Take Action Today for Health Equity!

The 2023-24 legislative session is underway, and MPHA needs your help to advance our top policy priorities! Please take a moment to contact your legislators and ask them to cosponsor the following bills: 

• Statewide Accelerated Public Health for Everyone Act (SAPHE 2.0) – this critical legislation will establish minimum public health standards for every community, credential public health workers, create uniform data collection and reporting systems, and build a state funding mechanism for local and regional boards of health; 
• RTA Advancement Bill – Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) are a lifeline to residents in 250 communities beyond the reach of the MBTA, connecting them to jobs, groceries, and medical care. This bill will stabilize funding for the RTAs so they can better meet the needs of local communities;
• Rent Control Enabling Act – This legislation is a critical part of a comprehensive approach to the affordable housing crisis. By lifting the statewide ban on rent control, it will allow municipalities to enact local rent stabilization and tenant protection policies that are based on the unique needs of each community.

Click here for a sample script and instructions. Thank you for raising your voice to support health equity! 

Welcome to New Board Members & Officers

MPHA is excited to announce new officers and members of our Board of Directors! We are thrilled to welcome New Bedford Public Health Director Damōn Chaplin as our new President, Roeshana Moore-Evans of the Harvard & Legacy of Slavery Initiative as President-Elect, Steven Ridini of Health Resources in Action as Vice President, Clara Chan Farnsworth of Wellington Management Company as Treasurer, and Neil Maniar of Northeastern University Bouvé School of Public Health as Immediate Past President. In addition, we are also delighted to welcome three new board members: Commissioner Bisola Ojikutu of the Boston Public Health Commission, Elena Kontogli of Marketing by Mission, and Lesly Melendez of Groundwork Lawrence. We look forward to learning from their expertise in many different facets of public health, deep experience in advocating for racial justice, and steadfast commitment to health equity. To learn more about our Board of Directors, click here.   

New Budget Letter Highlights Equity

MPHA recently submitted our FY24 budget request to the Healey administration, encouraging stronger investments in infrastructure and programs that bolster the fundamental building blocks of good health. To help achieve health equity, we are requesting increased funding for local public health, regional public transportation, housing stabilization and affordability, healthy food access and sustainable food systems, as well as upstream investments to improve health outcomes for those most impacted by inequities. We are excited to work with the new administration to advance these critical public health priorities. Together, we can continue moving towards a healthier and more equitable future for our Commonwealth. 

MPHA Hosts New Policy Intern

This semester we are delighted to welcome Kate Forrest as MPHA’s policy intern. Kate is currently a graduate student at the Boston College School of Social Work. Prior to joining MPHA, she worked as an Advocacy and Legislative intern with PUSH for Empowered Pregnancy, a nonprofit organization striving to end preventable stillbirth. In the coming months, Kate will be helping to plan our Public Health Lobby Day at the Massachusetts State House. Please join us in welcoming Kate – and stay tuned for more information about Lobby Day!

Eight-Month Internship Opportunity Available

Interns play a critical role as part of MPHA’s tightknit policy and field team. Now, MPHA is pleased to announce the creation of a new internship position that will span the full academic year. Beginning in the fall of 2023, the internship will continue through the end of the spring semester in 2024. Applications from interested candidates will be accepted from February 1 through February 28, 2023. A limited stipend is available. To learn more, click here.

Annual Conference Recordings Now Online 

With more than 400 attendees, MPHA’s 2022 Annual Conference & Meeting on Dec. 13 was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect and get energized! The event featured a keynote address by Dr. Lauren Smith, Chief Health Equity and Strategy Officer for the CDC Foundation, an inspiring video conversation with State Senator Liz Miranda, and the unveiling of MPHA’s 2023-2024 Policy Agenda. If you were unable to attend, selected recordings are now available online.