GPCC strives to address the social and environmental determinants of health, bringing additional health resources to Garfield Park. Our team works to increase green space and food access through the Garfield Park Garden Network and Neighborhood Market, activate public spaces and reduce violence through community events, and make connections to wellness lifestyles and health resources. In the past year, we have extended our programs to address the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, sharing protective gear, housing support, and offering direct financial assistance to local residents.

 Core Wellness Programs

• The Garfield Park Garden Network, a coalition of green spaces and community gardens on three acres of urban land, and the Garfield Park Community Eco-Orchard, now under development.
• The Garfield Park Neighborhood Market, which sells produce grown by the Garfield Park Garden Network, local gardens and urban farms, and hosts local food and beverage businesses, as well as members of The Hatchery Chicago. The Neighborhood Market also incorporates nutrition education and healthy cooking demonstrations.
• The Youth Garden Corps, a paid summer internship that helps local teens gain work experience and learn about health and sustainability as they work in community gardens and at the Neighborhood Market.
• Community and public safety events that promote healthy, active lifestyles for children and adults, including PlayStreets, block parties that encourage physical activity, and other community bicycling and increase daily physical activity in the neighborhood.

We work in partnership with local health centers, including behavioral health providers.

Our Wellness Coordinator participated in the planning for West Side United, and serves on their Executive Leadership Council. Our team also works with Rush Medical Center, Habilitative Systems, Bobby E. Wright Behavioral Health, and others.

We support Healthy Chicago 2025, the current plan from the City of Chicago Department of Public Health, which highlights the importance of addressing the social determinants of health.  

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We also partner with the Midwest Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center, which provides technical assistance services to communities in EPA’s Region 5 territory facing environmental justice issues. It aims to empower communities and help them advance environmental justice by providing tools and resources to address environmental challenges. The center is an important resource for communities to build capacity, identify solutions, obtain relevant training, and foster collaboration to address environmental injustices. Apply for assistance here.