Health Forward announces participants in Healthy Communities Leadership Academy

Kansas City, MO — The Health Forward Foundation (Health Forward) has announced 15 new participants in its Healthy Communities Leadership Academy.

The leadership academy is a yearlong program focused on adaptive and civic leadership development for up to 15 individuals currently working on (or interested in working on) policy and community environment change related to healthy eating, active living, and tobacco use prevention.

“The leadership academy attracts people who seek positive change in their communities,” said Brenda Calvin, Health Forward Program Officer. “This is an opportunity for them to think creatively about some of the toughest health issues facing our region.”

Participants represent the greater Kansas City area and focus on uninsured and underserved populations. The new class of participants in the leadership academy include:

• Jorge Coromac, Westside Community Action Network Center
• Ami Freeberg, Community Capital Fund and AltCap
• Nils Gore, University of Kansas
• Kayla Hogan, Legal Aid of Western Missouri
• Carlie Houchen, Kansas Health Institute
• Lydia Kaume, University of Missouri
• Doug Langner, Bishop Sullivan Center
• Justin Moss, Truman Medical Centers
• Sarah Payton, Jewish Vocational Services
• Danielle Roethler, Clay County Public Health Center
• Tru-Kechia Smith, American Heart Association
• Lorie Snyder, City of Kansas City, Missouri, Health Department
• Kolia Souza, Kansas State University
• Ave Stokes, Alive and Well KC
• Perry Weidling, Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences

“We are excited to welcome this new group into the leadership academy,” said Adriana Pecina, Health Forward Program Officer. “It is our hope that this experience will help them mobilize their communities to change policies, systems, and environments so that healthy habits become the norm.”

To learn more about the Healthy Communities Leadership Academy, please visit our website.