Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders receives Lifetime Achievement Award as a health equity champion for underserved communities

 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, recently hosted its Women for Whittier Holiday Tea and Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, December 13, in the Community Education Room at 1290 Tremont Street, Roxbury.  The event featured the theme, “Celebrating Women’s Achievements and Creating a World That Is Equitable, Diverse, and Inclusive,”

First launched in 2009, the Women for Whittier Holiday Tea and Awards Ceremony was created as an opportunity for women to build community, share resources, and provide valuable support for vulnerable women, children, and families.

The event kicked off by awarding Marylou Sudders, Secretary of Health and Human Services for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, a Lifetime Achievement Award as a health equity champion for underserved communities.

“I am deeply grateful to Frederica and the team at Whittier Street Health Center for their work each and every day to serve their community,” said Secretary Sudders.  “Community health centers are the backbone of whole health for Massachusetts residents, and are vitally important, trusted partners in achieving health equity across the Commonwealth.”

In addition, the 2022 Women for Whittier Awards were presented to Christine Carmody, executive vice president, Eversource Energy; Karen Chen, executive director, Chinese Progressive Association; Eva Clark, attorney and prison reform advocate; Magnolia A. Contreras, vice president for community health, Dana Farber Cancer Institute; Melissa Fish-Crane, principal and chief executive officer, the Peabody Companies; and State Representative Chynah Tyler.

A panel discussion followed the awards presentation and was moderated by Linda Champion, assistant general counsel of the Worker’s Compensation Trust Fund.  The panel comprised Amaka Ubake, 7 News anchor and Juliette Mayers, founder and CEO of Inspiration Zone, LLC, and discussed topics ranging from mentorship, imposter syndrome, self-care, and supporting other women.

“The women we recognized today are a truly impressive group of individuals who have worked very hard in their lives, have set examples that others can follow, and have always supported the vulnerable among us,” said Frederica M. Williams, president and CEO of Whittier Street Health Center.  “They embody perseverance, adaptability, and positivity, and through their hard work, they show others who may come after them how they too can make a real difference for better.”

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 is accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC), certified by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Patient-Centered Medical Home, and recognized by the NCQA for its Behavioral Health Integration. Through its locations in Roxbury and North Dorchester, and its Mobile Health Van program, 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. Approximately 28% of Whittier’s patients are uninsured. Whittier Street Health Center provides a comprehensive array of 40 healthcare programs and services designed to meet the primary health care, behavioral health, and social needs of the community. 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.

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CONTACT: Nicole Joy Hales, PRfirst, 617-947-7983, nhales@prfirst.com