Coatesville, Pennsylvania –
On April 20th, 2023 The Alliance for Health Equity awarded $5,000 to local, community-based organizations, individuals, and educators who presented ideas and solutions to pressing needs related to health, well-being, education, employment, housing, and economic redevelopment. During the third Let’s Talk Allyship: Community-Designed Solutions series, five individuals gave five minute presentations for their proposed solutions to attendees and panelists at the Brandywine Center in Coatesville.
All presentations included: (1) an overview of the idea/solution; (2) the importance of the idea/solution; (3) a gap analysis; (4) financials; (5) team profiles; and (6) a timeline. Prior consultation and feedback from a skilled professional was available to each Presenter to assist them with delivering their proposal.
Panelists for the third Let’s Talk Allyship series included: Deborah Bookman (Chester County Prothonotary), Susan Springsteen( nth Solutions), Mindy Aldridge (The Nelson Foundation) Tamela Luce (Phoenixville Community Health Foundation), Darien Smith (Coatesville Area School District), Candy Smith and Milena Lanz (Maternal and Child Health Consortium), and Candy Craig (Chester County Dept. of Mental Health). After each presentation, the panelists provided constructive feedback and an opportunity to answer questions from the Presenters. They also awarded the $2,500 prize for the best community-created solution.
The first place award was given to James Kaufman, Community Member and Public Health Professional. Janis answered the challenge question on Health: What is your idea(s) on giving Greater Coatesville families and residents what’s necessary to live a healthy life? His proposed solution is to incorporate the Street Medicine program from Montgomery County to Coatesville, by bringing medical, social, mental and behavioral services to those experiencing homelessness and housing instability.
Attendees of the event voted for one (1) $1,000 award and three (3) $500 awards for the remaining proposed solutions. Awardees included:
- 2nd Place ($1,000), Shakira Davis (Local Businesses Owner): She focused on Health, Well- Being, and Employment by proposing a Holistic Wellness Center in Coatesville. The Center would provide educational classes on such topics as nutrition, birthing, healthy relationships, and parenting as well as 1-on-1 coaching for various healthcare promotion and prevention topics.
- 3rd Place ($500), Reverend Michael Green (Pastor of Bethany AME Church Parkesburg): His focus on well-being proposed a roadmap to assist prospective providers in the underserved demographic navigate the challenges to health licensure.
- 3rd Place ($500), Paige Thomas (LEAP for Paisley): Her focus was on well-being aimed at enhancing the lives of children with limb loss and developmental disabilities through education, technology, and resources that promote independent living and an active lifestyle.
- 3rd Place ($500), Shanna Cornuet: Her focus on Health, Well-Being, Education, Employment, Housing, Economic Development was to train Community Leaders to be In-home Life Coaches for Coatesville Residents
The next Let’s Talk session will take place May 18, 2023 from 4:30p – 6:30p at The Brandywine Center in Coatesville. We encourage you to join the conversation and vote for ideas by signing up here. Presentation opportunities are still available until June! Submit an overview of an idea/solution related to Coatesville’s pressing needs of health, well-being, education, employment, housing, and economic redevelopment. Use this link: https://forms.gle/6VM9h3HuoLLajaqN7 for your submission. You can learn more about the Let’s Talk Allyship series now by watching videos from the first three sessions, and by visiting The Alliance’s website: https://alliancehealthequity.org/community-voice/ and to read more about partnership opportunities.
Picture 1: Session Three winners and panelists (Front Left to Right: Paige Thomas, Shanna Cournuet, Shakira Davis, Tamela Luce, and Candy Craig Back Left to Right: James Kaufman, Nicholas Torres, Reverend Michael Green, Susan Springsteen, Mindy Aldridge, Darien Smith, Milena Lanz, and Deborah Bookman)