World AIDS Day: December 1, 2011

post by CHC member, Antionette Fisher



Chicago Health Corps and The Department of Public Health at CTA Blue Line Lake station.



     December 1, 2011 was World Aids Day and 2011 marks the 30th year that HIV has been a part of our lives. World AIDS day is dedicated to educating and motivating people around the world about HIV and AIDS. Chicago Health Corps member spent the day partnering with organizations across Chicago to spread awareness and commemorate the global events.CHC members spent the morning with the Chicago Department of Public Health at CTA El train stations passing out Worlds AIDS Day packets. A total of 20,000 free condom packets were passed out during the morning commute (7am- 10am) at five El stops: Howard Red line, 95^th Red line, Lake and Thompson Center Blue line and Austin Green line. Travelers at the El locations were receptive and open to receiving the information, some even asked for more to be able to share with friends and loved ones.



Chicago Health Corps  and The Department of Public Health at CTA Green Line Austin station.



     On the West Side, Chicago Health Corps members partnered up with Circle Family Health Center Network at the West Chicago Avenue, Chicago Public Library to offer HIV testing.  Circle Family Health Center Network focuses on bringing high-quality primary and preventive health care and behavioral health services to the medically underserved residents of Chicago’s West Side, and its surrounding communities. Michelle Williams, a case manager for Circle, was very appreciative to having CHC members there. “Due to CHC members being able to pass out flyers and being open to answering questions, it really made this event move manageably. The CHC members definitely were awesome and were able to help me bring Circle’s numbers up!

     Also on the West Side CHC members serving with Erie Family Health Center in Humboldt Park supported a Lending Hands for Life event. LHL is an award-winning HIV/AIDS program and an extension of Erie Health’s mission to provide comprehensive, community based quality health care regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.CHC members registered and distributed Worlds AIDS Day information, buttons, and pins.



Lily, Maggie, Danielle, Lisa Sun, James, Shermaine and Alina at the Lakeview Howard Brown Elephant Store



     Last but not least, CHC members linked up with Howard Brown Health Center, to provide support at two of the Center’s Brown Elephant resale shops. Howard Brown exists to eliminate the disparities in health care experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people through research, education and the provision of services that promote health and wellness. The proceeds from the Brown Elephant resale shops go directly to the Howard Brown Health Centers.  Howard Brown distributed awareness materials, lubricants and condoms as a part of World AIDS Day.CHC members assisted with organizing merchandise and customer assistance to the shoppers at the Andersonville and Lakeview locations. The store contains everyday items from things like furniture and clothes to jewelry and kitchen ware. Customers poured in the store and all seemed very eager to shop for the cause!

Savannah, Neerja, Sydney,Jessica and Matt at the Andersonville Howard Brown Elephant Store.

     The Chicago Health Corps was proud to have been able to serve with the Chicago Department of Public Health, Circle Family Health Center Network, Erie Humboldt Park and the Howard Brown Health Center!

Meet the Members: Alina

Name: Alina Khek Nuth

Hometown: Chicago, IL

College attended and major: 
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Molecular and Cellular Biology

Fun fact:
My middle name is actually the result of my mom wanting to see her maiden name somewhere on my birth certificate. I didn't used to like that, but now I think it is a fun fact.


Favorite quote: "undocumented and unafraid" -my friends, peers, and classmates.

What you did before AmeriCorps?
I got my bachelors :)
I had fun side jobs during college summers working promotions in Chicago.
I spent (2009/2010) living in England.

Did your past work experience/school apply to your year of service?
School involved learning about dynamic structures and mechanisms that occur inside/outside/between cells. Not directly applicable to my service year. However,  I firmly believe that this type of study has equipped me with valuable critical thinking skills that will allow me navigate and contextualize my year of service.

Why did you choose to do AmeriCorps?
I wanted to understand better (through direct service) the intersections of medicine, public health, and social justice in urban communities.

What are you doing as an AmeriCorps member?
I am a Health Educator for Heartland International Health Centers. It is an agency that operates many health clinics on Chicago's north side. I am currently placed at two clinics in the Uptown neighborhood. The first is a school based health center at Uplift High School and the seceond site is at the Wilson Clinic. My objectives are wide ranging due to the diverse patient population that these two clinics serve. But currently, I am involved in the start up of nutrition programming at Wilson and reproductive health/sex education in the classrooms at Uplift.

