Sankofa Wellness Village 

Garfield Park Rite to Wellness Collaborative Wins 

 $10M to create a Walkable Village in West Garfield Park

Recipient of the Pritzker Traubert Foundation Chicago Prize 

(Awarded January 2023) 

April 25, 2023 

4:30 PM - 5:30 PM CT 

Webinar 

The term Sankofa comes from West Africa. It means to go back for what has been lost.  That is exactly what the Garfield Park Rite to Wellness Collaborative is doing with the Sankofa Wellness Village. The group is the winner of the $10M from the Pritzker Traubert Foundation Chicago Prize. The project was one of six South and West side finalists for the prize.

The Sankofa Village will include a wellness center, clinic, arts center, grocery stores and more. These  services will reduce or eliminate some disparities because it offers essential services to the West Garfield Park community. All of the services will be within 15 minutes of walking distance of the majority of its residents. The key project elements that won over the jurors included the community impact, committed partners, and feasibility. 

Overall, five sites would be developed with multiple structures and purposes. The longer term goal is to improve the life expectancy gap in the area which is below norms according to the Chicago Health Atlas. On a shorter timeline, the development hopes to improve the health of its residents in the next five years with behavioral health, and maternal health and child services. 

When this project is completed, it will be a wonderful step forward for reducing health disparities and advancing health equity. 

Join us to learn more about the project and its anticipated positive impact to the community and its residents. 

Panel 

Swathi Staley, Chief Community Investment Officer & General Counsel,  YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago

Lee Francis, MD, MPH, President & CEO, Erie Family Health Centers

Ayesha Jaco, Executive Director, West Side United

David Ansell, MD, MPH, Senior Vice President for Community Health Equity for Rush University Medical Center and Associate Provost for Community Affairs for Rush University 

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Questions? Contact the IOMC office by sending an email to iomcstaff@iomc.org. 

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