Completed Projects
Embark on a journey through our completed projects, each a testament to our dedication to health and well-being. In these accomplishments, you'll find stories of impact, compassion, and the relentless pursuit of a healthier, brighter future for all.
First Ladies Census Drive
Historically, the U.S. Census has undercounted certain population groups, and some geographic areas are identified as having low self-response rates from the last decennial census. The populations and areas that are least likely to respond are commonly referred to as Hard-to-Count (HTC) communities. With that in mind, HSI has joined with 18 other organizations that serve Chicago’s south and west sides to form the Counting on Chicago Coalition. This diverse group of organizations span the spectrum of service providers from healthcare organizations to early childhood educators and senior citizen support groups. The First Ladies Health Initiative is a part of this group. The one common thread we all share is a proven commitment to servicing vulnerable populations typically undercounted in the Census.
Chicago Together! Make a Mask, Give a Mask, Wear a Mask
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) today announced that the City of Chicago is launching the “Chicago Together! Make a Mask, Give a Mask, Wear a Mask” citywide cloth mask drive on Saturday, April 25, 2020. Through the citywide drive, residents can make and donate homemade cloth masks that will be provided to homeless shelters, community health clinics, and other organizations to prevent outbreaks among the City’s most high-risk residents, which data has shown to be vulnerable residents on Chicago’s South and West Side communities. Members of the First Ladies Health Initiative are serving as a Drop Off Location for completed masks.
Early Access Saves Lives
Early Access Saves Lives, a stroke prevention and health education outreach program, will disseminate key findings of the PCORI-funded Community Engagement for Early Recognition and Immediate Action in Stroke study (CEERIAS). The Early Access Saves Lives program will train First Ladies, the wives of church pastors, as community health stroke promoters in Chicago and Los Angeles to raise stroke awareness and communicate the importance of receiving prompt medical attention in the event of a stroke. Early Access Saves Lives will target African-American and Hispanic community members to address the disparities in stroke care and mortality among at-risk minority populations. The First Ladies Health Initiative is a faith-based network of active First Ladies in majority-minority communities that will benefit from the CEERIAS findings. Early Access Saves Lives will leverage the leadership influence of the First Ladies as a trusted community voice to provide stroke education to improve health in underserved communities. Learn More
Stress During Covid-19
The First Ladies Health Initiative is currently implementing innovative health education dissemination initiative strategies for the PCORI-funded CEERIAS Study through our EARLY ACCESS SAVES LIVES (EASL) Program, with an end goal of training 30,000 community members during a two-year period on the early detection of stroke symptoms as well as the importance of acquiring fast medical attention. An enhancement to this project is the dissemination of information as it relates to “STRESS” and how we deal with it during this COVID 19 pandemic, its effect on stroke and people with underlying health conditions especially those in the African American and Hispanic Communities. This program is PCORI – Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute funded: (Mission) PCORI helps people make informed healthcare decisions, and improves healthcare delivery and outcomes, by producing and promoting high-integrity, evidence-based information that comes from research guided by patients, caregivers, and the broader healthcare community. Our goal is to provide you with tools and resources to help ease the stress during this COVID-19 pandemic. We encourage you to “Be Stress-Free – Use PPE” PROTECT Yourself and Others, PROVIDE for Yourself and Others, ENTERTAIN Yourself and Others. Please take a moment to review all the links and information below to help you get through Stress During COVID-19.
Solutions…Not Just Conversations
Private Forum Solutions…Not Just Conversations is a Private Forum for the First Ladies Health Initiative to address issues and concerns plaguing the Black and Brown communities at professional and governmental levels to gain a “real time” pulse on what’s going on enabling us to promote change via our messaging and community outreach. First Ladies, government officials, health officers, doctors, nurses, dignitaries, activists and more will gather via “invitation only” for fruitful informational and solution driven conversations. Topic: COVID-19 The First Ladies Health Initiative’s “Solutions… not just Conversations” will help a multitude of people as they navigate a scary and difficult time to bring about solutions and change for the people who matter most to them.” Tracey Alston, Founder and Executive Director In lieu of the vast changing world health landscape due to COVID 19 and issues including building closures, and financial/health problems plaguing the churches, First Ladies are invited to join an invitation only weekly conference call or video call for education and viable solutions on everything from health information and financial resources for congregations and communities to encouragement and advice from local and national celebrities. Each week a group of noted speakers join the private call to ensure that the First Ladies Health Initiative is equipped to share the most up to date information and resources with their respective church membership, community partners and organizations in various cities. We’ve Talked To: Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL 2nd District ), Yaa Simpson –(Epidemiologist, Chicago Department of Public Health ), Congressman Danny Davis (IL 7th District ), Dr . Jan King (LA County SPA 7 Area Health Officer), Cook County Commissioner Stanley Moore , Nicole Harvey Deputy Director 7th District), Dr. Robert Winn (Director of Virginia Commonwealth Univ. Massey Cancer Ctr.), Congressman Bobby Rush ( IL 2nd District), Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, Actress Lynn Whitfield (OWN TV/ GreenLeaf Actress) –, Nicole Robinson (Greater Chicago Food Depository), U .S. Senator Dick Durbin (IL ), Dr . Rev. Horace Smith (Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago), Cemere James ( National Black Child Development Institute), Val Warner (ABC7 Chicago/Windy City Live Host), Congresswoman Maxine Waters (California 43 rd District ), Dr . Paul Robinson (Director of the GIS Laboratory, Charles Drew University), Keith David (OWN TV/ GreenLeaf Actor) Topic: PTSD Caused by Racial Trauma Public Forum The Solutions…not just Conversations – Public Forum will demonstrate the same purpose as its invitation only predecessor forum and will be conducted on social media via Facebook Live, Instagram or Live Stream from one of the churches. Anyone will be able to join and/or comment, celebrity and notable guest speakers will also attend these events. We will notify you of the first forum during late April or early May. We’re excited to deliver Solutions…not just Conversations In the News…. ● Durbin Discusses Impact of Covid-19 with Chicago Chapter of The First Ladies Health Initiative
