Posts in 'Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility'

asian woman holding camera
The stories we tell help us understand our world and build connections with others. Yet the stories we hear the most still disproportionately favor and represent a select few. By elevating underrepresented and unheard voices through deeper investments in arts, journalism, and storytelling in our...
Tomas y su bad ass bicicleta
By

Russell Johnson, President and CEO, and Jesse Hardman of Internews

We envision an equitable, connected, and thriving community. Hispanic Heritage Month reminds me of the people I have met through my time with HealthSpark Foundation who have enriched my work through friendship, knowledge sharing, and connections. I am not bi-lingual and the language barrier with...
woman putting beaded necklace around child's neck during kwanzaa celebration
By

Chinwe Onyekere, Director of Equity and Inclusion

As we enter into the new year of 2022 and embark on the launch of the Dr. Frank E. Boston Black Justice Fund , I have been reflecting on the closing of 2021, Kwanzaa, and power. Power-building is a central tenet of the Dr. Frank E. Boston Black Justice Fund. Tapping into community power and...
transgender women being served by healthcare professional
Throughout our conversations with safety net partners over the last two years, HealthSpark has heard time and again the need to improve our sector’s capacity for advocacy and policy change. Safety net partners in fields from mental health to food security to senior services have noted the...
group of young people reviewing data on bulletin board
By

Chinwe Onyekere, Director of Equity and Inclusion

As HealthSpark continues on our journey to center equity and justice in our work, we have been asking ourselves “how do the tools and frameworks that we use as funders support or impede justice?”. A central tool, evaluation, has been a key driver of decision making in grantmaking. Evaluation can...
woman smiling in white top
HealthSpark Foundation is enormously proud to share that our Director of Equity and Inclusion, Chinwe Onyekere , was recognized by Main Line Today as one of the 2021 Power Women of the Main Line and Western Suburbs . The Power Women series identifies outstanding women in the area for their...
sign reading "end systemic racism"
By

Chinwe Onyekere, MPH

“Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary.” Martin Luther King, Jr. Late last year, we shared an update on the ways in which HealthSpark Foundation has been holding itself accountable...
young woman and older adult using a computer
For seniors in Montgomery County, isolation and lack of access to technology aren’t new issues, but they certainly have been made worse by the pandemic the past year. The Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County (Montco SAAC) is partnering up with tech providers and other senior centers...
mother and baby
If babies born to Black women in Montgomery County had the same infant mortality rate as babies born to white women, then 61% of Black infant deaths could be prevented. This shocking call to action is the impetus behind Montco Mamas, a public-private collaboration and 2021 HealthSpark Innovation Lab...
girl holding sign stating 'racism is a public health crisis'
HealthSpark Foundation recognizes its role in advancing racial and social justice opportunities for all people- in both word and action. We understand that the roots of inequity run deep in our society, and we strive, with our philanthropic and community partners, to fully understand our own roles...