An awards ceremony honored the past work of organizations based in New Castle County, while a full day symposium looked to the future
The Health Federation of Philadelphia’s National Health Corps (NHC) held two events recently– the NHC Equity & Opportunity Awards and the Confronting Structural Oppression symposium – at the Blue Ball Barn in Wilmington, Delaware.
The NHC Equity & Opportunity Awards recognized and celebrated community grassroots organizations in New Castle County that are actively working to confront structural barriers to health and wellbeing. United States Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) and New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer were in attendance to extend their support and celebrate the great work of all organizations involved.
“Since its launch in 2021, the National Health Corps program in Delaware has been a powerful model for addressing basic public health needs through service,” Sen. Coons said. “Thanks to the hands-on training and scholarship opportunities AmeriCorps members receive, the sky is the limit for these Community Health Fellows. I applaud all of the host organizations being recognized for their commitment to serving Delaware while developing the next generation of leaders working to improve health equity in our community.”
“We are so fortunate that a number of Delawareans have raised their hands and have served their communities and their neighbors right here in New Castle County as part of the National Health Corps,” Meyer said. “We look forward to this continued partnership.”
The winners included:
Black Mothers in Power
Black Mothers In Power raises awareness about Black maternal healthcare through listening sessions and workshops that amplify community voices and share maternal stories focusing on reproductive health.
Parent Information Center of Delaware, Inc.
PIC's mission is to improve health and educational outcomes for children and youth by empowering them, their families and the professionals who serve them.
Jefferson St. Center, Inc.
Jefferson Street Center implements community-driven priorities that support quality of life, improved community health and neighborhood vitality. In recent years, their strategies have focused on channeling resources to implement place-based revitalization projects and initiatives to cultivate place-based asset growth, alleviate poverty, promote housing stabilization and grow civic muscle.
Other finalists included:
- Delaware Center for Justice
- Bellevue Community Center
- YWCA Delaware
- West End Neighborhood House
- Reach Riverside
- West Side Grows Together
- Network Connect
- The Warehouse
- Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence
- Food Bank of Delaware
- Delaware Health Equity Coalition
- Interfaith Community Housing of Delaware
- Latin American Community Center
- Community Legal and Society Inc.
- Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League
- Moms Demand Action
The symposium served as a day of collaboration, education, and action to tackle structural barriers to health equity in New Castle County, Delaware. Led by Debra Alexander, an organizational development consultant, a number of community organizations from across New Castle County came together to share their insights and discuss their experiences. The symposium also gave participants the opportunity to build networks for future endeavors.
In addition, NHC debuted their “Equity and Opportunity Initiative” at the symposium. This initiative aims to make progress toward tackling structural oppression and health equity in America. More information can be found here.
About National Health Corps
National Health Corps (NHC) is an AmeriCorps program that fosters healthy communities by connecting those who need it most with health and wellness education, benefits, and services. While developing tomorrow’s compassionate health leaders. Administered by The Health Federation of Philadelphia, NHC hosts two programs that recruit, train and place 141 AmeriCorps members at organizations nationwide to help build healthy communities by providing essential health education and access services to individuals in communities plagued by histories of racial and economic inequities. NHC: Community Health Fellowship (CHF) is a grass roots community health service program that trains local community residents as Community Health Workers (CHWs) who are committed to addressing the unmet needs of underserved populations, and develops community health leaders. The program operates in Central California, Delaware, Northeast Pennsylvania, and Greater Philadelphia. NHC Public Health Leadership Corps operates in Central California, Chicago, Florida, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and San Francisco.
About the Health Federation of Philadelphia
Health Federation of Philadelphia promotes health equity for marginalized communities by advancing access to high-quality, integrated, and comprehensive health and human services. The organization serves as a keystone supporting a network of Community Health Centers as well as the broader base of public and private-sector organizations that deliver healthcare, public health and human services to vulnerable populations.
-HFP-
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