What are your plans after AmeriCorps, and how does your year of service apply to your future plans?I am not sure what my plans are after AmeriCorps. I'm trying to play by ear. So far the possibilities include but are not limited to combinations of:
Continuing work as a health educator in Chicago, emphasizing more on refugee/immigrant health. or adolescent health. or both.
Become a master of the arts. (specifically in knitting, dancing, sewing, cooking, and poetry.)
Explore other cites of America or move out of the country. Most likely move to Cambodia & live.
Apply to medical school and really learn how to integrate science&service (this ultimately has been/still is the main goal)

Favorite part of CHC so far?
Being back in Chicago and not just being a consumer of services in my community. Through CHC, I am proud to say that I can provide them too. And it's education.. the best type of service from my perspective.

Deep thoughts by the Chicago Health Corps: If you had an extra room in your apartment what would you use it for?
a darkroom.

November 19th, 2011: Chicago Health Corps Share-A-Meal (SAM) Event at Interfaith House

Post by CHC member, Neerja Joshi

After much coordination, much soliciting of donations, and much potato-boiling, the Chicago Health Corps was finally ready on Saturday, November 19^th to prepare and serve a three-course Thanksgiving-themed dinner to the sixty-four residents of Interfaith House, a facility that provides residential care for homeless men and women in medical recovery. Upon arriving at the facility, the CHC Members dove into preparing the following dishes for the residents:

Appetizer: Green bean casserole

Entrée: Split pea soup with ham and mashed potatoes

Dessert: Pumpkin pie

Accompanied by a refreshing bottle of mango juice



James and Lisa-Sun worked tirelessly to cook a massive amount of split pea soup while Farmer Sydney and Jessica showed the potatoes who was boss





Thankfully, after having prepared the soup, pumpkin pies, and boiling forty pounds of potatoes the night before, the CHC members mainly had to focus on preparing the casserole and potatoes. 

Or so they thought. 

It turned out that some of the residents had dietary restrictions, and would not be able to eat the pre-set menu items. Nevertheless, the CHC Members rose to the occasion and prepared separate dishes to accommodate these residents. Jessica even made an entire pot of delicious vegetable soup! 

While all of the cooking was happening in the kitchen some of the CHC Members relaxed with the residents in the dining area:

Matt, Robert, Sana, and Shermaine played a spirited game of Uno in the dining room while the dinner was being prepared

At 4:45, it was finally time to serve the meal to the residents. After all of our hard work, it was encouraging to see residents return for second helpings of casserole, soup, and pie. When we had finally finished cleaning the kitchen and were ready to depart for the evening, we were rewarded by a sincere chorus of thanks from the residents.  The CHC not only got this service project done, but we got it done extremely well. 

But wait! 

The CHC members would NEVER have been able to pull off such a successful dinner without the generous support of the following organizations:

November 18th 2011: CHC In-Service on HIV/AIDS

Post by CHC Member, Becca M.

Over a span of 25 years (1981-2006), 25 million people died of AIDS across that world.  In the United States alone there are 1.2 million people living with HIV, of which 1 in 5 don’t know that they are infected.  This pressing topic was the focus of our latest CHC in-service in which we learned and discussed the issues of HIV/AIDS.

Every CHC in-service has been a wonderful opportunity to learn about important issues or skills that will keep the group at the edge of what is going on in the public health spectra and this week was no exception.  The day began with a presentation by Jane Hereth, the Coordinator of Support Services at the Chicago Women’s AIDS Project.  She explained what HIV is and how it spreads.  She then focused on the issues of treatment and support and what her organization does to try to eliminate some of these barriers for women.  The day and learning continued with an introduction to HIV prevention and outreach within the MSM community in Chicago by Jeff Gloftelty the manager of outreach services at Howard Brown. 

The discussion continued throughout the afternoon with members sharing their own experiences with HIV.  We then viewed the powerful 1989 documentary, “Common Threads: Stories from the Quilt” that is a collection of profiles of people touched by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, as they create the quilt squares to honor their loved ones in the AIDS Memorial Quilt.  This intense film discussed the stigmatism of AIDS and the neglect of the United States government to do anything about the epidemic in the beginning.  The day wrapped up with the unwrapping of the female condom.  This CHC event, planned and executed by CHC members, was a wonderful opportunity that shared important information with all of its members. 

Celebrando La Mujer Latina--A March of Dimes Event

Post by CHC Member, Becca M.

