COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC WAY
ORDINANCE
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:
SECTION 1. Pursuant to an ordinance heretofore passed by the City Council, which allows the erection of honorary street name signs, the Commissioner of Transportation shall take the necessary action to designate the 1000 and 1100 blocks of North Francisco Avenue as "Humboldt Park Health Way."
Roberto Maldonado Alderman, 26th Ward
SEVTION 2. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon passage and publication.
BIO for Honorary Street Designation of "Humboldt Park Health Way"
Humboldt Park Health (www.HPH.care), formerly Norwegian American Hospital, introduced its new identity on January 28, 2021. The new name, Humboldt Park Health, signifies a renewal of its commitment to the Humboldt Park community, its patients, and their families. Placing the new tagline, Advancing Health Equity, within the new brand identify emphasizes the importance of this objective, keeping it at the forefront of its mission and purpose as an organization.
When founded more than 125 years ago as Norwegian American Hospital, the name reflected the community it was founded to serve. Today, Humboldt Park is home to a more diverse and inclusive community, including a large minority population that faces significant socioeconomic challenges. The new name honors this diversity of ethnicities, races, cultures, languages, religions, family structures, and experiences.
"Our new name honors the community we serve today, as it has evolved and grown," said Jose R. Sanchez, President and CEO at Humboldt Park Health, "and our new identity underscores our focus on Advancing Health Equity. This means that we are - and will continue to be -- committed to ensuring that members of our community have fair and just opportunities to be as healthy as possible."
The focus on health equity is critical now more than ever. Humboldt Park has been hit especially hard by COVID-19 and Latino and Black communities are suffering and dying from COVID-19 at much higher rates than white Americans. "Advancing Health Equity requires that we work to remove the obstacles to health," Mr. Sanchez explained, "such as poverty, systemic racism, discrimination, and their consequences."
"Our new name and identity highlight our role in the future of healthcare," said Mr. Sanchez, "while keeping true to our core mission to proactively engage with the community, provide health education, and promote wellness for all residents, including the elderly, immigrants, undocumented individuals, non-English speakers, and the uninsured."
Humboldt Park Health (www.hph.care), formerly Norwegian American Hospital, is an independent safety-net healthcare provider on Chicago's west side. Services include inpatient acute care, emergency care, primary care, a patient-centered medical home, Telehealth, and diagnostic services in a 200-bed hospital, as well as a professional building, three community clinics, a transportation program, COVID-19 drive-through testing, and a food pantry.