CHER Chicago

What does CHER Chicago do?

Advancing health equity and eliminating structural violence through science with community.

About us

#BlackLivesMatter

The Center for Health Equity Research (CHER) Chicago condemns the killing of George Floyd and the many other senseless acts of aggression against African Americans in recent and past history. CHER Chicago stands in solidarity with the individuals, organizations, and communities fighting racism, discrimination, and social injustice in our country. Now more than ever, we remain committed to our mission of eliminating the deep-rooted racism and other forms of structural violence in the US to enable true social change and achieve health equity. - Multi Principle Investigators Statement

Pilot Project Program

Three one-year awards available at $50,000 per award.

Learn More

CHER Chicago Values

The Center for Health Equity Research Chicago (CHER Chicago) will be a groundbreaking and inclusive hub of research and community partnerships creating a world free of structural violence.

Investigator Development

CHER Chicago strengthens health equity scholars and research activities that can expand our understanding of structural inequalities that expose racial, ethnic, and sexual and gender minority groups to differential risks and vulnerabilities.

Community Engagement & Dissemination

CHER Chicago acknowledges structural violence and its effects on people and communities can only be eliminated through engaging community partners in meaningful ways to transform academic research to real world social change.

Scientific Advancement

CHER Chicago strives to advance health equity research by developing and refining theoretical frameworks of structural violence and health equity; and by promoting multi-level, multi-disciplinary research on the social, economic, psychosocial, behavioral, and biophysical processes linking structural violence and health equity.

Public Policy Impact

CHER Chicago seeks to influence and partner with elected officials and government entities to advance legislation and protect programs that work in concert with our mission.

News

Find press releases, requests for proposals, and job opportunities

Press/News

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Investigator Dissemination

Kim SJ, Bostwick W. Social Vulnerability and Racial Inequality in COVID-19 Deaths in Chicago. Health Educ Behav. 2020;47(4):509-513. doi:10.1177/1090198120929677[...]

Social Vulnerability and Racial Inequality in COVID-19 Deaths in Chicago

By: Drs. Sage Kim & Wendy Bostwick Abstract Although the current COVID-19 crisis is felt globally, at the local level, COVID-19 has disproportionately affected poor, highly segregated African Amer[...]

Interview and Event Recordings

Find video recordings of our interviews and events here

CHER Chicago Projects

Active research projects with a thematic focus of structural violence

Our research project with CHER Chicago is with a south east Asian mental health focus. South East Asian (SEA) immigrants in the United States face significant psychological distress due to their unique psychosocial stressors. Immigrants from these regions diverge from other Asian immigrants due to their exposure to structural violence and trauma prior to migration. The impact of pre-migration traumatic experiences and post-migration structural violence exposure on SEA immigrant children has not been well studied. This study will have 103 parent-child dyads. Dr. Karen E. Kim, The University of Chicago

The CHER Chicago project I am co-leading with Dr. Paul Grippo is on the gut microbiome and community stress. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. Among all racial/ ethnic groups, the African American (AA) population exhibits the highest CRC incidence in the nation. Few studies have addressed both, biological and socio-environmental factors, including exposure to structural violence that may contribute to disproportionately high CRC risk in African Americans. Dr. Lisa Tussing-Humphreys, University of Illinois at Chicago

Thanks for connecting us.I'm super excited of the possibilities for partnership and the projects we'll jointly develop in an effort to address structural violence in Brighton Park and beyondDr. Rosalba Hernandez

Upcoming & Recent Events

CHER Chicago endorsed events

26th Karen J.Honig Memorial Lecture
April 1, 2020
strategies to Address Trauma, Anxiety and
Violence Interruption Among Black Males
Presented By:
Dr. Olga Osby
Location: UIC Student Services Building Rooms B & C
Register

Feminism On Tap
MARCH 30, 2020
Young Women's Giving Council
for Chicago Foundation for Women
is having a fundraiser
at Lagunitas Brewing Company
5:30-8:30pm
Buy Tickets

Request for Proposals (RFP)
MARCH 13, 2020
2-4 awards available
$5,000-$10,000 per award
Preference given to
organizations that serve south and westside
communities in the city of Chicago
Apply

Contact

Please submit any questions and feedback you have any time.