# CDPH Community Centered Wellness Microgrant Announcement 10.5.26

- Date: October 5, 2026
- Type: Video
- Length: 19:05
- Topic: Announcements
- Video: [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcuAdpDHYic)
- Transcript: Machine transcription, 2,242 words ([text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/youtube/QcuAdpDHYic.txt))
- Mayor: [Brandon Johnson](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor)

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=0) Program introduction
- [1:15](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=75) Public health address
- [3:20](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=200) Mayor's remarks
- [7:23](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=443) Aldermanic perspective
- [10:41](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=641) Program overview and vision
- [14:18](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=858) Awardee recognition
- [17:06](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=1026) Closing statements

## Description

Mayor Brandon Johnson attends the CDPH Community Centered Wellness Microgrant Announcement.

## Transcript

[0:32](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=32) Good morning, everyone. My name is Yvonne Sambalin. I am the Director of Community Engagement for the Chicago Department of Public Health. We are so happy and truly thrilled to have you all here today for a very special moment for our city and for our community partners. Today, we celebrate the first round of awardees for the Community-Centered Wellness Micro-Grant Program, which is an initiative that invests directly in the organizations that know their neighborhoods best.

[1:04](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=64) Your presence today reflects the commitment we all share to building healthier, stronger, and more connected communities throughout Chicago. To begin our program, it is my pleasure to introduce our Commissioner for the Chicago Department of Public Health, Dr. Garth Brooks. Garth Walker. Good morning, everyone. How are you doing today? Well, this is a joyous day, and I want to thank everybody for being out here today,

[1:37](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=97) because one of the things that I really want to highlight is about our learnings from the pandemic six years ago. When we were at the height of COVID-19, the most consistent aspect of our city was community-based organizations. Community-based organizations to be able to call out health equity, bring people together, and talk about the real lived experiences of the individuals within our communities. Today, we have $600,000 that we'll be able to distribute across the city for people to create wellness fairs,

[2:07](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=127) online tutorials, highlight health care access issues that are really at the core of all of our communities. When we talk about the life expectancy gap and closing and building on the improvement that Mayor Johnson has been able to do, this is the truth as well as the treatment. So our ability to be able to distribute it to 18 community-based organizations that know the core of our community is how we're going to be able to keep our communities healthy

[2:38](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=158) and be able to close the life expectancy gap that we see. At the Chicago Department of Public Health, we are trying to meet people where they are. We're trying to put forth a public health approach. You've heard earlier about a lot of our different programs where we are out in the community addressing mental health, vaccinating individuals, and we're going to continue to do that work by tapping into the innovative spirit across Chicago and building on the different events that we'll be able to develop from this program.

[3:09](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=189) So it's my honor to introduce Mayor Johnson and build off of this incredible program. Thank you. Thank you so much to our Commissioner, Dr. Walker, for his leadership. And good morning, everyone. Good morning. Thank you again, Commissioner Walker, CDPH, and SGA Youth and Family Services for your leadership and your collaboration on this important initiative. I'm honored to join you all today and issue this round of micro-grants

[3:43](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=223) that will support the growth of healthy and resilient communities. To our grantees on behalf of the city, congratulations on being selected. And thank you for the work that you do every day to uplift our communities and our people. As government and community leaders, I believe we have a responsibility to support the businesses, entrepreneurs, and community organizations that make our city the beautiful city that it is.

[4:14](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=254) And let me share some numbers just to help us all understand just how big the impact of these micro-grants can truly be and how much our communities are asking us to serve as a safety net and as leadership who understand their needs and respond with real answers. We received 108 applications requesting a total of $1,124,244. That tells us that these organizations across Chicago are truly ready to serve with ideas that need resources to move forward.

[4:53](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=293) Eighteen organizations were selected for this first round with $130,000 allocated. allocated for activities through November 30th. Those organizations will deliver a minimum of 72 events during that period. Those events include Zumba classes, barbershop talks, and health fairs, as well as events centered on asthma wellness education and chronic disease prevention. These are practical ways to bring people together and make health part of everyday neighborhood life.

