Community Health Center, Inc. (CHC) honored the Connecticut Health Foundation and U.S. Senator John W. Hickenlooper for their contributions to health care at CHC’s 50th anniversary celebration, held on the campus of Wesleyan University on May 27.
The Moses Weitzman Health Equity Award was presented to the Connecticut Health Foundation. This award honors efforts to improve equity in health outcomes for vulnerable populations by addressing institutional structures of oppression, social determinants of health, and other barriers to healthy communities. The Connecticut Health Foundation has partnered with CHC through the years with programs like the Health Leadership Fellows Program and the Academy for Health Equity Advocacy and Leadership. CHC Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer Karoline Oliveira presented the award to CHF president and CEO Tiffany Donelson.
The inaugural Peace and Health Award was presented to U.S. Senator John W. Hickenlooper. This award is given to an individual who, through public or private service, has fostered the proposition that health care access is a fundamental human right and who has been a force promoting community and civic engagement to solve pressing social problems. Sen. Hickenlooper came to Connecticut in 1970 to study geology at Wesleyan University. There he met Mark Masselli and became an early supporter of the efforts that would lead to the founding of CHC. CHC Founder and CEO Mark Masselli and CHC Senior Vice President and Clinical Director Margaret Flinter presented the award.