Austin HOPE Center Celebrates Ribbon Cutting, Expanding Access to Pediatric Care and Community Resources

Stone Community Development Corporation (Stone CDC), Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives (CNI), Wintrust Bank and Thresholds today celebrated the ribbon cutting of the Austin HOPE Center, a first-of-its-kind community hub that brings together pediatric specialty care, behavioral health services and neighborhood-based programming designed with and for Austin families.

"The Austin HOPE Center is the result of what is possible when trusted community organizations come together with institutions to invest in our neighborhoods," said Pastor Contrell Jenkins, CEO of Stone Community Development Corporation. "Together with our partners and government and philanthropic supporters, we've created a place that belongs to Austin – one that will support children, families and future generations for years to come."

The ribbon-cutting ceremony marks the completion of years of sustained partnership and engagement with residents, youth and community organizations to create a welcoming space focused on Healing, Opportunity, Partnerships and Equity (HOPE) in Austin. Located at 5036 W. Chicago Ave., the nearly 25,000-square-foot center is designed to improve access to high-quality pediatric care while serving as a gathering place that strengthens the health and well-being of the entire community. The HOPE Center was named with help from youth from KIPP Elementary school and other youth from the Austin community.

"The Austin HOPE Center represents a new model for how health systems can partner with communities to improve child health," said Thomas Shanley, MD, President & CEO of Lurie Children’s. "This center was shaped by the voices of Austin residents every step of the way. Together, we've created a place where children and families can access exceptional pediatric care alongside programs and resources that support their overall health and future success."

The center will house an outpatient Lurie Children’s location where patients can access pediatric specialty and behavioral health services, reducing barriers to care while expanding access to nationally recognized pediatric expertise. The following clinical and supportive services will be offered on a rotating schedule starting September 15: mental and behavioral health services including mood disorders, anxiety, ADHD and individual/family/group therapy, adolescent medicine, cardiology, developmental and behavioral pediatrics, gastroenterology, hematology, nephrology, pulmonary medicine and weight management and wellness, with some diagnostic services also available on site.

In addition to the Lurie Children’s space, local nonprofit Thresholds will locate employee offices at the Austin HOPE Center and Wintrust will operate a full-service bank branch.

“CNI is proud to bring our development expertise to this project and be among the community partners creating the Austin HOPE Center because it creates additional opportunities and ensures that long-overdue access to healthcare is no longer a barrier to building healthy lives and a vital community,” said David Doig, President, CNI.

Beyond healthcare, the center will serve as a flexible community space for youth development, health and financial education, workforce training and neighborhood programming, reflecting the priorities identified by Austin residents throughout the planning and design process. It will offer a teen lounge designed by youth for youth and an early childhood room for parents and babies to work with maternal and infant health experts. Lurie Children’s and other community partners will use the facility to deliver programs that strengthen families, promote wellness and create new opportunities for neighborhood residents.

Throughout development, Lurie Children's and Stone CDC engaged hundreds of residents through community meetings, youth advisory sessions, neighborhood events and design workshops. Their input influenced everything from the services offered to the design of community gathering spaces, ensuring the center reflects the neighborhood's vision and priorities.

“For families like mine, having excellent care at the Austin HOPE Center close to home will mean less stress, fewer missed opportunities and a better quality of life overall," said Lurie Children's patient and Austin resident Michael Burgess.

The new center is a cornerstone of Lurie Children's Patrick M. Magoon Institute for Healthy Communities long-term commitment to advancing health equity by addressing the factors that shape children's health beyond the walls of the hospital. The center exemplifies the hospital's strategy to partner with communities to improve access to care, strengthen neighborhood resources and create healthier futures for every child and their families across Chicago.

The center is funded by a combination of philanthropy, New Market Tax Credits, bank loans and federal, state and city government support.

“I want to recognize the incredible partnership that made this possible: Stone Community Development Corporation, Lurie Children’s, Thresholds, and Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives,” said U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL). “Together, you’ve created a space where residents can access pediatric care, behavioral health services, housing and employment support, and much more. I secured $1 million in federal funding for Lurie Children’s to help create this community health clinic in Austin and today, that investment comes to life. I can’t wait to see all the good that happens here.”

The City of Chicago’s Department of Planning, led by Commissioner Ciere Boatright, provided a lead grant to the project, applying $5 million of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Housing and Economic Development Bond Funds.

“Strong neighborhoods need more than one kind of investment. They need access to quality health care, places for young people to learn and grow, and resources that support families at every stage,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “The Austin HOPE Center brings those pieces together under one roof, making it easier for families to access the care and support they need. This center represents the kind of long-term investment that strengthens communities, creates new possibilities for young people and families, and reflects our commitment to making sure Chicago’s neighborhoods have a real voice in shaping their future.”

About Lurie Children’s

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is a nonprofit organization committed to providing access to exceptional care for every child. It is ranked as one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. Lurie Children’s is the pediatric training ground for Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Supported by philanthropy, the Patrick M. Magoon Institute for Healthy Communities is the hub for all Lurie Children’s community-focused initiatives.

About Stone CDC

Stone CDC is affiliated with Lively Stone MB Church, which has been a staple in the community for over forty years. Stone CDC is dedicated to improving the quality of life in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood and is creating opportunities that address the academic, economic, social-emotional, and spiritual well-being of families through academic enrichment; art appreciation and instruction; health and wellness; and financial literacy and wealth building programming.

About Thresholds

Established in 1959, Thresholds provides innovative behavioral and primary healthcare to thousands of individuals in each year that promotes empowerment, well-being, and full participation in community life. Through unwavering community-based engagement, support, and advocacy, Thresholds helps people living with mental health and substance use conditions find home, health, and hope. Find out more at www.thresholds.org.

About CNI

CNI is a non-profit community development organization focused on real estate development and financing activities in neighborhoods on Chicago’s South and West Sides.  CNI works alongside community stakeholders to coordinate investment in neighborhoods through construction of new commercial, industrial, residential, and recreational properties and deployment of loans to small businesses. Since inception in 2010, CNI has created 7,800 jobs resulting in over $600 million in earnings for South and West Side residents.

About Wintrust

Wintrust is a locally run community bank that brings together financing, partnerships and local relationships to help turn ambitious community visions into reality. Whether supporting affordable housing, expanding access to essential services or investing alongside mission-driven organizations, Wintrust believes thriving communities are built through long-term collaboration and a commitment to meeting people where they are.