Welcome to Innovation Commons at Community
A Multi-use Space for Community Health, Research, and Transformation
About Us
A transformed health landscape where communities and institutions work hand in hand, creating equitable pathways to wellness, knowledge, and resilience in every neighborhood.
Key Initiatives
Born from the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic, Innovation Commons reimagines healthcare by partnering with communities to build trust, bridge divides, and create equitable, community-centered systems of care grounded in presence, proximity, and justice.
STI Clinical Care
Nurse-led testing, treatment, and counseling with a trauma-informed, syndemic approach.
Pop-Up Clinics
Offering care in unconventional spaces like laundromats, libraries, barbershops, and bus stops—meeting people where they live and work.
Healing at the River
A recurring community wellness event that integrates cultural rituals, nature-based therapy, and public health resources by the Chicago River.
Health Fairs & Resource Drives
Mobile events providing screening, education, and essential resources in partnership with local orgs and mutual aid networks.
Community Research Pods
Participatory research projects designed with and by residents, focusing on housing justice, youth sexual health, and neighbourhood safety.
Education & Workforce Training
Health science workshops for teens, community certification programs, and internships for public health students.
Artist-In-Residence Program
Local artists using public health themes to drive education, awareness, and healing through performance, visual storytelling, and mural projects.
Founder Spotlight
— Dr. Molly Kachale Netter
Innovation Commons is the vision of Dr. Molly Kachale Netter, a pioneer in community-engaged public health and Assistant Professor at DePaul University’s College of Health Sciences. Dr. Netter brings a bold academic lens and lived commitment to the idea that true innovation is collaborative, not top-down.
Inspired by the chaos and clarity of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Netter recognized the urgent need to create nontraditional health spaces that move beyond the clinic. She leads with humility, rigor, and radical imagination—blurring the lines between university, neighborhood, and healing space. Her leadership infuses Innovation Commons with purpose, integrity, and deep community trust.
Our Partners
We believe collaboration is the engine of change. At Innovation Commons, we work hand in hand with neighborhood health workers, street teams, and Community Advisory Boards who guide and ground our efforts.
