Health Forward Announces Participants in First Ever Healthy Lifestyles Leadership Academy

Date: April 29, 2013
Contact: Jennifer Sykes
Phone: 816-241-7006
KANSAS CITY, MO – The Health Forward Foundation (Health Forward) has announced 15 participants in its Healthy Lifestyles Leadership Academy.

Health Forward developed the Leadership Academy to build field capacity and develop local expertise to effect changes in policy and community environments that result in making the healthy choice, the easy choice for the uninsured and underserved.

The participants in the Leadership Academy include:

• Vianella Halsell – Mattie Rhodes
• Eric Bunch – BikeWalkKC
• Jerry Jones – Community Health Council of Wyandotte County
• Lucinda Talbert – KC Healthy Kids
• John Hornbeck – Episcopal Community Services
• Gretchen Patch – Alliance for a Healthier Generation
• Karen Elliott – University of Missouri Extension
• Andrea Lopez – Truman Medical Centers
• Gordon Stubblefield – First Call
• Shelly Summar – Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics
• Cielo Fernandez – El Centro Inc.
• Erin Stryka – Rosedale Development Association
• Alicia Nelson – Independence Health Department
• Tina Hughes – Stand Up Blue Springs
• Dina Newman – Ivanhoe Neighborhood Council

“Health Forward has a long history of funding activities related to healthy eating, active living and tobacco prevention,” said Adriana Pecina, Health Forward Program Officer. “Recently our funding has shifted to support equity-focused efforts that mobilize communities to change their policies, systems and environments to improve access to healthy eating, active living and prevent the use of tobacco. We are committed to building community capacity to achieve our vision of healthy people in healthy communities and welcome these individuals as we continue to work toward policy and system changes.”

The year-long Leadership Academy will help participants deepen their knowledge, understanding, and practice in the following four competency areas:

• Civic Leadership
• HEAL Policy and System Change
• Community Collaboration
• Resource Leveraging

“Although the focus of this Academy is on the individual, participants are expected to bring what they learn back to their organization and community,” said Brenda Calvin, Health Forward Program Officer. “Those selected have the full support of their organization and we look forward to seeing how their communities will reap the benefits of the wisdom gained through the Academy.”