Cicero, Illinois Selected as Finalist for RWJF Culture of Health Prize
Community Health Efforts Recognized as Cicero Advances in Prize Selection Process
Cicero, IL (March 13, 2018) — Cicero, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, has been chosen as a finalist for the RWJF Culture of Health Prize given by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The national Prize honors communities that embody the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s commitment to health as a shared value and have the ability to organize multiple stakeholders to ensure positive health outcomes for the entire community.
“We are thrilled to advance as a RWJF Culture of Health Prize finalist community. Thanks to collaboration across all sectors we’ve been able to build a culture of health and create sustainable systems, as demonstrated by the dramatic reduction in community violence and gang activity,” said Meg Hefty, Associate Director of Sarah’s Inn, and a steering committee member of the Cicero Community Collaborative, a coalition of local service providers. “To the Cicero community, this is an opportunity to share nationally the remarkable work our local community has been achieving over the past decade.”
The Prize is guided by the principle that every community has the potential to leverage its unique strengths and be a healthier place for residents to live and thrive. To earn finalist status, Cicero had to demonstrate how their efforts reflect the six Prize criteria:
“Selected from nearly 200 applicants, these RWJF Culture of Health Prize finalists recognize what it takes to build a healthy community. They have set themselves apart with innovation grounded in evidence; partnerships across non-profit, education, business, and local government sectors, among others; and an unrelenting commitment to all residents having an opportunity to lead their healthiest lives” said Richard Besser, MD, RWJF president and CEO. “We now look forward to visiting these finalist communities to learn more about their work and to help spread their ideas and solutions throughout America.”
The community of Cicero joins nine other finalist communities from across the country. Winners will be announced this fall. If selected as a Prize winner, Cicero will be given a $25,000 cash prize and a national platform to share their story and lessons learned with the country. The community will also be part of a national network of past Prize winners.
Cicero is a part of the United Way of Metro Chicago Neighborhood Network Initiative, a region-wide collective impact strategy focused on addressing the greatest needs in 10 Chicago neighborhoods. Founded in late 2014, the Cicero Neighborhood Network is guided by lead agency Cicero Community Collaborative and supported by the United Way of Metro Chicago. The Network set a bold goal of 10,000 Cicero children successfully meeting developmental and academic benchmarks by 2027, and supporting youth and families is the key that inspires community efforts to implement actions toward better health.
To learn about the work of the 35 previous Prize winners, visit www.rwjf.org/prize.
The RWJF Culture of Health Prize is a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.
The Cicero Community Collaborative (CCC) is a coalition of local service providers whose mission is to enhance the quality of life for Cicero children, youth and families by working together to improve educational outcomes, parent engagement, health, and safety. To stay in the loop, follow the Cicero Community Collaborative on Facebook.
United Way of Metro Chicago fights for the health, education, financial stability and safety of every person in every neighborhood across the region. We advance the common good on both a regional and neighborhood level by focusing on the building blocks for thriving people and communities: Access to quality health care, a good education, financial stability and ensuring people are safe. United Way’s Neighborhood Network Initiative supports and coordinates investment and programming in 10 city and suburban communities to address community challenges and improve the lives of residents.