[5:26](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=326) With this program, we are focusing on the communities that experience lower life expectancy and where residents face barriers to health care access as a result of systemic and historic disinvestments. This round of grants is supporting businesses and organizations across the south and west sides of our city, intentionally supporting the entrepreneurs who are calling for resources while investing in the conditions that will foster healthier and stronger communities.

[5:56](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=356) The full program has $600,000 in funding. A second round will take place in January with a new application released for funding for 2027. The demand that we are seeing calls upon all of us to listen carefully and make public resources truly count. Behind every application is an organization that sees a need in the community and is prepared to do something about it. Some of the most important work in Chicago happens far from City Hall. It happens in community centers, churches, schools, and neighborhood gathering spaces.

[6:31](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=391) These organizations know the families, understand the challenges, and they can tell us where government needs to do a better job of showing up. Our responsibility is to support that leadership, help good ideas move forward, and build partnerships that continue beyond a single event or funding program. To today's awardees, this investment recognizes your leadership and the incredible potential that your ideas truly have. We look forward to seeing that investment work in all of our neighborhoods.

[7:04](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=424) Finally, congratulations again. Truly from the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping us build a Chicago where every neighborhood has the opportunity to thrive. So God bless you all, and God bless the greatest freaking city in the world, the city of Chicago. Thank you. I love that line. Thank you, Mayor Johnson, for those remarks and for your continued commitment to supporting Chicago's communities and the organizations that serve them every day. Before we move into one of the most anticipated moments of this morning,

[7:39](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=459) the announcement of our first round community-centered wellness microgrant program awardees, we will hear from our 25th Ward Alderman, Byron Cicho-Lopez. Thank you so much, and good morning. Muy buenos días. Good morning. How are you? How are you feeling today? Good morning. That's good. It's always good to be here with wonderful leaders and organizations making the difference in our city. I want to start by thanking our hosts, SGA Youth and Family Services, all the wonderful organizations,

[8:13](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=493) and I want to thank especially Commissioner Walker and Mayor Brandon Johnson for investing in our communities. In a time like this, when our communities have been terrorized, when our communities continue to live in fear, Are organizations like the ones that are filling this room that make the difference every single day? I know my colleague, a woman, Ramirez, could not make it today, but on behalf of the residents on the southwest side and many people across the city that continue to live in fear to have lost enough benefits or health benefits,

[8:44](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=524) it truly takes a village, and it takes all of us to make sure that the war gets out and that we continue to close the gap on life expectancy in our communities, the life expectancy gap between affluent and poor communities start being closed with action and investments like the investment that Mayor Johnson is prioritizing in our communities. I want to also thank all the people here for all the wonderful work that you do. It doesn't go unnoticed, and this is a testimony that the City of Chicago and the Mayor Johnson administration prioritize people and make sure that people are always taken care of.

[9:18](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=558) I just want to end finalizing how important this investment is by mentioning one of the grantees that is in my ward, the Latina Sweat Project. And thank you very much to being here. Every single one of you, I take privilege just because it's important that we give an example of what the difference they make. A few months ago, they had a really difficult time and bad news about losing the space where they've been building community for years. Many of our community, including my family members, including our staff, actually attend and is witness of the wonderful work that they do

[9:51](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=591) spreading the word and making sure that our community understands the resources that are out there. Now we're working not only to make sure that they have a temporary location, But soon, with the help of all of us, a permanent location, but these grants go a long way to make sure that this program continues and to use yoga and Latina leaders that continue to spread wealth and wellness throughout our community and throughout the city. So I want to thank every single one of you, and again, Mayor Johnson, and what a way to start, Commissioner Walker, you know, hitting the ground running, you know, so thank you so much, and let's continue to build the best, and the mayor said the best, the freaking city, the best freaking city in the country and the world. Thank you so much.

[10:35](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=635) Without further ado, I am honored to introduce Martha Guerrero, CEO of SGA Youth and Family Services. This is CDPH's lead coordinating organization for this program. Martha and her team have played a pivotal role in making this initiative possible, and we are grateful for their partnership. Please help me welcome Martha as she announces the awardees.

