June 2019
 

Thank you to everyone who joined us at our Spring Awards Breakfast earlier this month. It was a joy to see so many of our friends and colleagues honor our 2019 health equity champions. For the first time, we went live on Facebook! You can view the video, here. Check out our 2019 Spring Awards photo album, here.

I am thrilled to share with you an announcement of the first projects funded by the Massachusetts Food Trust Program. This has been years in the making and we could not be more pleased with the initial awards! MPHA is grateful to the program administrators for their commitment to funding projects that will not only increase healthy food access in communities with the greatest need due to historical disinvestment, but will also address these inequities head on by removing barriers to opportunity and promoting economic growth. These projects are truly aligned with the guiding principles of the Massachusetts Food Trust Campaign. Read below to learn more about these incredible projects.

Below you will also  find   information on opportunities to learn about and participate in timely health equity initiatives.  
  
 Thank you for all that you do for health equity and social justice in the Commonwealth.  

In partnership,











Carlene Pavlos
Executive Director
Policy Notespolicynotes
Announcement: First Projects Funded by the Massachusetts Food Trust 

On May 29, 2019, the administrators of the Massachusetts Food Trust Program-- Local Enterprise Assistance Fund (LEAF) and Franklin County Community Development Corporation (FCCDC)--announced the program's first awards. From Orange to Roxbury,  these seven projects will build wealth and access within communities across the Commonwealth that have been most impacted by lack of access to healthy foods. The 2019 awardees focus their healthy food enterprises on advancing racial, gender, and economic equity.  

Among the 2019 awardees are Seeds of Change, an urban farm run by women of color in Dorchester, a neighborhood of Boston; Vicente's Tropical Supermarket in Brockton, known for providing culturally appropriate foods; and Quabbin Harvest, a cooperative food store in Orange.

To view the full list of 2019 projects,  click here . To view the press release, click here. 
Maddie Ribble testifies before the Joint Committee on Public Health
MPHA Policy Director Testifies in Support of Lead Poisoning Prevention

On June 11, 2019, MPHA Policy Director Maddie Ribble provided testimony before the Joint Committee on Public Health in support of  An Act Modernizing Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention (S1234/H2010) by Senator Cyr and Representative Vargas. 

Children in low-income and communities of color are disproportionately at risk for childhood lead poisoning. Legislation is needed to ensure adequate funding for lead poisoning prevention, including greater incentives for property owners to de-lead homes and protections from discrimination for renters with small children .

To view written testimony provided by MPHA and our allies, click here .
Free Webinar: Transportation & Climate Initiative (TCI) 101 

Transportation access and climate change are two urgent and interconnected issues impacting the health of our communities, especially low-income and communities of color. This is why equitable implementation of the Transportation and Climate Initiative is one of MPHA's  2019-2020 policy priorities. This Thursday (tomorrow!), you can learn the basics of TCI through a free webinar hosted by  Our Transportation Future, a broad-based campaign advocating for a robust and equitable implementation of TCI.

Date: June 20, 2019
Time: 1:00pm

To RSVP, click here. To learn more about Our Transportation Future, click here.
Events
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Mobilizing Health Care for a Hunger Free Massachusetts

Hunger to Health Collaboratory is hosting an event in cooperation with Congressman James McGovern on how cross-sector collaboration can address the health and financial impacts of food insecurity in the Commonwealth. 
 
This event is endorsed by MPHA and the Alliance for Community Health Integration.
 
Date: Tuesday, July 9, 2019
Time: 9:00am - 12:00p.m.
Location: UMASS Medical School, Faculty Conference Room
55 Lake Ave. North, Worcester, MA 01655
MPHA's 2019 Awards Breakfast Available on Video

Earlier this month MPHA honored health equity champions Senator Harriette L. Chandler, Dr. Thea James, Raheem Baraka, and Dr. Nate Horwitz-Willis at its Spring Awards Breakfast. 

To view a video of the awards breakfast, click here. 
SAVE THE DATE: MPHA Annual Conference & Expo is on November 13, 2019 in Worcester. 
Massachusetts Public Health Association | (857) 263-7072 | [email protected] |   mapublichealth.org
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