It’s defined by zip code, by scarcity, and too often, by the color of its residents’ skin. In the Dignity Desert, there is a community-devastating lack of resources — resources that flourish in abundance just a few L stops away.

Born of systemic racism and economic injustice, the Dignity Desert is marked by the absence of access to healthy groceries, clean water, adequate education, and trustworthy healthcare. The gap left by these resources is often what stands between deserving families and the thriving lives they desire.

When resources are scarce, hope is hard to find. It doesn’t have to be this way.

At Near North Health, we are working toward a future for Chicago in which the Dignity Desert is only a memory. A Chicago that not only sees, but values and amplifies the vibrant culture and creativity alive in these neighborhoods. A Chicago where everyone, no matter where they live, has access to excellent healthcare, mental healthcare, and community care.