CDPH - Chicago Department of Public Health

04/23/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/23/2026 14:36

CDPH Weekly Media Brief, 04/23/2026

April is Earth Month - Get Involved!

Every year in April, we celebrate Earth Month to focus on our relationship with Earth and our surrounding natural environments. Climate change is a very real threat to public health, and it's easy to feel like there's nothing you can do to help make things better, but positive news is out there, and you can take steps to get involved:

  • Engage with Open Air Chicago air sensor network to determine the air quality near you and decide how best to utilize that data in your everyday life
  • Request a free parkway tree from 3-1-1
  • Recycle your hazardous materials and unused electronics at the Hazardous Chemicals and Computer Recycling Facility.
  • Get involved with One Earth Film Festival and attend films related to different environmental topics. The festival creates opportunities for understanding the climate crisis, environmental justice, sustainability, resilient community-building, and the power of people to take concrete, inclusive action.
  • Participate in the Green Living Summit on April 25, presented by NAACP Chicago Westside Branch along with the Department of Environment. Held at The Golden Dome in Garfield Park (100 N. Central Park Ave.), the event will highlight sustainable living, energy savings, and environmentally friendly home improvements.

New Session of Healing Arts Events

Healing Arts Chicago returns for Session 2, offering free creative workshops designed to support mental health and wellness for Chicagoans. Running April 20 through June 12, the program brings movement, yoga, meditation, music, painting, writing, and storytelling directly into Chicago Department of Public Health Mental Health Centers across the city. The program is a collaboration between the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the Chicago Department of Public Health, and City Colleges of Chicago.

Artists in the program train as Community Health Workers through Malcolm X College, then serve as Practitioners-in-Residence at CDPH Mental Health Centers, drawing on both their clinical training and creative practice to support residents' well-being.

Free arts services are currently available at the following CDPH locations:

  • Englewood, 641 W. 63rd St.
  • Bronzeville, 4314 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
  • Greater Lawn, 4150 W. 55th St.
  • Lawndale, 1105 S. Western Ave.
  • North River, 5801 N. Pulaski Rd.
  • Pilsen, 1713 S. Ashland Ave.
  • Roseland, 200 E. 115th St.

Programming is led by Healing Arts Chicago's Practitioners-in-Residence: Natalia Cuevas, Leyda "Lady Sol" Garcia, Holiday Gerry, Jeweline Hale, Shannon Harris, Nile Lansana, Mecca Perry, and Erica Marie Serrano.

Register today and learn more at chicago.gov/healingarts.

May in Motion with Chicago Park District

CDPH is partnering with the Chicago Park District for "May in Motion," a citywide initiative to motivate Chicagoans of all ages to get moving. On Thursday, May 7, CDPH will be at Ping Tom Park, 1700 S. Wentworth Ave., from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., providing information to event attendees and assisting park visitors on locating and using CDPH and other health care resources and services in Chicago.

For more information on May in Motion and upcoming events, visit the Chicago Park District website.

National Volunteer Week

April 19-25 is National Volunteer Week, a time to spotlight the invaluable individuals who volunteer for their community, and say thank you for everything they do. In particular, the Chicago Department of Public Health Emergency Preparedness Bureau would like to recognize and thank the Chicago Medical Reserve Corps (ChicagoMRC) for supporting in emergency preparedness education, awareness, and responding to various public health needs.

The mission of the Chicago Medical Reserve Corps is to support preparedness, response, and recovery activities during public health emergencies and other community events in the City of Chicago. ChicagoMRC volunteers, which includes both medical and non-medical professionals, support CDPH in vaccination and education campaigns, training opportunities with healthcare systems, as well as support during public health emergencies. Thanks to our many incredible volunteers who help keep our communities healthy and safe!

Healthy Chicago Podcast

National Infant Immunization Week 2026 is being observed from April 20-27, highlighting the crucial importance of on-time vaccination for children under the age of two to protect them from serious, preventable diseases. On this episode, Atinuke Ajibola (Public Health Nurse II) and Diana Balbarin (Nurse Practitioner) discuss why this yearly observance is crucial for children's health, what the current guidelines are, and how to navigate any uncertainty around vaccines and vaccine-prevention illnesses.

Find out more on the CDPH website, and watch or listen on the platform of your choice!

###

Looking for other places to get news from us? Sign up or follow us on any of the following social media platforms for up-to-date information:

Spotify | Facebook | Bluesky | Threads | X | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Nextdoor | WhatsApp | Substack

CDPH - Chicago Department of Public Health published this content on April 23, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 23, 2026 at 20:36 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]