On May 20th, 2025, the Southwest Organizing Project’s (SWOP) Healthy Southwest System of Care (HSSOC) team had the privilege of hosting the Chicago Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) Regional Lead meeting at the SWOP office. This important gathering brought together key community health leaders and organizations, including Increase the Peace, PODER, Southwest Collective, Midwest Asian Health Association, and SWOP, with a shared goal of advancing community health equity across Chicago.

The meeting provided a valuable space for regional leads to deepen their working relationships through one-to-one relational meetings — an essential organizing practice that builds trust, understanding, and collaboration. Together, participants reviewed the current “Act Now” phase of their collective work, discussing strategies for implementing priority area action plans in their respective communities.

In addition to regional updates, cross-regional leads offered overviews of their organizations and hyper-collaborative efforts, sharing insights on how their work aligns with the broader goals of Healthy Chicago’s citywide health improvement initiatives. These exchanges highlighted the unique strengths each organization brings to the table and opened opportunities to learn from one another’s approaches to addressing social determinants of health.

The gathering also included an overview of the Southwest region’s developing training infrastructure, designed to support community health workers, organizers, and residents. Participants explored ways to extend this infrastructure across Chicago’s six Healthy Chicago Zone regions, identifying opportunities for shared trainings, mutual support, and collaborative advocacy.

Participants left with a renewed sense of connection and commitment to advancing health equity through coordinated, community-driven action. SWOP and the HSSOC team look forward to continuing this essential work, fostering partnerships, and building healthier futures for all Chicagoans.

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