♡
10
Years advancing health equity in
Chicago
♧
60+
Community partners and
collaborators
▤
120
Publications, reports and briefs
♩
24
Podcast episodes on the voice of
equity
Stay in the loop
Follow us on social media for the latest on health equity news, community events, and how we’re building a healthier Chicago — Together
♧
Data & Reports
Neighborhood-level indicators tracking life expectancy and access across Chicago.
◎
Community Partnerships
Co-designed projects with residents, clinics, and neighborhood organizations.
♢
Policy Engagement
Translating evidence into testimony, briefs, and city and state policy action.
Looking for more fantastic podcasts? Visit our SoundCloud page, where you can explore all the episodes, including fresh new tracks!
From the Blog
Recent Posts
All Posts →
Youth Mental Health
Youth Mental Health First Aid Training
On April 9, 2025, the Center hosted an in-person Youth Mental Health First Aid training at DePaul University, led by Co-Director Dr. Raj C. Shah, bringing together community members, students, and professionals.
Continue reading →
Building Belonging
Building Belonging: The Role of Chicago Scholar Ambassadors
Dr. Raj Shah led a belonging workshop with the senior cohort from Chicago Scholars on how belonging affects health outcomes — with students’ own poems about where they belong in Chicago.
Continue reading →
Conferences
Recap of the Health Equity & Social Justice Conference 2024
The 14th HESJ Conference at DePaul brought a poster session and a community-based panel led by keynote speaker Melissa Maguire — a day to rekindle networks and celebrate our community partners.
Continue reading →Leadership
Our Directors
One co-director from each founding university: DePaul and Rush lead the Center together.
DePaul University
Maria Joy Ferrera, PhD, LCSW
Co-Director, Center for Community Health Equity
Associate Professor in DePaul University’s Department of Social Work, with a PhD and MA from the University of Chicago, Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice. Over 25 years as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in child welfare and medical social work, and continuing work in immigrant communities.
Co-Founding Co-Chair of the Coalition for Immigrant Mental Health, and a volunteer Mental Health Evaluator with The Midwest Human Rights Consortium.
Rush University
Raj C. Shah, MD
Co-Director, Center for Community Health Equity
A geriatrician at Rush University Medical Center and Professor in the Department of Family & Preventive Medicine and the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center for over 20 years.
His work at the Center focuses on how activities that advance belonging improve community health equity by countering the impact of syndemics.
GET INVOLVED
There is a way in for everyone
Teach with our materials, submit your work, use our open resources, or build a project with us. Community organizations, students, clinicians, and faculty all have a place in this work.
Teaching Guide
A free classroom companion to our Chicago Reader collaboration.
Submit Your Work
Share research, essays, or community reporting with our network.
Resource Library
Neighborhood data, toolkits, and syllabi — free to use.
Collaborate
Propose a partnership and we will co-design the project.
Stay Informed. Stay Empowered.
Stay connected with the people and progress driving health equity in Chicago. Our newsletter brings you inspiring stories, important resources, and opportunities to take action in your community.