Learn more about the racial healing projects happening around the state of Illinois.
What is Healing Illinois?
Healing Illinois is a racial healing initiative of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and the Field Foundation of Illinois. It will provide up to $4.5 million in grants to organizations across the state to begin, or continue, the work of racial healing.
The major goals of this project are to:
Build knowledge and understanding of racial healing and equity in communities across the state.
Strengthen trust and relationship building, among the residents of Illinois.
Expand opportunities for communities and individuals to begin to heal from the harms caused by racism.
Increase awareness and media engagement focused on racial healing and equity.
Healing Illinois was designed to support communities across Illinois to begin or continue the work of racial healing in their communities.
The ongoing oppressive and structural tactics that uphold systemic racism and inequities highlight the need for racial healing, and the need to address the underlying systems that have created the conditions where vast racial disparities are allowed to exist.
As we move ahead with the work of systemic change, we must also lay the groundwork for community healing, acknowledging the harm done to communities of color and providing the space for healing. Healing Illinois represents one step in that process, promoting racial healing for everyone, and advancing racial equity in Illinois.
If you have any questions about the Healing Illinois initiative, please view our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Healing Illinois Regions
Racial healing projects are separated into 5 regions to ensure the fair funding of events and trainings all around the state. Click the plus sign to see which counties fall within a specific region.
Counties and sub-grantees by region
About IDHS and Field Foundation
The Department of Human Services (IDHS) is one of Illinois' largest agencies, with more than 13,000 employees.
The Illinois Department of Human Services was created in 1997 to provide our state's residents with streamlined access to integrated services, especially those who are striving for economic independence, and others who face multiple challenges to self-sufficiency.
The Field Foundation of Illinois is a private and independent foundation that, along with its strategic partners, distributes more than $10 million annually to organizations and leaders working to address systemic issues in historically marginalized areas of Chicago.
To support community power building, the Field Foundation invests in Chicago’s civic infrastructure, creative sector, local news outlets, and organizers.