Good communication is important because it allows people to express their feelings, thoughts, comments, and concerns allowing others to respond to these issues.  The lack of communication can cause problems as the information that is important for others to know is not expressed.  Communication between mothers and daughters was the focus of the March of Dimes “Celebrando la Mujer Latina” on Saturday November 19 in Oak Lawn, IL.  Two CHC members, Maggie and I, helped facilitate this discussion during break-out sessions during the event that about 300 women participated.  It was a very interesting day filled with key note speakers talking about effective communication and puberty, break-out discussions, a three course meal, and dancing.  It was a great celebration of Latina women and hopefully opened the doors to better communication in their families.    

CHC In-Service in the Auburn-Gresham Community

post by CHC member, Lisa-Sun Gresham (how appropriate!)

Just another gorgeous day at Perspectives Charter in Auburn-Gresham

  

The day began briskly and early with a significant commute down to the Auburn-Gresham area of Chicago for our latest in-service day!  Sleepily riding the Red Line I embarked with fellow CHC member Savannah Jackson to the 79^th stop, narrowly missing other members standing on the train platform. Naturally (and foolishly) we banged on the train windows attempting to gain the attention of one CHC member we spotted through the glass. Our attempts were futile.

It is no joke when locals say the 79^th bus is the busiest and most jam-packed bus line in all of Chicago as we crammed sardine like into the front of the bus and slowly made our way to the back in preparation to arrive at Perspectives Charter School.  Again I saw a small entourage of CHC members scampering to make the bus stop, but to no avail- instead I pointed and giggled as the scenario played out one more time!

Finally at Perspectives we learned about the many facets of the ELEV8 program and all the activities it provides the students, including being given a wonderful tour of their garden and built in health clinic that is open to the public with a separate door.  We were all greeted kindly by clinic staff and pleasantly by students practicing the 26 Principals of a Disciplined Life. This model focuses on building a foundational culture of success for students to prepare them for their time in college, the workplace and in life.



Becca and James (class clowns) heading into the Access Health Center at Perspectives Middle.



We then had training on community mapping systems detailing how local teens canvassed their communities street by street, armed with cell phones and clipboards, and searched storefronts.  This was done with the intention of determining the resources available to them or updating businesses that were no longer in operation.

Mickey and Farmer Sydney talk about the school garden and compost area.

We got a tour of The Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation and were able to take a peek at their proposed plan to create a new railway stop for 79^th street, to hopefully alleviate the congestion on the busiest bus line in all of Chicago.  A few of us even received free tickets for the showing of “It Shoudda Been Me” by Dr. Doriane C. Miller, a play made to explore issues of mental health.

It was a gorgeous fall day to be out and about on the Perspectives campus.

Afterward we had a delicious southern comfort meal as an entire CHC team, with entrees ranging from catfish to beef tips and world famous peach cobbler for dessert at BJ’s Market and Bakery! Full of good food we meandered back to Perspectives for a final training on Classroom Management.  We discussed the various tips, tricks, and methods to effectively work with different age groups as a leader, facilitator, and educator. By the end of the day we shared our personal experiences in classrooms or as presenters, and played a wild game of Catch Phrase as a team building activity.  Picture hot potato mixed with charades. Yep. That was us.

Checking out how school lunch is done at Perspectives.



This school is beautiful. We're so glad Mickey and the rest of Perspectives Middle School let us come for visit!



Vision Screenings to Truck Farm: Site Visits with CHC Members!

Post by CHC Program Director, Karen Berg

Each year CHC members take on projects within their host site organization to improve the health and wellbeing of the community they are serving.  As the Program Director, most of what I “see” of our member’s direct service is through their semi-monthly time sheets and activity logs.  So a few times a year I like to hit the pavement to visit our members ‘in the trenches’ as they educate, engage and link community members to health services. 

My tour of CHC sites October 17^th – 24^th gave me an opportunity to check in with members one-on –one, learn more about what they are doing, where they serve and at some sites see them in action. 

Monday October 17^th: Neerja Joshi met me in the lobby of bustling Stroger Hospital in Cook County.  Clad in her blue lab coat, Neerja guided me through the labyrinth of wards and hallways to her office in the Department of Radiation Oncology.  Serving with the American Cancer Society-Illinois Division, Neerja has been busy designing a volunteer program to expand the services to cancer patients at the hospital.  Before leaving, I listened to Neerja describe ACS services to a newly diagnosed patient and successfully schedule him for his first visit with a social worker.  

