Dear Friend of Health Equity Solutions,  In 2015, the Board of Directors of Health Equity Solutions hired its Founding Executive Director, Dr. Tekisha Dwan Everette. I share this news with mixed emotions – after seven amazing years leading and growing HES, Tekisha has accepted an exciting new challenge at a national public health and policy organization. While this news is sad for HES and the entire state of Connecticut, we are incredibly proud that Tekisha is taking this next step to share her talents, skills, and expertise at the national level, where she will undoubtedly lead great change and spur innovation. Tekisha will continue at HES through the end of July. The HES Board will be designating an Interim Executive Director effective August 1. Additionally, we will engage a recruitment firm to support our search for our next Executive Director. We will never fill Tekisha’s shoes but instead will seek a strong new leader for HES who will build on Tekisha’s accomplishments and HES’s successes. Over the past seven years, HES has grown from a staff of one to a staff of twelve. While this is impressive in itself, when combined with its other achievements, the HES record is even more impressive: -
Budget growth with diverse sources of funding: from $300,000 to nearly $2 million -
Training and outreach efforts that have engaged and motivated over 7,000 people across the state to take part in advocacy efforts. -
Embedded and advanced equity in many initiatives across the state -
Legislative victories, including: -
Community Health Worker Certification -
Improved Race, Ethnicity, and Language data collection standards -
Declaring racism as a public health crisis in Connecticut -
The creation of the State of Connecticut Commission on Racial Equity & Public Health -
Doula Certification -
Equity requirements in Hospital Community Benefit funding Under Tekisha’s leadership, HES has achieved its founding vision, becoming the leading voice for health equity in the State of Connecticut, with influence even outside our state. Simultaneously, she has built a team of talented, passionate, and committed staff who will help lead us into this next phase. Tekisha leaves the legacy of a vibrant HES ready for our next chapter. More to come soon – information about our transition, our search, and some plans to celebrate and thank Tekisha for all she has given HES and Connecticut in the past seven years! Best, Alycia Santilli, MSW Board President |
|
