities.

One year later and moving forward

At the February 28 gathering, members of the West Side community worked together to give feedback on the vision shared by WSU.

The following is a list of feedback and ideas received at the event:

  • The majority of all feedback focused on the overall ability of WSU to communicate with and to various stakeholders, and establish and maintain both internal and external accountability form the following:
    • West Side United to the community
    • The community to West Side United
    • Goal setting inclusive of community needs
  • Another principal piece of feedback addressed certain groups of people or other actors within the community that WSU needs to either maintain or establish engagement with, such as the following:
    • Community-based organizations
    • Faith-based leadership
    • Youth
    • Homeless families and uindividuals
    • Justice-involved youth and adults
  • Many responses regarding specific subject matter fell under the umbrella of “capacity building.” These ideas revolved around dedicating resources to underserved populations, enhancing capabilities of institutions already in the community, and otherwise providing tools to boost what is already occurring within the community, such as:
    • Workforce and business development training
    • Mental health care
    • Criminal justice system populations