Sen. Al Franken heard from representatives of Minnesota communities of color about their perspectives on the health care reform debate in Washington, D.C. He listened to their analyses and recommendations to end health care disparities in the state Saturday at an event entitled “Beyond Health Disparities,” at Minneapolis Urban League, 2100 Plymouth Ave. N.Fifth District Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) and North Minneapolis’ State Representative, Bobby Joe Champion (DFL-58B) joined health care providers and representatives of the Asian, Hispanic, African American, and Native American Communities exploring the impact of policies and practices that created gaping disparities in health care outcomes for people of color in Minnesota.
Ellison said the Minnesota Congressional delegation appreciated the advocacy and strong support for health reform coming from communities of color. Champion said meetings with stakeholders and institution leaders help shape and strengthen legislators’ capacity to create effective laws and policies that actually include the voices and vision and interests of people of color.
Jeanne Bailey, CEO of United Family Medicine, a community clinic in St. Paul and Stella Whitney West, CEO of NorthPoint Health and Wellness in North Minneapolis said community clinics have demonstrated their ability to provide culturally competent health care in emerging markets.
Patricia Walker, Medical Director of HealthPartners Center for International Health, said Minnesota is viewed around the nation as a leader in developing culturally competent health care strategies.
Eric Meininger, President of Rainbow Health Initiative, said cultural competence must be inclusive of GLBT community issues. “The GLBT community is present in all of our ethnic and cultural communities,” he said.
Cheryl Morgan, of Minneapolis Urban League, and Helen Jackson Lockett-El, who leads the Stairstep Foundation health outreach initiatives, said health reform must more effectively engage legacy leadership resources and the innovative collaborations that empower people of color to take ownership of health challenges and solutions.
Al McFarlane, vice-president of Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC) said both community and government health care programs must engage ethnic media to “help create a public mind in our communities, that allows our people to see ourselves as solution makers, not just as ‘the problem.’ You need to work with us to promote and celebrate responsible and responsive civic engagement and leadership in our communities,” he said.
After listening to the healthcare and ethnic media leaders, Franken said he will continue to work with them to ensure that all Minnesotans have access to health care.
Participants included
• Cheryl Morgan of the Minneapolis Urban League;
• Mike Siebenhaler from Congressman Ellison’s office;
• Makeda Norris, of the Minneapolis Urban League;
• Dr. Eric Meininger of Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare;
• MayKao Hang of the Wilder Foundation;
• Rosa Tock, of the Chicano Latino Affairs Council (“CLAC”);
• Molly Greenman of Family and Children’s Service;
• Stella Whitney-West of Northpoint Health and Wellness Center;
• Helen Jackson Lockett-El, of the Stairstep Foundation;
• Nancy Pomplun, of the Minnesota Asian/American Health Coalition (“MA/AHC”);
• Dr. Patricia Walker of the HealthPartners Center for International Health;
• Jeanne Bailey United Family Medicine;
• Rosemarie Rodriguez-Hager of the Latino Health Coordinator, MN Department of Health;
• Peter Carr of the MN Department of Health;
• and Dr. Patrick Rock of the Indian Health Board of Minneapolis
• Nghi Huynh, Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium
• Bashe Said, African News Journal
• Ali Musse, Bulsho TV
• Jonah Ogiamien MMMC
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