Helping Everyone Access Life Well

HEAL Well! is an initiative of the Northern Illinois Anti-Racism Advocacy Partners, a part of the Conference Committee on Religion and Race.

The HEAL Well initiative is an innovative project addressing food insecurity and environmental sustainability through faith and action. HEAL Well’s mission is to unite faith communities and local stakeholders to create a more sustainable future by planting trees and volunteering in community gardens. Its vision is rooted in trust and care for God’s creation, fostering relationships that sustain the earth and its people.

HEAL Well opens opportunities to identify concrete deserts, food deserts, increase tree cover and support healthy eating options to a variety of communities in the Northern Illinois Conference. It’s a participatory initiative where volunteers learn about gardening, sustainable living, and community engagement.  

Download the HEAL Well Brochure

GROWING SEASON

During the growing season (May - September), HEAL Well will support the fruitful work already being done to address the need for more community gardens and lack of adequate tree cover on the north, west and south sides of Chicago with hopes to expand into other areas in the NIC.

This will be accomplished by:

• Engaging 25+ United Methodist volunteers who will volunteer with community gardens at least one day per month for a minimum of 2 hours.
• Engage with and develop a core group of at least 25 high school students in the communities where they will serve. These students will be the primary planters of trees and provide maintenance to bring forth mature trees. A stipend will be paid to the youth.

Get Involved

NON-GROWING SEASON

During the non-growing season (November – April), HEAL Well will focus on knowledge and relationship building with non-profits and communities where they hope to serve. They will hold monthly online Learning Sessions to provide contextual learning on the challenges faced by these communities. Anyone can register for the Learning Sessions here.

Learning Sessions

• Mon., Nov. 18, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.: Faith in Place and the HEAL Well Leadership Team
• Mon., Dec. 16, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.:  Dr. James Miller (read a recap in the newsletter)
• Mon., Jan. 20, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.: Austin Garden Collective
• Mon., Feb. 17, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.: TBD
• Mon., March 17, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.: My Block My Hood My City
• Saturday, April 12, 11 a.m.: Visit Olivet UMC for tree planning and prep
• Mon., April 21, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.: Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary Center for Ecological Regeneration
• Saturday, April 26: HEAL Well Kick-off Event
  • 10:30 a.m. - Forest Bathing lead by Barbara Collins
  • Noon – eat lunch together at a local Black-owned Business

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Newsletters:

• January 2025
• March 2025

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Participating Churches:

Partner Churches noted in Bold

• Bolingbrook: Friendship UMC
• Chicago: First UMC (Temple)
• Chicago: Olivet UMC
• Chicago: St. Mark UMC
• Downers Grove: First UMC
• Elmhurst: First UMC
• Glenview: Glenview UMC
• Oak Park: Euclid Ave UMC
• Chicago: South Shore UMC

Partner organizations 

• Assierting, Achievement, Literacy, & Resiliency (AALR) HEAL Well Initiative
• Austin Garden Collective 
• Black Healing Collective
• Faith in Place
• Garret-Evangelical Theology Seminary - Center for Ecological Regeneration
• My Block, My Hood, My City
• Northern Illinois Conference Board of Church and Society
• Northern Illinois Conference Net Zero Team
• Rising Sun Missionary Baptist Church
• West Side Health Authority

This project was made possible, in part, by a grant from the Midwest Methodist Foundation

Core Leadership Team:

• Lisa Rogers (Elmhurst: FUMC), Co-chair
• Pastor Marcus Tabb (Chicago: South Shore UMC), Co-chair 
• Diana Davis (Chicago Temple)
• Patricia Evans (Chicago: St. Mark UMC)
• LaCretcia Edward (Chicago: Olivet UMC)
• Amania Drane, Project Manager