A Healthier WE launches Appalachia Rising to facilitate first-ever Bi-County Task Force aimed at bringing healthier living to the region
SAN FRANCISCO (PRWEB) April 10, 2023 -- A Healthier WE, a non-profit organization, in partnership with leaders in two rural Appalachia counties, is pleased to announce a new bottom-up model of addressing rural health and well-being. Local leaders have identified area residents, local health and economic development leaders, as well as political leaders, who are willing to find opportunities for improving personal and community health. In addition, we have a growing and well-respected list of sponsors, and speakers.
This inaugural Appalachian partnership-focused event is being held April 19, 2023, at the Overlook Event Center in Pikeville, Kentucky. The participants will share local and regional opportunities while identifying collaborative ways to help residents improve their health and well-being, with an aim of creating a working bi-county task force for Mingo County, WV and Pike County, KY. Bright spot stories and inspiring visions of the ways rural cooperation and leadership can be used in the new economies will be highlighted, along with identifying what a community health toolkit should include to assist residents and collaborators in building a healthier community.
Sponsors for the event include Williamson Health and Wellness Center, Appalachian Regional Healthcare Foundation, DiginifiHealth and University of Pikeville. Speakers include Cassie Chambers Armstrong, author of Hill Women and Kentucky State Senator, Ray Jones, II, Judge /Executive Pike County, Ky, Nathan Brown, Mingo County, WV Commissioner, Burton Webb, President, University of Pikeville, Danielle Harmon, System Director of Community Development at Appalachian Regional Healthcare and Richard Queen, Co-Founder and CEO of DignifiHealth as well as a number of state, local and regional changemakers.
This event is designed to foster a collaborative and critical problem-solving environment, focused on dialogue and action. Building on the theme of Creating Healthier Communities from the Hills to the Hollers participants will focus on four main health action pillars:
- Creating Healthier, More Equitable Communities
- Fostering Cross-Sector Collaboration
- Making Health a Shared Value
- Strengthening Integration of Health Services and Systems
Phil Polakoff, MD, CEO of A Healthier WE and Consulting Professor, Stanford University School of Medicine, said “We are excited to partner with key stakeholders in rural health and healthcare. We look forward to forming critical relationships with the wide range of leaders who are committed to creating healthier rural communities.”
Donovan Beckett, DO, CEO of Williamson Health and Wellness Center adds , “We are partnering with A Healthier WE to celebrate best practices in our area as it relates to health, well-being and integration of all healthcare providers, while highlighting the importance of Appalachian culture in these two counties to improve resident’s health and well-being.”
We invite you to learn more about attending, sponsoring or participating in Appalachia Rising by emailing [email protected]. To register for the event free of charge, click here.
June Sargent, A Healthier WE, http://www.healthierruralamerica.org, 1 6505337966, [email protected]
Share this article