PRCC Partnerships with the National Network of Library of Medicine (NNLM)

 The Puerto Rican Cultural Center (PRCC) and the Puerto Rican Agenda (PRA) has established meaningful partnerships with the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) as a result of a federal grant through the NNLM, University of Iowa Campus. The Partnerships call for development, implementation, and evaluation of a series of outreach and educational events, including development of bilingual educational materials, and, for updating the PRCC & PRA websites with linkages to NNLM resources, information, videos, and a wealth of other NNLM community information.

The mission of the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) is to advance the progress of medicine and improve the public health by providing community groups and health professionals with equal access to biomedical information and public access to information to enable the public to make informed decisions about their health. The Program is coordinated by the National Library of Medicine and carried out through a nationwide network of health science libraries and information centers.

The ultimate goal of the four-month funded project is to support the NNLM outreach and education work in creating awareness and/or facilitating recruitment and retention of one-million people to the All of Us (AoUs) Research Program —an NIH nationwide research study that is recruiting interested individuals of diverse backgrounds to be part of a database that may lead to invitations to participate in future specific studies about the prevention and treatment of acute and chronic conditions and to the advancement of personalize medical care based on individuals’ lifestyle, environment, medical history, and genetics. NNLM together with the IL Precision Medicine Consortium—a group of academic institutions and hospitals such as the University of Illinois-Chicago and Peoria, University of Chicago, Rush University and Medical Center, North Shore Hospital, Cook County Hospitals PRCC and PRA is expected to contribute to meeting the All of Us Research Program goal in collaboration with multiple regional and national organizations.

The PRCC project has been funded in whole or in part with federal funds from the Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Library of Medicine, under Grant Number UG4LM012346 with the University of Iowa. For more information, visit: www.nnlm.gov or contact Melissa Benajeer at melissab@prcc-chgo.org, PRCC Resource Development, Lisa Aponte-Soto, PhD, President and CEO of Tacoma Consulting, at lapontesoto@tanomaconsulting.com or Aida L Giachello, PhD.  Research Professor at Northwestern University and Member of the Puerto Rican Agenda’s Health Committee at a-giachello@northwestern.edu or at aidagiachello.pragenda@gmail.com.

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Ways for Individuals to Register for the Vaccine

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As of Monday, January 25th, Chicago is in phase 1B of COVID-19 vaccinations. This means Chicagoans age 65+ and specific groups of highest-risk and front-line essential workers will be eligible for vaccination. Please remember, even when you become eligible, it may take weeks to get an appointment. Expect it to take at least through February and March for frontline essential workers and those who are 65+ to get their first dose of vaccine because of limited supply and the number of providers who are able to administer the vaccine. The vaccine will be offered at no cost to all Chicagoans who want it, but patience is needed while vaccine quantities increase. Learn more about Chicago's vaccination phases.

Confirm eligibility and receive notifications when new appointments are available.

How can I support the Mutual Aid Campaign: Solidarity NOT Charity?

Join our campaign by donating directly to The Puerto Rican Agenda HERE.

We accept any amount through PayPal or snail mail at:1650 W. North Ave, Chicago, IL 60622. Checks can be made out to the Puerto Rican Agenda of Chicago with “Solidarity Not Charity” in the memo.

We also have multiple donation levels:

  • The Weekend Package—$30 provides a pipping hot delicious lunch delivered to one household Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

  • Seventh Heaven—$70 provides delivered Puerto Rican delicacies to one household Sunday through Saturday.

  • Ultimate Package—$300 sponsors one household for La Cocina Mutua meals for an entire month. You can identify the recipient if they live in the delivery zone. (email pragendachgo@gmail.com to confirm delivery zone)

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COVID-19 Resources

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Governor JB Prizker extended the Illinois “Stay Home” order through April 30, 2020. Only essential workers are permitted to work and trips outside of the home for essential supplies are permitted.

City of Chicago

Chicago Public Schools

Illinois Resources (Daily updates and briefings by Governor Pritzker at 2:30 PM CST)

Illinois State Board of Education

Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development

CDC

World Health Organization

March 24, 2020

How is the Puerto Rican Agenda of Chicago Responding to COVID-19?

solidarity not charity

During the COVID-19 pandemic, The Puerto Rican Agenda of Chicago (Agenda) is activating partnerships and mobilizing resources to meet the needs of our community—especially those at greater risk of isolation and contracting the deadly virus.  As a population disproportionately affected by chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, HIV/AIDS, and PTSD, many Puerto Ricans are in a compromising position according to reports issued by the Sinai Urban Health Institute (https://www.chicagohealthatlas.org/sinaisurvey). The CDC has warned that older adults, and people who have underlying chronic medical conditions — such as immuno-compromising conditions — may be at risk for more severe outcomes with COVID-19.

““This is a really good way to provide that care, that love, that cultural connection during a period where there’s so much uncertainty.””

The Agenda is taking steps to ensure that community members—including older adults, people with disabilities, and climate refugees from Puerto Rico—have the tools and resources to remain healthy. Compounded by chronic health conditions, Puerto Rican families are also suffering financially; many being laid off from work, unable to pay rent, and on the brink of economic instability. For many Puerto Ricans, this deadly global pandemic is re-traumatizing due to the impact of Hurricane Maria in 2017 and the incessant earthquakes beginning in 2019. It should not go unnoticed that displaced climate refugees from Puerto Rico have endured three major catastrophic events in less than three years.

Puerto Ricans have shown to be resilient and resourceful leaders organizing for the well-being of the collective good. Through a $25,000 award from the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund, convened by The City of Chicago, Chicago Community Trust, and United Way of Metro Chicago, The Agenda is responding to this crisis through a lens of solidarity, not charity, and activating a mutual aid campaign including:

  • “La Cocina Mutua”—A partnership with the Puerto Rican Cultural Center and with a local eatery, Nellie’s Restaurant, to provide delicious, daily, and delivered hot lunches starting March 30 through April 30, 2020 for 35 elders, people with disabilities, and climate refugees from Puerto Rico;  

  • $250 cash transfers for 58 households to cover costs related to rent/mortgage, groceries/household supplies, medical attention, or any other expense compromised by the impact of COVID-19; and

  • Advocating for the suspension of rent/mortgage and resources for small businesses on Paseo Boricua.

These efforts fuel The Agenda’s continued commitment to solidarity with Puerto Rican climate refugees, families across the diaspora and here in Chicago.