Reclaiming Our Stories
Sharing Your Stories
For Phase I of Reclaiming our Stories, members of the UIC health sciences community shared with us what the Odeh Center’s five core commitments mean to them.
About Reclaiming Our Stories
In alignment with the University of Illinois Chicago’s mission and values during these changing times, we will focus on and celebrate the Odehmenan Health Equity Center’s (Odeh Center) mission and vision through its five core commitments, shown below.
We have chosen a honey bee as the icon for this project. The bee represents what it means to move and build community together. Without bees there is no life; similarly, without community, there is no flourishing. Thus, the honeybee serves as a symbol to represent the rebirth and wisdom foundational to this initiative, as we come together to learn, grow and conquer challenges together.
Our Core Commitments
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Trust
Cultivate trust with our communities, both within and outside of UIC.
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Health Equity
Mitigate health inequities through our education, research and clinical practice.
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Community Care
There is power in numbers, with vulnerability and consistent support for one another.
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Cultural Humility
Deepen our self-reflection, question power dynamics and cultivate mutually beneficial relationships.
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Flourishing
Look beyond recruitment and retention, with a focus on flourishing.
Purpose
The goal of the Reclaiming Our Stories initiative is to re-center and renew those five core commitments through various strategic avenues and storytelling that bring them to life through the eyes and voices of students, faculty, staff and community partners.
Reclaim Our Stories Programming
You may view photos and recordings from the Trust, Community Care and Flourishing programs. Please note the other two programs were in-person only and not recorded.
Further Updates
By the end of the Fall 2025 semester, our programming will have made it through each core commitment and will culminate with “Flourishing” via our Signature Community Event. Our other programs will be monthly, one hour-long talks that will form a Special Edition of our Odehmenan Health Equity Speaker Series from September through November.
Subscribe to our Odeh Center Newsletters to receive updates on speaker information and exact dates, times and locations.