Village of Addison named as 2020-2021 RWJF Culture of Health Prize winner by Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

On Oct. 27 during Addison Trail’s Fine Arts Showcase, Village of Addison Mayor Rich Veenstra and District 88 Superintendent Dr. Jean Barbanente, along with community leaders and partners, announced the village has been named as a 2020-2021 RWJF Culture of Health Prize winner by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation! The RWJF Culture of Health Prize honors and elevates U.S. communities working at the forefront of advancing health, opportunity and equity for all. To watch the presentation, click on the video above. To view a photo gallery from the event, see the images below.

The Village of Addison is one of 10 winners and is being recognized nationally for pursuing innovative ideas and bringing partners together to rally around a shared vision of health. The village’s award-winning efforts include:

  • Aligning key organizations and initiatives through Addison Resources Connect (ARC), a network of education leaders, business owners, service groups and intergovernmental agencies who work “To connect Addison youth and families with community resources that support well-being and growth” (CLICK HERE to read more about ARC);

  • Reimagining the role of the Addison Public Library;

  • Addressing gaps in support for families and young children through the Addison Early Childhood Collaborative;

  • Building youth leadership and equity in District 88 to foster an inclusive environment and a sense of belonging; and

  • Creating pipelines for skilled workers through the Addison Workforce Development Committee.

The award is a collaborative effort among the following organizations:

  • The Village of Addison
  • Addison Resources Connect (ARC)
  • The Addison Workforce Development Committee
  • The DuPage County Health Department
  • DuPage High School District 88
  • Addison School District 4
  • The Addison Public Library
  • The Addison Early Childhood Collaborative
  • The Addison Police Department
  • The Addison Fire Protection District
  • The Addison Park District

As a Culture of Health honoree, the village will receive a $25,000 prize, join a network of Prize-winning communities and have its inspiring accomplishments shared throughout the nation. The prize money will be used to better the lives of community members, and more information will be shared as details are finalized. To celebrate Addison being named as a 2020-2021 RWJF Culture of Health Prize winner, the village designed a coloring page that celebrates the award. To download that image, CLICK HERE.

For more information about the RWJF Culture of Health Prize, go to www.dupage88.net/CultureofHealthPrize and www.rwjf.org/Prize.

ADDISON PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

STUDENT LOGO-DESIGN CONTEST

To celebrate this prestigious award, students in Addison were invited to participate in a contest to design a logo that shows what being a “culture of health” means to them as youth in the village. Students were encouraged to create an image that represents all aspects of health – including physical health; mental health; safety; education; career opportunities; and support, equity and access for all residents.

We’re proud to announce the two winners of the logo contest: Maria Gonzalez and Emily Moy. Maria is a senior at Addison Trail High School and submitted a digital drawing entitled “Bloom From The Heart (Floresca Desde El Corazon).” Emily is a freshman at Addison Trail High School and submitted a digital art piece with marker touch-ups, entitled “Wings to Health.”

As winners of the contest, the Village of Addison honored both Maria and Emily with a $100 gift card and a certificate of recognition. Their entries also are featured on the Village of Addison’s RWJF Culture of Health T-shirt.