Healthy West Chicago

05/20/2026

🌿 Wellness Wednesday: Get Out and Walk!

A simple walk can be a powerful way to support your physical and mental well-being. This week, take a little time to step outside, move your body, and enjoy the natural spaces right here in and around West Chicago.

Explore a local forest preserve like West Chicago Prairie, West DuPage Woods, or West Branch, where you can enjoy prairie views, wooded trails, lakes, wetlands, and fresh air. Whether you walk for 10 minutes or an hour, every step counts toward a healthier you.

Bring a friend, take your family, or enjoy a quiet moment for yourself.

Where will you walk this week?

Each year more than 6 million visitors enjoy the Forest Preserve District's nearly 26,000 acres, 166 miles of trails and 60 forest preserves.

05/17/2026

Check out these great bike safety tips!

Missed our bike rodeo last month? No worries, here are some quick bike safety tips! These are great to go over and share with your child to keep them safe and confident while riding their bike!

¿Te perdiste nuestro rodeo de bicicletas el mes pasado? ¡No te preocupes! Aquí tienes algunos consejos rápidos de seguridad. ¡Son excelentes para compartir con tu hijo/a y mantenerlo/a seguro/a y con confianza al andar en bicicleta!

05/14/2026

We are so happy to again be able to support this amazing community garden 🪏 🪴 🌱

Everyone should have access to healthy produce and there are so many mental health benefits to being involved in a community garden that combat so many emotional regulation struggles we are seeing in the world today.

A huge thank you to Casa Michoacán DuPage for all the community work you do! And to the Conservation Foundation, our partner at this garden🙌🏽

05/13/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and our partners at NAMI DuPage are having a Mental Health Mailbox call this coming Monday! Submit your questions, tune in live or listen later. It’s so important to connect and we have great resources available to all here in DuPage!

❗IMPORTANT UPDATE : The Mental Health Mailbox date change❗

The date has changed from May 4th to May 18th 2026 from 7:00 – 8:30 PM on Zoom with guest star Marc Rogala and host Justin Wolfe for an honest, open conversation about mental health. Submit your questions and get real answers in real time — this is your safe space to ask, learn, and heal. 💚

Can't make it live? Send your questions in advance to [email protected] — the full session will be recorded and uploaded to our podcast series!

📋 Register only if attending live — https://buff.ly/ulhFvZ6

🎧 Our podcast series - Healing Minds: Stories of Resiliency and Recovery
▶️ Check it out! - https://buff.ly/5fWYjAn

04/29/2026

Happy International Dance Day 💃🕺 (April 29)\! Dance is one of the most joyful — and most underrated — forms of physical activity. Research shows that dancing regularly improves cardiovascular health, reduces the risk of dementia by up to 76%, strengthens bones, and significantly boosts mood. At Healthy West Chicago, we love movement in all forms — and we believe wellness should feel good. Put on your favorite song today and dance for a few minutes. Your body and mind will thank you. 💚

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¡Feliz Día Internacional de la Danza 💃🕺 (29 de abril)\! El baile es una de las formas más alegres — y más subestimadas — de actividad física. La investigación muestra que bailar regularmente mejora la salud cardiovascular, reduce el riesgo de demencia hasta un 76%, fortalece los huesos y eleva significativamente el ánimo. En Healthy West Chicago amamos el movimiento en todas sus formas — y creemos que el bienestar debe sentirse bien. Pon tu canción favorita hoy y baila unos minutos. Tu cuerpo y tu mente te lo agradecerán. 💚

04/28/2026

April 28 is Workers' Memorial Day 🧡 — a day to honor and remember workers who have lost their lives due to workplace injuries or illnesses, and to renew our commitment to safe, healthy working conditions for all. Each year in the U.S., more than 5,000 workers die from on-the-job injuries, and millions more are injured or made ill. For many families in West Chicago — especially those working in agriculture, construction, and service industries — workplace health and safety is personal. At HWC, we recognize that healthy communities include healthy, safe workplaces. 💚

