Loyola University Chicago   

Loyola University Chicago (LUC) is a Jesuit Catholic University “seeking God in all things and working to expand knowledge in the service of humanity through learning, justice and faith.” A central tenet of LUC’s service is the seeking of social justice for individuals at the margins of society. Based on our dedication to these values, the COVID Equity Response Collaborative at Loyola (CERCL) was established to combat the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in suburban Cook County’s African American and Hispanic/Latinx residents. Our multi-disciplinary, collaborative network of academic, community, public and institutional partners are working for health justice in local communities most impacted by structural inequity. In this moment, health justice means ensuring Black and Brown communities have access to COVID-19 testing, are involved in contact tracing from the ground up, and are quickly connected to resources to isolate and support when needed. Our project area includes Bellwood, Berwyn, Cicero, Maywood, and Melrose Park.