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The Westside Health Authority (WHA) is an American community-based non-profit organization located in Chicago's Austin neighborhood, on the west side of Chicago and primarily an African-American community. The organization serves about 25,000 residents through programs for community activism, youth mentoring and leadership, re-entry for returning citizens from prison, and economic growth.[1][2] The organization has six locations to carry out these programs and initiatives. WHA's mission is 'Every Block a Village'.[3]
In the late 1980s, Jacqueline Reed, a student at the University of Chicago's Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, recognized a health care crisis in her community of Austin on Chicago's west side. The closure of St. Anne's Hospital in 1988 left the community without accessible and affordable health care.[4]
Motivated by both personal and professional training, she began organizing with residents for health advocacy. Reed's initial efforts included public forums, faith-based fundraising, and strategic partnerships from her academic networks to secure a building and organize medical services. These grassroots actions led to the creation of the Westside Health Authority (WHA) in 1990. This organization is built on the belief that the community itself is the "authority" on its needs and demands. The Austin Wellness Center was built for $7.4 million.[2]
Inspired by her upbringing in Mississippi, where people relied on one another rather than government aid, Reed emphasized that true empowerment comes from sharing your gifts to contribute to society as a whole.[5] From her civil activism and understanding of community, WHA's founding principle, "Every Block a Village," was built based on the African American proverb, "It takes a Village to raise a Child." Reed and a small team of organizers canvassed the neighborhood block by block to identify local leaders and mobilize residents to take ownership of their community's transformation. Their efforts helped raise initial community funds that contributed to the construction of the Austin Wellness Center, completed in 2004, which provides affordable health care for the community. Jacqueline retired from the agency in 2011; however, she still remains deeply involved as a volunteer in the community. She can be found mentoring others and leading initiatives connected to the Good Neighbor Campaign. The community leadership and peer-support frameworks she established remain central to WHA’s mission and have been implemented in locations beyond Austin as well.[2]
Expansion
Since the 1990s, the agency's mission has expanded beyond healthcare. Currently the CEO, Reed's son Morris Reed, has six buildings that run programs on employment, housing, youth development, violence prevention, and reentry in support of formerly incarcerated individuals.[4] An initiative launched in 2016, called the Good Neighbor Campaign, secured a grant worth $1 million. WHA's Good Neighbor Campaign identifies and supports the existing talents and strengths of residents to address issues like safety, youth engagement, and health issues.[6][7] The campaign has mobilized over 600 residents across 31 blocks, helped establish block clubs, organized youth sports leagues, and created art and cultural events that support community pride. Good Neighbor volunteers are trained to intervene in violent situations, offer support to vulnerable neighbors, and coordinate local resources for one another.[2]
Under the leadership of CEO Morris Reed and former COO Quiwana Reed Bell, WHA has become a vital resource in Austin's community. WHA employs dozens of full-time and part-time workers and serves approximately 22,000 residents annually. The agency plays a key role in the community’s economic expansion and development. The agency manages commercial and residential real estate projects and channels millions of dollars in contracts to local businesses. In 2011, WHA secured significant funding, including support for neighborhood restoration initiatives.[2]
Core programs and services
Youth development
WHA's Youth Innovation Center focuses on mentorship, workforce development, and enrichment activities such as app designing and podcasting. The initiatives for youth development include career pipeline programs, apprenticeships, substance use counseling, and civic leadership projects.[5]
Community re-entry
The Community Re-entry Center assists the formerly incarcerated, veterans, and others who are reintegrating into society. The goal is to provide help and support for individuals that leads to stability and permanent employment. The services include job readiness training, vocational skills development, and transitional employment opportunities.[2][8]
Economic development
WHA has been a driving force in the development of revitalizing the West Side. This included projects such as the Austin Wellness Center and Clinic[2] and the 2025 Chicago Prize finalist, $10 million Aspire Center.[9] These projects aim to create sustainable economic opportunities, provide educational opportunities, and improve public safety for all residents of all ages.[10]
Aspire Center redevelopment
In January 2022, the Chicago City Council unanimously approved zoning changes allowing the Westside Health Authority to redevelop the former Emmet Elementary School at 5500–5536 W. Madison Street into a workforce training and community hub known as the Aspire Center for Workplace Innovation.[11]
Emmet Elementary School closed in 2013 as part of a Chicago Public Schools district-wide closure of 49 schools, most located on the city’s South and West sides. WHA purchased the property in 2018; because the site had been rezoned for residential use after the school’s closure, City Council approval was required to permit business and social service uses.[11]
The Aspire Center forms part of the broader Aspire Initiative, which also includes planned affordable housing and a health and fitness center at other sites in the Austin neighborhood. The center was planned to house workforce training programs, social services, and leased space for partner organizations, with workforce training expected to be led by the Jane Addams Resource Corporation.[11]
Project costs for the Aspire Center redevelopment were reported at approximately $28 million, including a $10 million grant from the Illinois state capital budget. Additional funding was expected from private donors and public sources, with workforce development programming anticipated to begin prior to full project completion.[11]
Community Wellness center
The Community Wellness program is a community-based center designed to promote health safety, and resilience across neighborhoods through integrated services and proactive engagement.[4] Contributions from partners like Illinois Department of Human Services and Chicago Public Schools strengthen the impact of the core components of the program. These components include primary care, behavioral health services, street outreach, and grassroots mobilizations.[2][4]
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