Our AHEC incorporates a public health approach that emphasizes understanding the importance of having a workforce that understands the social determinants of health and works to help community members gain increased health awareness that elevates their physical, mental, social, economic and spiritual well-being.

Host organization: Project Brotherhood is a health clinic and community-outreach effort for black men in south side Chicago communities. Developed as a community-based prevention program for African American men to have a safe place to seek services, it opened its doors in the Woodlawn neighborhood in 1997 as part of the Cook County Health and Hospitals System. Our multidisciplinary team of medical staff and social workers developed a vision to address the causes of low participation and poor health by creating a safe, respectful place where African American men felt comfortable seeking health care and were served by black male health professionals. In persuading reluctant men to seek care, we have had success using unconventional methods, including spreading the word through the people black men trust, such as their barbers. The organization, which has served and improved the health of over 30,000 men, was honored with the James Wright Award by the National Association of Public Hospitals and recognized by the CDC as an outstanding program that can help reduce health inequities. It was featured in an installment of CNN’s 2009 documentary, “Black in America 2: Today’s Pioneers.”

Area opportunities: Educational institutions include the University of Chicago, Olive-Harvey and Kennedy-King community colleges, and Chicago State University. The region is home to 15 hospitals and medical centers, including the nationally ranked University of Chicago Medicine, as well as Provident Hospital – part of the Cook County Health and Hospital System – and a number of community health facilities and other Federally Qualified Health Centers

Community partners: Chicago South AHEC works closely with with the University of Chicago, University of Illinois Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University, Governors State University, Northwestern University, Cook County Health and Hospital System, Cook County Department of Public Health, Mile Square Center, and Near North Health, and a number of nonprofits and community organizations. These partnerships allow us to provide a range of professional experiences and connect participants to a variety of career opportunities.

Demographics: With a population of 2.2 million this region is overwhelmingly minority, with significant Latinx and Arab populations, especially in the southwest. The southern portion is predominately African American. Of Chicago’s 31 community areas with household incomes below $50,000, 24 are in this region (below $35,000 in eight). Poverty rates range from 12% to 17%. The suburban portion includes some of the poorest communities in Illinois.

Local health challenges: More than 15% of residents reported feeling mentally unhealthy in a recent month (more than 35% in three community areas). Residents of the region have high rates of chronic asthma, adult diabetes, stroke, cancer, and homicide. Babies are born with below average birth weight across most of the region, with infant mortality above 10% in 19 community areas. The opioid-related mortality rate is high in three community areas. In two primarily Latinx community areas, 15% or of residents reported no insurance.

Our programs: Our programs and activities bring participants in touch in a practical way with health care in our underserved communities. Take a look.

Our region: The south side of Chicago, famed for its writers, musicians and baseball team, is the largest part of the city geographically. The Chicago South AHEC region, with 37 of the city’s 77 community areas, includes the city’s south and southwest sides as well as a small portion of suburban Cook County. The region embraces the historic Bronzeville district and DuSable Museum of African American History, and is served by Chicago’s Midway Airport. Natural areas include miles of lakeshore and extensive greenspace maintained by the Cook County Forest Preserves.

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The Chicago South AHEC region consists of 42 Chicago community areas and the Cook County townships of Bloom, Bremen, Calumet, Lemont, Orland, Palos, Rich, Thornton, and Worth.