[11:10](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=670) Thank you so much. It is an honor for SGA Youth and Family Services to welcome Chicago's mayor, our CDPH partners, and all of you to our Brighton Park Community Center. This facility is one of SGA's eight community sites. SGA has served Chicago's youth and families since 1911, when our founders worked in the most vulnerable neighborhoods fighting to keep children off the factory work floor.

[11:44](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=704) We know the value and importance of being present and available in community, and listening to local voices. Our community-based model, the cycle of opportunity, empowers families from cradle to career while lessening the impact of poverty. Our vision is to transform challenged neighborhoods into healthy communities where families can thrive. What makes a community healthy?

[12:16](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=736) Like CDPH, SGA has a broad understanding of health. It encompasses accessibility and equity in medical and mental health care, safe places to play, food stability, economic self-sufficiency, cultural responsiveness, and time and space for artistic expression. Just as health is multifaceted, each community is unique in its health and wellness needs and existing resources.

[12:47](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=767) But the underlying truth is that wellness requires opportunity, and the right opportunities must be defined by residents. We commend CDPH's innovative vision to bring diverse wellness opportunities to 29 neighborhoods across Chicago's southwest and north sites. SGA is proud to have been selected as the lead coordinating organization for this exciting initiative

[13:20](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=800) that is so well aligned with our own philosophy and values. This funding opportunity drew interest from across the strategy regions and was highly competitive. We received and reviewed 108 applications, totaling more than $1.1 million in requested dollars. We are here this morning to congratulate our first cohort of 18 recipients representing 14 communities.

[13:53](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=833) The awarded events will serve almost 15,000 residents. And this will include community wellness fairs, a health education series, fitness classes, art programs, LGBTQ plus health workshops, mental health programming, and several benefits navigation events. I would like to invite SGA's micro-grant project lead, Jess Ansaldúa, to join me as we introduce our awardee organizations and ask their representatives to stand and be recognized.

[14:38](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=878) So first, we have Five Peas in a Pod Foundation. Congratulations. Blind Services Association. Congratulations. Brighton Park Neighborhood. Council. Congratulations. Chicago Asthma Consortium, DJM Community Outreach.

[15:14](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=914) Congratulations. Far South Chicago Coalition. Congratulations. Girls Empowerment Rising to Leadership. Congratulations. Imagine Inglewood If, Northwest Center, Sunshine Gospel Ministries.

[15:55](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=955) Congratulations. The Latina Sweat Cares. Congratulations. Urban Mail Network, Urban Roots Alliance, YWCA Chicago. Congratulations. Project Hood Communities

[16:31](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=991) Anak at Midnight Chicago Queer Latin Collaborative And last but not least, Sista Afaya Community Care Congratulations to everyone, we look forward to working with you

[17:05](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=1025) I'd like to invite Yvonne Samboline Moultrie, Director of Community Engagement to deliver closing remarks on behalf of CDPH. Thank you. Thank you, Marta and Jess. This has been such a labor of love, and SGA has been amazing throughout this whole entire process. So, again, thank you, and thank you for your remarks, and congratulations again to all of you who have won.

[17:38](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=1058) Your dedication to Chicago's communities is truly inspiring, and we are proud to support your work. Before we wrap up, I want to share that CDPH is already preparing for the next round of microgrants. So our first round consisted of 18. Our next round will be in 2027, early 2027, for another opportunity for new groups to apply and hopefully get an opportunity to do the wonderful work that you all are doing. We look forward to working alongside you as this program grows

[18:12](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic?t=1092) and continues to strengthen neighborhood health across the city. On behalf of CDPH, thank you all for being here this morning. At this time, we would like to invite the speakers and awardees to join us at the front for a brief and quick photo with our mayor and our commissioner and our alder person.

Sources and methods: [how we get and count this data](/about#methods) · [report an error](/about#corrections)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/mayor/videos/QcuAdpDHYic · Chicago Politics, an independent tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt