Community Equity Response Collaborative (CERCL)

Champions of health equity in local communities

Initially founded as COVID Equity Response Collaborative: Loyola (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 “C” in CERCL stands for “Community.” An interdisciplinary collaborative representing Loyola 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 is a primary partner to collaborative residents and community-based organizations wishing to create—and realize—sustainable 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.

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—in both English and Spanish—on 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

Follow us on Facebook @CERC.Loyola or Twitter @CERCLoyola to find out about ways to collaborate or contact us at cercl@luc.edu.