Tuesday October 18^th: The Amundsen School Based Health Center’s bulletin board was the first glimpse I had of Matt Dudley’s host site.  Matt gave me a tour of the clinic and of the health education materials he’s designing for Erie’s health campaigns.  Matt has made connections within the school from ‘unknowingly’ meeting the principal to establishing a great connection with the P.E. instructor.  Leaving one high school for another, I met member Ayla Karamustafa at Lakeview High School’s School Based Health Center.  Both centers, sponsored by Erie Family Health Center, are new host sites this year.  Ayla has jumped right in setting up a texting reminder program for patients and designing a health education bulletin board.  Rounding out the day was Perspectives Charter Middle School to visit Antionette Fisher who is completing her 2010 term of service at the end of December.  Antionette, better known as Mickey to the students, was running non-stop to bring students into health compliance so they could remain in school.  That means lots of reminders home, calls to parents and trips with students to the school health center. 



Matt Dudley stands outside the Viking Health Center at Amundsen High School.



Ayla Karamustafa shows off the educational bulletin board within the Lakeview School Based Health Center.



Wednesday October 19^th:  Erie Family Health Center is a long standing host site of the Chicago Health Corps.  While the school sites are new for Erie and CHC, I started my day at Erie’s Humboldt Park site that opened in 1986 to visit Nina Litton and Rebecca Maddrell.  It was my first look at the newly renovated health center and health promotions department.  Nina and Rebecca gave me the grand tour and shared stories of their health education and outreach efforts across the community.  One of Nina’s priorities is re-engaging patients with diabetes to receive medical services.  Rebecca shared stories of her nutrition education classes with children.  That afternoon, I visited Devin Payne at the Erie Teen Center.  Devin is gearing up for the upcoming flu season by developing outreach and educational materials that will be used at Erie’s school-based sites in addition to the Teen Center. 



Nina Litton and Rebecca Maddrell at Erie Family Health Center-Humboldt Park



Thursday October 20th: My visit with Jessica Torres was an active start to my day escorting students to and from dental van visits AND vision/hearing screenings at her site.  Jessica is an alumnus of her host site, Orozco Academy in Pilsen, and in addition to linking students to services, she assists with after school programs including a running and health careers club.  After catching my breath from my morning at Orozco, I met up with Maggie Grinnell and Lily Camp at another Erie community health center in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood.  Maggie and Lily were busy researching answers to questions from high school students in their Teen Pregnancy Prevention (TPP) class that they teach at Noble Street Charter School.  They are also planning a new curriculum for Erie’s La Vida Sana program for women. 

Friday October 21^st: My calendar entry for this day was “Respiratory Health Association (RHA)” day.  RHA, a long standing CHC host site, hosts four CHC members this year.  I began my day with Danielle Nelson who supports RHA’s lung health programs.  Danielle is preparing for the annual COPD conference that brings together hundreds of people living with COPD to an educational and social event in November.  After that I headed to the ‘Jungle’—the cubicle shared by members Lisa-Sun Gresham, Savannah Jackson and James Raspanti—where they were preparing for the afternoon’s Fight Asthma Now (FAN) class.  We piled into the RHA’s Toyota and headed to Melrose Park where the terrific trio was teaching over 25 students ranging from 4^th to 8^th grade.  The kids flowed into the classroom greeting their instructors for their final lesson about asthma and how they can manage it.  James, Savannah and Lisa-Sun lead them through activities that had them talking and, at one point, even jumping up and down.     



Sydney Weydemeyer “Farmer Sydney” distributes vegetable seeds to kids at the end of a Truck Farm education session.



Monday October 24^th: Alina Nuth and I walked through the halls of Uplift Community Academy in the Uptown neighborhood after she distributed consent forms to students in their homeroom classes.  Alina spends half of her week at Uplift and the other half across the street at Heartland International Health Center’s newest community site on Wilson Avenue.  Alina is the clinic’s first ever AmeriCorps member and she is busy creating nutrition education materials and soliciting area businesses to create a children’s play area in the waiting room.    Next up was a visit to Truck Farm with Farmer Sydney (a.k.a. Sydney Weydemeyer) at Nettlehorst Elementary school.  I learned standing shoulder to shoulder with 1^st graders about nutritious foods and how fruits and vegetables grow from the back of Petunia, the farm on wheels.  That evening I headed to Chicago’s Austin community for a Food Day event at Westside Health Authority’s brand new community kitchen.  Member Sana Syal is the first AmeriCorps member at WHA and was instrumental in organizing the educational event complete healthy food tastings and cooking demonstrations.  Sana expertly moderated the panel of speakers from Chicago organizations that are striving to bring fresh and nutritious foods to Chicago communities.  



