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Tag: healthdisparities

  • Whittier Street Health Center’s 24th Annual Men’s Health Summit a Triumph

    Whittier Street Health Center’s 24th Annual Men’s Health Summit a Triumph

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    Whittier Street Health Center, a community health center with a mission to serve as a center of excellence that provides high quality and accessible health care and social services that achieve health equity, social justice, and the economic well-being of a diverse patient population, is thrilled to announce that its 24th Annual Men’s Health Summit held June 24 at the Frederica M. Williams Building, 1290 Tremont Street, Roxbury, was a tremendous success with an estimated 150 community leaders and residents in attendance.

    The theme at this year’s summit, “UNITED for Men’s Health: Grounded in Equity,” prompted open and engaging discussion on how, across the country, gaps and disparities in health care continue to increase and persist. 

    The annual event included a health fair, health screenings, and a panel discussion and conversation about men’s health and wellness. A highlight of the Summit was the presentation of this year’s Men’s Health Champion Awards to the following:

    • Mr. Wilner Auguste, founder, Haitian American United (HAU), Mattapan;
    • Rev. John Finley, co-founder and head of Epiphany School, Dorchester; 
    • Rev. Art Gordon, pastor, St. John Missionary Baptist Church, Roxbury; 
    • Mr. David Morales, general manager, UniCare, Lynn (formerly of Lynnfield); 
    • Mr. Jean Prezeau, men’s health ambassador, Whitter Street Health Center, Roxbury; 
    • Mr. William Watkins, MBA, vice president of digital strategies and partnerships, Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, Roxbury; and 
    • Mr. Leverett Wing, president and CEO, Commonwealth Seminar, Chelsea and Boston.

    Serving as guest speaker was NBC10 News Anchor Glenn Jones.

    The Annual Men’s Health Summit aligns with Whittier Street Health Center’s mission to serve as a center of excellence that provides high-quality, and accessible health care and social services that achieve health equity, social justice, and the economic well-being of our diverse populations. 

    “Open, honest, and genuine discussions were once again a high point of this year’s Men’s Health Summit,” said Frederica M. Williams, president and CEO of Whittier Street Health Center. “This important annual event aims to shine a light on and help to address preventable causes that contribute to increased morbidity and mortality rates, and decreased life expectancy for men, and in particular those of color.”

    About Whittier Street Health Center

    Whittier Street Health Center is an independently licensed community health care center with a mission of providing high-quality, reliable and accessible primary healthcare for diverse populations while promoting wellness and eliminating health and social disparities. A champion of equitable access to high-quality, patient-focused care, social justice and economic equity, Whittier Street Health Center serves more than 30,000 patients and 20,000 community outreach visits annually; its ethnically and racially diverse patient base is primarily made up of individuals from Roxbury, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, the South End and greater Boston. For more information, please visit www.wshc.org as well as Facebook (www.facebook.com/WhittierStreetHealthCenter), Twitter (@Whittier_Boston), or LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/whittier-street-health-center), or call 617-989-3221.

    Source: Whittier Street Health Center

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  • Whittier Program Closes the Life Expectancy Gap in Minority and Low-Income Communities

    Whittier Program Closes the Life Expectancy Gap in Minority and Low-Income Communities

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    In 2011, Whittier Street Health Center raised awareness about the 33-year gap in life expectancy for those living in Roxbury (59.5 years) compared to those living in the Back Bay (92 years), a gentrified neighborhood less than 2 miles from Roxbury. Whittier focused on the “Tale of the Two Cities” and partnered with its patients, community residents and leaders, corporations and public sector partners to raise awareness and to develop programs to close the life expectancy gap. Whittier launched its Boston Health Equity Program in 2012, a system of care for people with chronic illnesses and those at risk that fully integrates innovative community outreach, linkage to social services, wellness support and care coordination with a focus on eliminating health disparities and their associated costs. 

