Who We Are
West Side Pastors’ Coalition for AIDS & Inner City Health (WSPCA) is comprised of faith leaders, lay persons, and a consortium of organizations. WSPCA was founded in 1994, under its founder and first president, Rev. Stanley F. Stephens. Rev. Stephens founded our organization after recognizing that there was a limited number of faith leaders involved in the creation and work of HIV/AIDS ministries. Our mission is to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS through education/prevention, by building an extensive network for health and wellness in our communities.
WSPCA believes strongly in education and prevention while increasing compassion and non-judgmental care. We provide pastoral care, support groups, grief counseling and continue to build faith based health ministries. We also promote faith community involvement in HIV testing.
Other health issues that impact poor communities and are often overlooked include: Heart Disease, Cancer, Diabetes, Obesity, Stroke and Hypertension. African-Americans are twice as likely to be diagnosed with Diabetes as whites and 1.5x more likely than whites to have high blood pressure. WSPCA supports programs in the community that address these concerns.
WSPCA facilitates and/or participates in three events during the year:
Our signature Back 2 School (B2S) Health & Resource Fair targets our youth and promotes HIV awareness with the use of entertainment, refreshments, speakers and providing free school supplies to those in attendance. This event typically held the second Saturday of August.
Our Faith Leader Trainings provides the opportunity for faith leaders, lay persons, community & health advocates, health care professionals, and civic leaders to discuss HIV/AIDS related trends, strategies, and resources along with preventative measures/activities to incorporate within the community.
A partner with the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, WSPCA participates in their annual AFC AIDS Walk and Run event, where each year over 2,000 people gather for the largest HIV gathering in the Midwest. We welcome you to support us in this fundraising endeavor to end the HIV epidemic.
Additionally, WSPCA hosts Clergy Breakfasts that bring together faith, civic, & health leaders and advocates to discuss important topics around HIV/AIDS and provide education and strategies on how to end stigma and infections. We also support other organizations and events throughout the year that align with our goal and mission to end the spread of HIV/AIDS throughout Chicagoland.
West Side Pastors’ Coalition for AIDS & Inner City Health (WSPCA) is not-for-profit and exempt under Section 501c (3) Internal Revenue Code. The WSPCA is in partnership with many community, municiple, and state health agencies and organziations including: West Suburban Medical Center, Loretto Hospital, The CORE Center, Chicago Department of Public Health, McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago Theological Seminary, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, and AIDS Foundation of Chicago.
West Side Pastors’ Coalition for AIDS & Inner City Health (WSPCA) has received honors for its work including: “Tree of Life Award” from AIDS Pastoral Care Network, the “Clergy Leadership Award” from McCormick Theological Seminary, and recognized as a “Faith Partner HIV/AIDS” from AIDS Foundation of Chicago, along with other notable recognitions.