Sana Syal moderates a panel of speakers at the Westside Health Authority’s Food Day community forum. 



Meet the Members: Antionette

Mickey (left) with family

Hometown:

Chicago (Humboldt Park, Leclaire Hearst Community, Englewood)

College:

East West University, Major: Behavioral Social Science

Fun fact:

Every one calls me Mickey, I use to have a really squeaky mouse voice and loved Mickey Mouse.

Favorite quote:

“Smile and the world will smile back”. My grandfather

What you did before AmeriCorps?

I use to work at Friendship Ventures for 6 years, a camp that provided services for those who are mentally and physically disabled.

Did your past work/school experience apply to your year of service?

Yes. I feel mental health is still overlooked as a part of health. There were also physical components that tied to exercise and eating habits.

Why did you choose to do AmeriCorps?

There are a lot people I know that have done this, and they credit AmeriCorps for giving them the experiences to be where they are today.

What are you doing as an AmeriCorps member?

I serve at Perspectives Middle Academy as their Health Coordinator. I am responsible for incorporating health initiatives in programs at the school. I also do big health drives for HIV/AIDS, Diabetes, Oral Health, Hygiene and much more. I also do a Community Health fair which is held twice yearly. I have been able to incorporate two new programs around family health as well.

What are your plans after AmeriCorps, and how does your year of service?

I would love to continue at Perspectives, so I am looking to be hired in a more permanent spot. I also plan to finish my degree in Behavioral Social Science, and look into a school for Public Health. In five years or so I hope to be opening my own Non- profit center that would provide a safe haven for those with special needs in Chicago.

What is your favorite part of CHC, so far?

I love the trainings and the service projects that we get to do outside of our host site, they just make you feel so good.

Deep Thoughts by Chicago Health Corps: If you had 1,000,000 dollars to give away, how would you do it?
I have been thinking a bit and I feel I have always known the answer to this.

I was brought up to always think of others and to do as much as I possibly could. The first thing I would do with a million dollars is donate a fourth of it to a community health center. Peoples health is more important than they give credit to. I feel with better advertisement and programs detail to the people, the community would be more welcomed to community health centers.

I would give a fourth of the money to the homeless people in Chicago. For some reason there are just way to many homeless people out there. This money would provide shelter for them to stay as well as some resources to help them get back on their feet.

The second half I would spend where I live. I would give this money to Alderman JoAnn Thompson, hoping that she would incorporate a community center where there can be wrap around services for the all of the people in the community.

With that said 1, 000,000 simply isnt enough, there is so much to be done.

CHC Potluck

post by CHC member, Becca M. 


The Chicago Health Corps is not only passionate about providing health care for the underprivileged, but they are also passionate about food.  This was evident at our first potluck last Sunday.  Everyone fought through the rainy weather to arrive at the lovely hostesses Nina and Danielle’s apartment with their home cooked treasures at hand.  There was sushi, salsa, pizza, squash, potatoes, pasta salad, soup, brownies, a side salad and much more.  While the food was unbelievable the company was even better.  We talked and hung out for hours until it was time to go home and get ready for the week ahead.  As I was leaving I was already looking forward to the next potluck and was ready to up my game on the cooking.

I love this candid shot. We look like such a hip crowd of potluckers.

RHAMC represent!!! We're quite the formidable team against lung disease.

Tons o' food! Thank you guacamole, thank you beans and barley, thank you
veggie pizza, thank you garlicky mashed potatoes, thank you sushi rolls. 

An amazing salad!!! What can we say, nothing beats a good homemade salad.

Alina,  Nina,  Shermaine, and...who recognizes those socks?
These four CHCers lingered a little bit longer, enjoying the ambiance and hospitality.

Thought CHCers were all SERVICE and no GAMES?

Chicago Health Corps gets Tricky for Halloween

post written by CHC Member, Sydney W.

