Mayor Brandon Johnson Breaks Ground On Chicago South Side Birthing Center
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CHICAGO ~ Chicago Mayor Breaks Ground on South Side Birth Center

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, along with city officials and community leaders, gathered today to break ground on the Chicago South Side Birth Center (CSSBC). This groundbreaking project is the first dedicated birth center on the South Side and the first nonprofit birth center in Illinois. The City-backed initiative is utilizing funds from Mayor Johnson's $1.25 billion Housing and Economic Development (HED) Bond to convert a former church building into a community-focused reproductive health clinic.

In his remarks, Mayor Johnson emphasized the importance of this project in addressing the gaps in maternal healthcare that have long plagued mothers, particularly Black mothers, in Chicago. He stated that these gaps are not new, but rather a result of decades of disinvestment. The CSSBC, shaped by advocates deeply rooted in the community, aims to address these inequities and invest in the success and well-being of Chicago families.

Founder and Lead Steward of the Chicago South Side Birth Center, Jeanine Valrie Logan, also spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony. She expressed her excitement for this project which was made possible through a partnership between community vision and public support. Logan stated that families on the South Side have long deserved access to midwife-led care in their own neighborhoods and this center marks a major step forward.

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The $7.4 million project received $3.3 million in City support through a Community Development Grant awarded by the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) in May 2025. This funding, made available through HED bond proceeds, will cover costs associated with construction, rehabbing efforts, and landscaping.

DPD Commissioner Ciere Boatright highlighted how this project aligns with their goal of community-wealth building and helping residents thrive in their own neighborhoods. She stated that health is wealth from birth and beyond and supporting facilities like this is uniquely gratifying for her department.

The CSSBC will offer a range of services including prenatal care, birth services, postpartum care, lactation support, holistic reproductive health care, childbirth education, and wellness programming. It aims to address existing inequities in birth outcomes by providing culturally centered, midwifery care within the community.

With only four hospitals on the South Side offering maternity services, limited access to maternal care has led to high rates of infant and maternal morbidity. The Birth Center seeks to disrupt these inequitable outcomes for Black birthing people and their families by expanding locally rooted, community-based care that breaks down barriers.

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Chief Equity Officer Carla Kupe spoke about the significance of this project in responding to longstanding inequities in maternal and infant health with intention and care. She stated that for too long, Black mothers and babies on the South Side have navigated systems that were not designed with their safety or dignity in mind. The CSSBC represents both repair and possibility as it roots care in community, trust, and cultural responsiveness.

Mayor Johnson's wife Stacie has been a long-time advocate for maternal health equity and improved treatment options for mothers in Chicago. In 2024, she joined a CSSBC roundtable which helped guide the project's aims and development. Mayor Johnson expressed his gratitude for his wife's dedication to this cause and her transcendent love for people every single day.

Through the strategic deployment of HED funds and other community development resources, the Johnson administration remains committed to catalyzing and supporting projects across the city that create jobs, increase economic vitality, and drive quality-of-life improvements for Chicagoans.

The Chicago South Side Birth Center is a testament to the power of community vision and public partnership in addressing systemic issues and investing in the well-being of all residents. With its opening on the horizon, it is sure to make a positive impact on maternal healthcare on the South Side for generations to come.

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