The new wellness center aims to improve health equity in Chicago’s Humboldt Park community
Chicago: The Humboldt Park community is buzzing after the grand opening of a $30 million wellness center. This place is a big deal for one of the city’s most diverse and underserved neighborhoods.
Right at the corner of Division and Richmond streets, the Humboldt Park Health Wellness Center is all about making health care accessible and promoting wellness for everyone in the area.
Diego Sanchez, the CEO of Humboldt Park Health, said it best at the opening: “This center represents health equity in action.” They’re really focusing on the social factors that affect health in the community.
The event was a real community affair, with local leaders, residents, and public officials like Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and state Sen. Omar Aquino showing up. Aquino was key in getting state funding for this project.
“For too long, this community has been ignored,” Aquino said. “This is what health equity looks like — an investment of $30 million right here in the heart of the people.”
Humboldt Park has a rich Puerto Rican heritage and has faced serious health challenges for years. The pandemic really highlighted these issues, with the area seeing more cases and deaths than other parts of Chicago.
A 2018 survey revealed that 47% of adults in Humboldt Park are obese, which is way higher than the national average of 29.5%. Plus, 13% of residents have diabetes, and 18% show signs of depression, both above national rates.
“Much like this community, my family has roots here,” Aquino shared. “This center is a lifeline for a neighborhood that was hit hard by COVID-19.”
The new wellness center is huge, covering 45,500 square feet over three stories. It offers all sorts of services like nutritional counseling and physical therapy, plus cool amenities like an indoor track and a swimming pool.
Diego Lopez, the VP of professional services at Humboldt Park Health, mentioned that they’re ready to tackle health issues head-on. “When we open our doors, I expect a big boost in memberships and health programs,” he said.
But that’s not all. Sanchez also announced plans for 100 units of affordable housing to help fight gentrification in the area.
“This is just the beginning of a master plan for the development of this community,” Sanchez said. They’re committed to addressing health, food security, safety, and housing all at once.
