Leaders form racial health inequality task force
The Pontiac Community Foundation is launching a new task force aimed at studying racial health disparities in the city.
With a $25,000 grant from the Metro Health Foundation, the 12 member task force will look to identify issues that lead to a lower life expectancy in Pontiac. An action plan could be released by the fall, according to Dustin McClellan, CEO of the Pontiac Community Foundation.
“The task force is made up of community leaders and stakeholders that are entrenched in their work here and want to see change in the healthcare access space,” McClellan said. “We’re really looking to identify what the issues on the ground are and how we can move the needle forward towards some action.”
The grant will also be used to support programming that will bring local organizations together to address racial health disparities. Educational campaigns will be created to coincide with the task force’s findings for the public.
The members of the Pontiac
Community Foundation Task Force on Racial Health Inequities are as follows:
• Dustin McClellan, CEO of the Pontiac Community Foundation
• Sonia Acosta, CEO of Centro Multicultural La Familia
• Rosemary Bayer, State Senator, District 12
• Eisha Branner, CEO ECommunity Outreach Services
• Deb Brinson, CEO Honor Community Health
• Rita Fields, chief talent and strategy officer, Lighthouse
• Gill Garrett, community police officer and Pontiac School Board Member
• Melanie Grund, community engagement liaison, Oakland County Neighborhood and Housing Development
• Chris Jackson, cannabis company owner and community advocate
• Angela Moore, radio host (910AM), NASM trainer, empowerment coach
• Tameka Ramesey, owner of T. Ramsey and Associates, community leader
• Scott Stewart, senior director of programs and development, Pontiac Community Foundation