MMHC Reports

Without A Vision The People Perish Activities (WAV)

The involvement of Without A Vision The People Perish (WAV)  in health disparity issues has led to the development of The Michigan Minority Health Coalition (MMHC), a statewide consortium dedicated to developing strategies, creating partnerships and influencing public policy initiatives that will improve the health status of Michigan’s ethnic and racial minority populations, as defined by the Michigan Office of Minority. WAV seeks to build a model of community partnership and engagement that will:

• Provide education on issues related to minority health and health disparities,
• Facilitate communication among organizations involved in minority health issues,
• Translate community concerns into concrete public health strategies,
• Participate in the identification, collection and translation of health interventions proven effective in minority communities and
• Train individuals from minority communities to become better advocates concerning issues that impact their health and health care. 

Accomplishments to date:

• December 16, 2005-Initial meeting of the MMHC- 34 individuals representing Governor Granholm’s Office, Michigan’s Office of the Surgeon General, Michigan’s Office of Minority Health, GlaxoSmithKline, Michigan’s House of Representative Michael Murphy’s Office, the American Heart Association, the Lansing AIDS Network and other grass roots organizations

• MMHC monthly meetings
  • January meeting at Michigan Public Health Institute-established goals and objectives, discussed task force committee formation, growth of coalition
  • February meeting at American Heart Association-discussed Healthy Michigan Fund, MDCH health disparity line item, HB4455 (A bill addressing health disparities and minority health issues), discussed, planned advocacy training and legislative visit
  • March meeting at Ingham County Health Department-discussed HB4455, conducted advocacy training, discussed building of coalition
  • April teleconferencing meeting-discussed HB4455, building coalition infrastructure, Legislative visits, task force formation, upcoming events

• Galvanized community support for passage of HB 4455, testified before House of Representatives Health Policy Committee on passage of HB4455,
• Othelia W. Pryor discussed health disparities on local television to celebrate Black History Month

• Collaborated with Michigan’s Children Foundation to provide advocacy training to coalition

• Published Partner Events Newsletter

• WAV made a presentation to Michigan’s Legislative Black Caucus

• Collaborated with GlaxoSmithKline to provide advocacy training to Michigan State University LANE Scholars Medical Organization

• WAV participated in the American Heart Association Nurses Stroke Training Program