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El 28 de abril es el Día del Memorial de los Trabajadores 🧡 — un día para honrar y recordar a los trabajadores que han perdido la vida debido a lesiones o enfermedades laborales, y para renovar nuestro compromiso con condiciones de trabajo seguras y saludables para todos. Cada año en EE. UU., más de 5,000 trabajadores mueren por lesiones en el trabajo, y millones más resultan heridos o enferman. Para muchas familias en West Chicago — especialmente las que trabajan en agricultura, construcción y servicios — la salud y seguridad laboral es algo personal. En HWC reconocemos que las comunidades saludables incluyen lugares de trabajo seguros. 💚

04/27/2026

Today is Denim Day 👖. Denim Day started in Italy after a court ruling that cited a survivor's tight jeans as a reason to dismiss a sexual assault case — and it became a global symbol of protest and solidarity. Wearing denim today is a statement that sexual violence is never the victim's fault. Throughout April — Sexual Assault Awareness Month — Healthy West Chicago stands with survivors. If you or someone you know needs support, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is available 24/7: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). You are not alone. 💚

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Hoy es el Día del Denim 👖. El Día del Denim comenzó en Italia después de una sentencia judicial que citó los jeans ajustados de una sobreviviente como razón para desestimar un caso de agresión sexual — y se convirtió en un símbolo global de protesta y solidaridad. Usar mezclilla hoy es una declaración de que la violencia sexual nunca es culpa de la víctima. Durante todo abril — el Mes de Concienciación sobre Agresión Sexual — Healthy West Chicago está con los sobrevivientes. Si tú o alguien que conoces necesita apoyo, la Línea Nacional de Agresión Sexual está disponible las 24 horas: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). No estás solo/a. 💚

04/22/2026

Happy Earth Day! 🌍 Access to parks, gardens, and green spaces has measurable health benefits: living near green spaces is associated with a 12% lower risk of early death, reduced rates of type 2 diabetes, and improved mental health. West Chicago has vibrant community gardens and outdoor spaces — and HWC's programs like WeGo Exploring put those resources in reach for every resident. Get outside this week! 💚

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¡Feliz Día de la Tierra! 🌍 El acceso a parques, jardines y espacios verdes tiene beneficios de salud medibles: vivir cerca de espacios verdes se asocia con un 12% menos de riesgo de muerte prematura, tasas reducidas de diabetes tipo 2 y mejor salud mental. West Chicago tiene jardines comunitarios vibrantes, y los programas de HWC como WeGo Exploring ponen esos recursos al alcance de todos. ¡Sal esta semana a explorar! 💚

04/16/2026

April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day 📋. Studies show that only about 1 in 3 American adults has completed an advance directive — a document that outlines your medical wishes in case you're unable to speak for yourself. In Latino communities, cultural and language barriers can make these conversations even harder to start. At Healthy West Chicago, we're here to help bridge that gap. Free advance directive resources in English and Spanish are available at CaringInfo.org. Talk to your family this week — it's one of the most important conversations you can have. 💚

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El 16 de abril es el Día Nacional de Decisiones de Salud 📋. Los estudios muestran que solo 1 de cada 3 adultos estadounidenses ha completado un documento de voluntades anticipadas — un escrito que indica tus deseos médicos si no puedes hablar por ti mismo. En las comunidades latinas, las barreras culturales e idiomáticas pueden hacer estas conversaciones aún más difíciles de iniciar. En Healthy West Chicago estamos aquí para ayudar a cerrar esa brecha. Recursos gratuitos en inglés y español disponibles en CaringInfo.org. Habla con tu familia esta semana. 💚

04/14/2026

Today is National Donate Life Blue & Green Day 💙💚. Across the U.S., more than 100,000 people are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant — and Hispanic and Black Americans account for nearly 57% of that list. Yet these communities remain underrepresented among registered donors. Registration takes just minutes at RegisterMe.org. At Healthy West Chicago, we believe every resident deserves a full, healthy life — and that includes access to information that could save one. 💚
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Hoy es el Día Nacional de Donate Life 💙💚. En EE. UU., más de 100,000 personas esperan un trasplante de órgano que les salve la vida — y los hispanos y afroamericanos representan casi el 57% de esa lista. Sin embargo, estas comunidades siguen estando subrepresentadas entre los donantes registrados. Registrarse toma solo unos minutos en RegisterMe.org. En Healthy West Chicago creemos que cada residente merece una vida plena y saludable — y eso incluye acceso a información que podría salvar una vida. 💚