The Mid-South Health Market is an innovative approach to address the food insecurity, lack of fresh food options, and high incidences of preventable ailments (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, obesity) in the greater Bronzeville community.

Organized by KOCO’s Bronzeville Anti-hunger Network (BAN), the Mid-South Health Market provides fresh produce, diet and nutrition information, and health screenings for more than 100 people on a monthly basis. The enhances residents’ health and wellness education, enabling them to make healthier food and lifestyle choices.

The program incorporates various elements into a cohesive 2-hour event. Participants hear presentations from medical professionals and nutritionists on:

• Overall lifestyle considerations, including abstinence from drugs and smoking;
• Healthy diets, portion size, and food preparation suggestions;
• Importance of exercise; and
• Relationship between the aforementioned items and preventable medical conditions; e.g. diabetes, hypertension, obesity

The Mid-South Health Market is designed to provide residents with the opportunity to improve the quality of their lives. Overall, participants have told the program coordinator they’ve lost weight, changed their diets, and generally feel healthier.

KOCO partners with the Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD) to provide emergency food assistance to the families of North Kenwood, Oakland, and its adjacent communities. Over 500 families receive food from our pantry on a monthly basis. We also host a Kids Café, which allows us to feed children a hot meal twice a week during the school year.

At the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the owners of Mercy Hospital and Medical Center tried to close the safety-net facility and declare bankruptcy. Despite receiving millions in taxpayer dollars, Trinity Health sought to shutter the only hospital serving Black and Brown low-income and working families in Bronzeville — during a global health crisis.

KOCO did not let that happen. We formed and helped facilitate the Chicago Health Equity Coalition (CHEC), an alliance of community, labor, faith based organizations and medical professionals. With the power of CHEC, Bronzeville emerged victorious!

CHEC pressured city and state officials to keep the hospital open until a new buyer could be found. Through private talks and public demonstrations, we prevailed! Like every Chicago neighborhood, our community deserves quality health care. We shouldn’t have to fight for this basic principle, but together, our vigilance and persistence mean we will not be denied!

Today, Insight Hospital and Medical Center Chicago boasts over 400 hospital beds, nearly 300 surgical beds, 30 intensive care beds, and 10 operating rooms.

KOCO stands shoulder to shoulder with our neighbors to tell the world, “Nothing about us will be decided without us.”