Community Engagement

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Introduction

We partner with community organizations that provide access to nutritious food, shelter and other essentials, and we support initiatives that reduce violence, address trauma and build safer communities.

Our Progress

4,036 volunteer hours
in fiscal year 2022
NM Volunteers working in a kitchen

Donating Our Time

  • 60% increase in volunteer hours from the year prior
  • 174 volunteer events supporting 91 organizations

Back

550+
educational and support programs impacting 25,500 People
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Informed Communities

  • Mental Health First Aid community member trainings
  • 1,000+ no-cost healthy cooking classes and demonstrations since 2015
5+ million awarded

in community grants program

Team NM members in their NM shirts creating the Piece of Peace Garden in Bronzeville

Prioritizing Our Communities

  • 91 grants awarded addressing identified community health needs
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Organizations We Work With

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Dundee Township offer youth programming in education and career development, character and leadership, health and life skills, sports, fitness and recreation, and the arts.

With support from Northwestern Medicine, the organization has been able to run summer programming, including engaging physical activities, outdoor education and academic support. The program provides healthy meals and snacks every day, and offers a secure environment that prioritizes social and emotional learning and trauma-informed care as essential elements in all programming and staff training.

DeKalb County Community Foundation supports organizations and communities throughout DeKalb County by proactively addressing their needs and expanding, managing and distributing philanthropic resources.

The organization pooled financial assistance from Northwestern Medicine and other donors to purchase a Mobile Health Unit for the DeKalb County Health Department, which will use it to deliver critical health services to DeKalb County communities where many residents have barriers to care.

Hope Haven of DeKalb County provides programs and services to those experiencing homelessness to help them increase their wages, move to affordable housing, reduce debt and more. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, services like this have never been more critical.

Support from Northwestern Medicine has helped Hope Haven provide emergency shelter, food and supportive services, including case management, therapy, psychiatry, nursing care, life skills training, and employment and housing assistance.

Kelly Hall YMCA offer trusted health resources and programs that will help community members take action. These programs provide the tools and support needed to eat better, move more, and live healthier, including:

  • Free fitness classes
  • Nutrition and cooking classes
  • Health education events
  • Health screenings (including blood pressure, diabetes, and weight assessments)