2011-2013 Accomplishments

NAHSE Chicago Midwest Chapter 2011 – 2013
Overview Pathways to a Healthier Journey Scholarship and Awards Gala was developed for the purpose of raising funds for the Chicago Midwest Chapter to promote the NAHSE mission of eliminating health disparities and advancing Blacks into leadership roles within health care.
NAHSE believes in an inclusive society and works to promote minority participation in the design, direction and delivery of quality health care to all people

• NAHSE Chicago’s focus is impact in the areas of policy and leadership development / capacity building
  
  

Building Leadership Capacity: An Era of Transformation is the 2011-2013 platform.  
Our major programs include:

• Leadership Diversity and Disparities Awareness Campaign:1st time NAHSE Chicago in partnership with other Chicagoland stakeholder organizations working to develop and align resources for creation of brain trust of ideas that positively impact (“move-the-needle) minority participation in the health administration / health services fields and minority participation on health related boards. This initiative is about improving leadership and employment capacity.     
• Legislative Internship Program: NAHSE Chicago intern served with the Office of Senator Toi Hutchinson (1st Quarter 2011). Program increased students policy acumen and NAHSE members worked with other legislators to supply expert knowledge on health related and disparities issues. The selection process for our next intern is underway and will be announced prior to State of Illinois session convening. 
• Global Leadership Initiative: The Global initiative was designed to increase the leadership capacity of young Black boys and knowledge of global citizenship. Black boys have been selected as the pilot group for the project because of the disproportionate social-economic outcomes impacting this group globally. 
• Women and Children’s Initiative: 2012 initiative designed to promote education and awareness of disease in an effort to improve health outcomes. The program titled: A Whole New Me:  Empowered to Achieve Success will be a series of health education programs for minority women and children in Illinois geared to combat health inequities in the work force by providing resources for participants (e.g., resume and interviewing techniques), increase awareness about disease prevention, detection and management and educate constituents about the challenges of health care communication.
  
• Commission to End Health Care Disparities:  NAHSE Chicago is a board approved and active participant in the Commission to End Health Disparities.  NAHSE representatives serve on the national Policy and Advocacy Committee for the commission and leverage these relationships in development of the Chicago action plan.

NAHSE Chicago Midwest Chapter Achievements in 2013
Your contribution has been valuable. With you as a partner we together have been able to achieve:
Growth of our paid membership.  NAHSE Chicago Midwest Chapter continues to be the largest Chapter nationally. Expansion of our institutional memberships to now include University of Chicago, Evanston Northshore, Rush University Medical Center and Northwestern Medicine Partnership with University of Illinois, University of Chicago Urban Health Program, Rush, Robert Lurie Cancer Center, Advocate, The Centers for Health and Community Transformations and Bishop Larry Trotter of Sweet Holy Spirit Church to develop the Mega Faith Meets Mega Science Project. 

This collaborative allowed NAHSE to participate in community health conversations and develop 2014 programming that looks at opportunities to foster enhanced relationships with the church as a means of improving health outcomes in the community. A variety of educational events to include:
Black History Program featuring the Beasley School Dance Troop and Dr. Terry Mason of Cook County Department of Public Health and the Impact of the Affordable Care Act a presentation by Kevin Scanlon of the Land of Lincoln Development of the first University of Illinois Student Chapter led by the board appointed Student Diplomat Keisha Hankerson. A full calendar of networking opportunities to include our Chapter Spring Fling Reception at Buddy Guy’s (attended by more than 100 executives and students from across the country) and the 3rd Annual Pathways to a Healthier Journey Scholarship and Awards Dinner that was a huge success with our guest master of ceremony Sean T. Howard and celebrity keynote Lynn Whitfield.