    A little over a decade later, working with its patients and partners, Whittier has made large strides in improving life expectancy in its service areas by 10 years. The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) released a report on May 11, 2023, and there is a 23-year life expectancy gap between residents in Roxbury and the Back Bay.

    On June 21, 2023, Whittier Street Health Center co-hosted a session in partnership with the Boston Public Health Commission and the CHNA-CHIP Collaborative.

    The open discussion, led by the Commissioner of the City of Boston’s Health Department Dr. Bisola Ojikutu and Whittier’s President & CEO Frederica M. Williams, addressed the need for continued and expanded community outreach and education to provide the necessary and comprehensive range of treatment and prevention services to low-income minority and immigrant populations.

    Community members attending the event were connected to health resources offered by the City of Boston, including the Boston Health Start Initiative (BHSI), which provides direct support to pregnant and parenting women, children, and families of color. Whittier Street Health Center is a designated BHSI site.

    “The recent Health of Boston reports shows that the life expectancy gap of Roxbury residents has shown a slight improvement, but there remains a gap of 23 years when compared to the residents in Back Bay,” said Frederica M. Williams, president and CEO of Whittier Street Health Center. “We need to continue our efforts to address the barriers to good health, such as housing, food and economic insecurity while empowering our residents to engage in lifestyle changes and behaviors that will improve their health and quality of life. Having access to prevention, screening and treatment in addition to community investments in the social determinants of health can lead to better health outcomes. We are grateful to all who have supported our Boston Health Equity Program, which was launched in 2012, and look forward to expanding our health equity partnerships so we can continue to close the 23-year life expectancy gap.”

    About Whittier Street Health Center
    Whittier Street Health Center is an independently licensed community healthcare center with a mission to serve as a center of excellence that provides high-quality and accessible healthcare and social services that achieve health equity, social justice and the economic well-being of its diverse populations. 

    Source: Whittier Street Health Center

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  • Championing Health Equity, Social Justice and the Economic Health of Our Beloved Community

    Championing Health Equity, Social Justice and the Economic Health of Our Beloved Community

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    Whittier Street Health Center will host its 2nd Annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Thursday, January 13th 2021 from 12pm-1pm.

    Press Release


    Jan 6, 2022

     Whittier Street Health Center will be hosting a day of service and distributing warm clothing, food, educational resources and creating access to health care and social services.

    Dr. King stated “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?” During these unprecedented times, it is important for us to ask ourselves these questions every day, and to create access to opportunities for others. 

    “This day of service is dedicated to the goal of inspiring individuals to take a more active role in improving their communities as Dr. Martin Luther King did while he was leading the civil rights movement,” stated Whittier Street Health Center’s President & CEO, Frederica M. Williams. “It is important to pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., for his contributions to the American civil rights movement and his vision for a world void of discrimination and segregation, which is at the heart of our mission to address health equity, social justice and the economic inequities impacting the lives of our vulnerable patients and community residents.”

    There is still much to be done in terms of equality, but thanks to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, the conversation and action steps will continue until the goal of an equitable society is achieved. Events like Whittier’s Dr. Martin Luther King Day of Service are a great way to engage with our community to educate, empower and engage them in care. As a health care organization, we are reminded daily of Dr. King’s statement that “Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and inhumane,” and we are doing our part to address inequality and injustice in health care. 

    Whittier Street Health Center is a community health care center with a mission to serve as a center of excellence that provides high quality, and accessible health care and social services that achieve health equity, social justice, and the economic well-being of our diverse patient populations. Through our locations in Roxbury and North Dorchester, School-Based Health Centers and Mobile Health Van programs, we serve 30,000 patients and conduct 20,000 community outreach visits annually. 

    www.wshc.org.
    Facebook (www.facebook.com/WhittierStreetHealthCenter)
    Twitter (@Whittier_Boston)
    LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/whittier-street-health-center)

    Contact Frederica M. Williams, 617 989 3220

    Source: Whittier Street Health Center

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