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Health Forward Foundation promotes McClain Bryant Macklin to lead advocacy and grantmaking efforts

Health Forward Foundation today announced that McClain Bryant Macklin has been promoted to vice president of policy and impact. In this role, Bryant Macklin will serve as a member of Health Forward’s executive team and will lead policy and grantmaking strategies.

A photo of McClain Bryant Macklin

Bryant Macklin joined Health Forward in 2020 as director of policy and strategic initiatives. Prior to arriving at Health Forward she was director of policy and research at the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, director of policy for the KCMO Mayor’s office, and an attorney at Husch Blackwell.

“I thoroughly enjoy working side-by-side with McClain in our work to build and support inclusive, powerful, and healthy communities,” said Qiana Thomason, Health Forward president/CEO. “Since 2020, McClain has led our policy and advocacy work with distinction, ever mindful of internal integration with our grantmaking staff and a diverse array of community stakeholders. She is well positioned to excel in leading both policy and grantmaking for integrated impact. We are fortunate to have one of Kansas City’s most talented leaders contribute at this level in a new era of philanthropic partnership.”

Bryant Macklin serves on several local and national boards including: the National Black Empowerment Council; the Network for Public Health Law National Advisory Board; the Arvest Bank Advisory Board for Greater Kansas City; the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City Board of Directors; and the Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy Board of Directors.

“I’m grateful to Qiana and the Health Forward team for their trust and this opportunity to lead our work with our partners and communities,” said Bryant Macklin. “I couldn’t be more excited about our future. At Health Forward, we have built a reputation for timely, impactful, and equity-centered work driven by data and the experiences and stories of real people. We will continue, through our advocacy and grantmaking, to provide resources to communities and causes that are most deserving and to relentlessly strive toward our ultimate desired impacts — systems change that supports greater health equity and economic justice.”