We CHCers were pretty tricky last Friday at our Halloween-themed in-service.  It all started when a ninja walked into the 6^th floor conference room at PHIMC, luckily it soon identified itself as Lisa-Sun.  The tricks continued that evening at our Service event at the Irving Park YMCA’s Trick or Trunk Halloween Carnival.  Our resident ninja Lisa-Sun found another resident ninja, James, and they both headed over to the haunted pagoda to do some more tricking (apparently Ninja James gave Sana quite a fright).  

 

Ninja James and Ninja Lisa-Sun warming up for their night of tricking

Included by special request of Ninja James.
It does more justice to his ninja stealth.



Even the car we used to pass out candy to the Trick or Trunkers was acting tricky- was it a Subaru dressed up as a truck or a truck dressed up as a Subaru?  Those stationed outside passed out candy to princesses, Buzz Light Years, pimps, Yoda, Pebbles from the Flintstones, kids who had forgotten their costumes, parents who’d forgotten their kids...

 

Alina, Nina, Sana, Sydney, and Jessica manning the Trick or Trunk station.  Note Sana caught mid-act.

 

Alina and Sydney stand by as Jessica with her scary mask creeps out from the trunk to give children candy



 

Who says girls can’t get kookie even if they aren’t in the Kookie Carnvial!



Although the Kookie Carnival was not passing out cookies, as the name suggests if you pronounce it wrong, it was definitely pretty kookie.  With kids running around and CHCers running around after them, it helped CHCers practice what they preach by incorporating fitness into everyday, non-traditional fitness activities.





Karen getting’  Kookie at the Kookie Carnival



Spiderman loves to bowl. Who new?!

Shermaine helping out at the bowling lanes.

Mickey, our Master of Registration



Too much Kookie for Maggie? Assertive Ayla supervises in the background.

Danielle being super cute with the mini football toss participants.



Maybe the only thing from that night that wasn’t tricky was the Thai food, we should have known that it wasn’t going to knock our socks off… However, the 400 adorable children we played with all night did the trick!



Live music for the Trick or Trunk-ers made up for the mediocre Thai food



Meet the Members: Shermaine

Hometown:
I grew up in Flint, MI. Home town of famous people such as Bob Eubanks (old school Newlywed Game) , Sandra Bernhard (actress & comedienne), Terry Crews (actor- Everybody Hates Chris) and Michael Moore (Director-Roger and Me, Bowling for Columbine, Fahrenheit 9/11 and Sicko).

College:
I graduate with both a Bachelor in Biology and Chemistry. I am currently in graduateschool working on my MPH (Master in Public Health) and HIT (health information and technology) certification.

Fun fact:
While being in Chicago Health Corps, I have three amazing children that I teach, mentor and guide through this wonderful life. They are dynamic and a blast to experience! I am very fortunate. I am also a Master Gardner through the University of IL Extension South Suburban Cook County and Child Advocate for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate). I have a passion for assisting others and working toward transformation, so my life fits me perfectly.


Favorite quote:
"Be the change you want to see in the world" -Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi knew how to "keep it moving" through trouble and conflict. He was a powerful leader and was able to be present and move forward through the many conflicts he encountered.


Before my service:
I worked as a pharmaceutical chemist for a number of years. It was a good career choice but I was not fulfilled and needed to work with people directly in a healthcare setting.

I chose AmeriCorps because:
I wanted to gain more experience in public health and work directly in neighborhoods where there is a lack of expertise and support of health concerns that disproportionally effect them to increase learning of health concerns. Chicago Health Corps was a perfect fit for me and my goals of public health and community engagement.

What are you doing as an AmeriCorps member?
I am returning after a leave of absence and will be supporting a number of activities within the Corps by working with PHIMC, Alliance Chicago and Chicago Dept. of Public Health assisting with a new HIT initiative.

My plans after AmeriCorps: will be to work in the area of Health Information Technology assisting with implementations of electronic health records in public health organizations and increase healthcare literacy. It will be a great completion to an amazing year.

Direct quote: 
"Life is too short, I got this!" "No worries! It's all good." In other words... Keep it movin'.

My favorite part of Chicago Health Corps: is being with everyone and learning from the experiences of others.

Fun Fact: 
We have a cat, Illuminata, Lumi for short. She is great because she sits for her food and comes when I call her (most of the time).

