FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chicago South Side Birth Center Exceeds Capital Campaign Goal, Raising $8.1 Million Amid National Maternal Health Crisis

CHICAGO, IL — [Wednesday, October 1st, 2025] — The Chicago South Side Birth Center (CSSBC) is proud to announce the successful completion of its capital campaign, surpassing its original $7.5 million goal to raise an inspiring $8.1 million. This milestone paves the way for the city’s first freestanding birth center on the South Side, to be located at 8301 S. South Shore Drive Chicago, IL. 

Groundbreaking for the state-of-the-art facility is scheduled for the end of 2025, with a grand opening planned for next year. The new center will provide safe, culturally reverent, and community-centered maternity care options for South Side families, addressing not only a local care gap but also urgent national concerns about maternal health.

Across the United States, maternal mortality rates are among the highest of any industrialized country and each month, new maternal health deserts present themselves. In addition to this, Medicaid covers nearly half of all births nationally, yet too many families struggle to access timely, quality, and respectful maternity care. The Chicago South Side Birth Center will help change that by expanding access to midwifery-led services that improve outcomes, reduce costs, and center dignity in the birthing experience — even in the midst of Medicaid cuts predicted for 2027 across the country.

The campaign’s success was catalyzed by a transformative $3.3 million grant from the City of Chicago, with the remaining $5 million in funds raised through the dedication of the Capital Campaign Committee, community members, and generous donors.

“The momentum of this fundraising campaign reflects the power of the Chicago community coming together to invest in the health, dignity, and future of families on the South Side,” said Alyssa Wright, CSSBC’s Capital Campaign Consultant. “As our nation grapples with a maternal health crisis, the Chicago South Side Birth Center will stand as a model for how community-driven, midwifery-led care can save lives and set families on a healthier path.

The Chicago South Side Birth Center will be a pioneering space for midwifery-led care, childbirth education, and family-centered, culturally-reverent wellness services. By aligning with national conversations around maternal health equity and Medicare/Medicaid innovation, the center embodies a vision of health justice and empowerment that resonates far beyond Chicago.

For those who wish to donate to core operations or volunteer with the organization, please contact our Founder & Lead Steward, Jeanine Valrie Logan, at jeanine@chicagosouthsidebirthcenter.org.

About the Chicago South Side Birth Center
The Chicago South Side Birth Center is dedicated to advancing birth justice by providing safe, affirming, and community-driven care. Rooted in equity, respect, and cultural humility, the center seeks to transform maternal health outcomes and expand access to midwifery care for families on Chicago’s South Side.

Media Contact:
Stella Lee, Communications + Marketing Coordinator
stella@chicagosouthsidebirthcenter.org