Community Catalyst Announces New Restuccia Health Justice Fellows to Support Emerging Advocacy Leaders in Race Equity and Health Justice
Second cohort of national fellows from California, Massachusetts and Missouri are joined by a new fellowship cohort focused on New York state
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 29, 2022
CONTACT:Jack Cardinal, (781) 960-5208, jcardinal@communitycatalyst.org
(BOSTON, MA) – Today, Community Catalyst named the second cohort of fellows for the Restuccia Health Justice Fellowship as well as the first cohort of fellows for their recently-launched Restuccia Health Justice Fellowship – New York, a project founded in partnership with the New York Health Foundation (NYHealth). Both cohorts of the Fellowship program focus on supporting health justice leaders and organizations in building the power to reshape the health system so it is reflective of and responsive to communities and advances health and wellness for everyone, particularly people who are most harmed by the health system today. The Fellowship is also focused on centering race equity in all of its programmatic work, with an emphasis on supporting the leadership of BIPOC-led organizations.
The 2022-23 national Fellowship organizations are:
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The Latino Coalition for a Healthy California, California’s leading policy organization advocating for health equity in the Latino community;
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The Disability Policy Consortium, who work to ensure people with disabilities in Massachusetts have their voices heard on key issues and empower grassroots disability leaders to transform their communities; and
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Better Family Life, Inc., a community development corporation based in St. Louis, MO that works to stabilize inner-city neighborhoods.
“We are honored to begin working with these great organizations and invest in leadership teams that fuel new partnerships and push for bold, equity-forward changes to the health system,” said Emily Stewart, executive director of Community Catalyst. “As in all of our work, Community Catalyst learns so much from the partner organizations participating in the Fellowship. Their lessons and perspectives deeply shape our work and strategies for transformation.”
The national Fellowship is a year-long program that offers fellows multifaceted support, including coaching from top experts in organizational management, health systems, advocacy, race equity, and leadership development to help advocacy leaders implement their organizational goals and transformation.
Additionally, the first fellows of the new Restuccia Health Justice Fellowship–New York cohort include:
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The Children’s Defense Fund-New York, a non-profit child advocacy organization that champions policies and programs that lift children out of poverty, protect them from abuse and neglect, and ensure their access to health care, quality education and a moral and spiritual foundation;
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The Coalition of Asian American Children and Families, the nation’s only pan-Asian children and families’ advocacy organization bringing together community-based organizations as well as youth and community allies to fight for equity for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders;
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Make the Road NY, which works to build the powerof immigrant and working class communities to achieve dignity and justice;
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The Peer Network of New York, who support the work of Peers (who include people with lived experience and engage the community through non-judgmental guidance and support while connecting to resources that promote health and stability) across New York state through education leadership development and advocacy; and
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The JED Foundation, a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults, giving them the skills and support they need to thrive todayand tomorrow.
“These fellows—including emerging leaders of color—will evolve New York’s health care system to better meet community and patient needs,” said David Sandman, Ph.D., President and CEO of NYHealth. “Through the Restuccia Heath Justice Fellowship – New York, we are building the next generation of outstanding community health advocates that reflects the size, complexity, and diversity of New York State.”
The Restuccia Health Justice Fellowship – New York is the first regionally-focused individual leadership development fellowship centered on advancing race equity and health justice, a shared goal of Community Catalyst and NYHealth. During the program, the inaugural cohort of fellows will participate in an innovative leadership training model that will provide them with skills and tools to effectively advocate on behalf of their communities and tackle structural racism and other inequities embedded in the U.S. health system.
Additional information about the fellows and their organizations can be found at Community Catalyst’s website.
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About Community Catalyst: Community Catalyst is a leading non-profit national health advocacy organization dedicated to advancing a movement for race equity and health justice. We partner with local, state and national advocates to leverage and build power so all people can influence decisions that affect their health. Health systems will not be accountable to people without a fully engaged and organized community voice. That’s why we work every day to ensure people’s interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and health care are made: in communities, state houses and on Capitol Hill. For more information, visit http://www.communitycatalyst.org. Follow us on Twitter @CommCatHealth.