Get Involved in Research

Put community voice at the center of health studies

Worry Free Community invites congregations, community members, and partners to help shape research that reflects real life experiences across Chicagoland. When you take part in faith based and community focused research, you help make health programs more relevant and respectful.

How you can join the research journey

Roles for community members and partners

Research at Worry Free Community is built around community based participatory research and patient centered approaches. That means patients, caregivers, mosque leaders, church leaders, and local organizations have a voice in what questions are asked and how projects are designed. You might share your experience in listening sessions, serve on an advisory group, or help invite others to take part. For congregations and organizations, involvement can include hosting conversations or helping interpret findings through a local lens. Together, these roles keep research grounded in the day to day realities of our neighborhoods.

Why your voice matters in research

Turning lived experience into better care

When research is shaped only by institutions, it can miss the concerns that matter most to patients, caregivers, and faith communities. By bringing your perspective into this work, you help ensure that studies ask the right questions and lead to real improvements in care. Your involvement can influence how clinics listen, how programs are evaluated, and how funding is directed. Over time, community anchored research with Worry Free Community supports health changes that are more just, more practical, and more aligned with the values of the people they are meant to serve.

Group of people at a table, looking at items. Outdoors, cloudy day, tents in background.

What research involvement can include

Practical ways to walk alongside our team

Getting involved in research does not always mean wearing a lab coat or learning technical language. Instead, it usually looks like showing up as yourself and sharing what you know about your community. Our team provides context and support so participation feels safe and manageable. As projects move forward, we work to share back what we learn in forms that are useful to you and your community.


  • Joining listening sessions or focus groups
  • Serving on community or faith based advisory boards
  • Helping design outreach and engagement strategies
  • Partnering to host events at mosques, churches, or community spaces