Community Equity Response Collaborative (CERCL): 黑料门University Chicago

Community Equity Response Collaborative (CERCL)

Champions of health equity in local communities

Initially founded as COVID Equity Response Collaborative: 黑料门(CERCL) in the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, CERCL has transitioned from testing, contact tracing, and vaccinations to a general community health equity collaborative model.

Today, the 鈥淐鈥� in CERCL stands for 鈥淐ommunity.鈥� An interdisciplinary collaborative representing 黑料门students, faculty, and staff from public health, medicine, nursing, law, and social work, we advocate for structural and health equity by teaming with Chicago area partners to address pressing community concerns and broad health initiatives ranging from gun violence prevention to mental health.

CERCL Programming

CERCL is a primary partner to collaborative residents and community-based organizations wishing to create鈥攁nd realize鈥攕ustainable visions for a healthy and prosperous community. Our programming includes:

Community Engagement Fellowships: Our semester-long fellowships allow students to develop skills in critical thinking, intercultural and interprofessional collaborations, and effective communication, as well as civic, social, and environmental responsibility. In addition to didactic work, fellows are assigned to community partners in Maywood to co-manage a community-based project.
Community Conversations: We partner with local organizations to provide regular discussions with community members about identified health, social, and economic needs. You can watch recorded sessions on YouTube.
Program Support: Our interdisciplinary team lends its knowledge and skills to elevate community organizations in various ways, including program development, evaluation, and capacity building. Collaborative and earnest, we promote learning, equity, and mutual trust.

CERCL in Action

Leveraging our community-centered approach, partnerships, and interdisciplinary expertise, we have become a partner for community advocacy, empowerment, and impact in West Suburban Cook County. We have:

Provided free and accessible COVID testing to more than 1,500 community residents in West Suburban Cook County
Trained over 80 students and community residents on contact tracing, including soft-skills training, to improve communication and optimize effectiveness of outreach efforts in diverse communities
Screened approximately 1,100 people for social and legal influencers of health and provided tailored support where needed
Distributed more than 5,000 personal protective equipment (PPE)/resource bags containing face masks, sanitation wipes, a magnet with CERCL contact information, general community resource sheets, and COVID-19 FAQs
Implemented 20 virtual, live-streamed, and interactive sessions鈥攊n both English and Spanish鈥攐n COVID-19-related topics in partnership with experts and a local media outlet
Co-hosted at least 19 vaccine clinics at various community events
Conducted multiple cohorts of the Community Engagement Fellowship empowering students to plan and execute community projects alongside local partners

Get Involved

How 黑料门University Chicago launched CERCL

WATCH THIS VIDEO TO LEARN MORE about how 黑料门University Chicago launched CERCL, the COVID Equity Response Collaborative 黑料门to serve the Maywood's minority populations.

Champions of health equity in local communities

Community Engagement Fellowships: Our semester-long fellowships allow students to develop skills in critical thinking, intercultural and interprofessional collaborations, and effective communication, as well as civic, social, and environmental responsibility. In addition to didactic work, fellows are assigned to community partners in Maywood to co-manage a community-based project.
Community Conversations: We partner with local organizations to provide regular discussions with community members about identified health, social, and economic needs. You can watch recorded sessions on YouTube.
Program Support: Our interdisciplinary team lends its knowledge and skills to elevate community organizations in various ways, including program development, evaluation, and capacity building. Collaborative and earnest, we promote learning, equity, and mutual trust.

Provided free and accessible COVID testing to more than 1,500 community residents in West Suburban Cook County
Trained over 80 students and community residents on contact tracing, including soft-skills training, to improve communication and optimize effectiveness of outreach efforts in diverse communities
Screened approximately 1,100 people for social and legal influencers of health and provided tailored support where needed
Distributed more than 5,000 personal protective equipment (PPE)/resource bags containing face masks, sanitation wipes, a magnet with CERCL contact information, general community resource sheets, and COVID-19 FAQs
Implemented 20 virtual, live-streamed, and interactive sessions鈥攊n both English and Spanish鈥攐n COVID-19-related topics in partnership with experts and a local media outlet
Co-hosted at least 19 vaccine clinics at various community events
Conducted multiple cohorts of the Community Engagement Fellowship empowering students to plan and execute community projects alongside local partners