Deep Thoughts by Chicago Health Corps: If you could be a professional athlete, what sport would you play?
I love to watch the human body in motion. I was a marathoner before I tore a ligament. I love running so I would be a distance runner. But what fun is that in my imagination, if I could be like the winged runner, Nike who is the daughter of Ares, the God of War, in Greek Mythology). The wings for extra speed and endurance to boot that would be fabulous!! 

You know you're actually friends...

when you do stuff together, even when you're not required to.

This was not a committee meeting. It was not a teambuilding activity. It was just 6 friends, who like to try new food and enjoy good company. And we just happened to all be Chicago Health Corps members.

Here we are at San Soo Gab San, an authentic and delicious Korean restaurant in Lincoln Square. Last Saturday we decided to give it a try, it was a first time for all of us, except Lisa-Sun. And it was lucky we had her there to show us the ropes.

Sana, Sydney, Jessica, Danielle, and Lisa-Sun. All of us melting in the deliciousness.

National Day of Service in Springfield, Illinois

 post written by CHC member, Becca M.

Barely awake, raining, cold and dreary Devin, Danielle, Nina, Ayla and I waited at Dunkin Donuts for the official road trip to Springfield to begin. Like a shining star the Karen-mobile opened its doors and we were off into the wild blue yonder to meet up with the rest of the corps at another Dunkin Donuts an hour away. We were then scrambled into new cars and continued on the journey to Springfield. While meeting at 6:00 am to drive in the rain for 4 hours might not sound like fun to some, it is when you are hanging out with your CHC friends. We caught up on the past weeks adventures to Latin America, class sessions, and cooking trials, listened to music, watched movies, and found interesting commonalities: seeing the Nutcracker five times live, attending big 10 schools, similarities to Oprah, liking the pink power-ranger to name a few.

arriving in the gray, cruel morning.
Luckily we have these cuddly AmeriCorps sweatshirts to beat the cold.

We finally arrived at the state’s capitol in the dreary morning and headed to the convention center. There we were greeted by smiling faces handing us AmeriCorps goodie bags, almost as good as the ones Karen gave us that morning filled with snacks. If we were tired before it was hard to remain that way as we were surrounded by over 800 other AmeriCorps members from around the state. It was then that I was reminded of the purpose of the trip, while reconnecting with everyone was fun, we were here being honored and recognized for our service.



CHC Members: Becca, Ayla, Sydney, Lily, and Sana



Check it: the old capitol building.
Quaint, even charming, right?
Wait til you see the replacement. You're gonna flip.



CHC Members: Becca, Devin, Matt, and Nina

 Governor Pat Quinn named October 13, 2011, National Service Day to honor and promote service in Illinois. While he could not join us that and other presenters had fallen sick, the news anchors were MC’s for the day and they kept the day flowing for the most part. The Mayor of Springfield talked about the importance of service, we watched videos of AmeriCorps members sharing their story and we listened to a former AmeriCorps member share what she learned in her term of service and teach us asset-based thinking. This was followed by the recognition of each AmeriCorps group specifically, while other groups jumped up eagerly when their name was called, CHC acted cool letting the suspense build after PHIMC was called and we realized this was us. At this time we were also given the opportunity to donate blood, where James let the vampire get him, and he potentially saved the lives of others in need of blood.

James: our local hero, sporting the badge
of courage from his blood donation. 



practicing our smiles for
the actual group picture that
happened seconds later.



After the session ended, the march to the capital began. CHC held up the caboose of the train. The parade blocked streets as some admirers who had no idea what was really going on cheered. At the capital we were charged to all work together instead of fight in separate groups for funding. We then got our picture taken as a group. The celebration continued as CHC found a spot on the capitol lawn to reflect, share our unique qualities, and ambitiously plan to meet for dinner.

in the very back of the parade. because we're the cool kids.

After a quick pit stop for some at Starbucks, it was back on the road again for another 4 plus hour drive home. While the day in Springfield might not have been as exciting as we might have expected, it was a wonderful day none the less. I got to spend time with people I truly enjoy spending time with as our friendships continue to strengthen. We were honored and recognized for the hard tasks and difficult things we do. It was a great road-trip and it leaves me looking forward to the next one together.


March to the Capitol: feeding that activist spirit in each of us






enough suspense, already. here she is in. in all her beauty. The New and Improved Illinois State Capitol.



chatting it up after starbucks run. please note: karen popping her head out to say hello!

beautiful fall colors in Springfield. Thanks for the good times!