Hi Friends,
This month, we observed “National Public Health Week”, and I had conversations with three Minnesotans who are doing groundbreaking work in public health. Our discussion revolved around one of the toughest problems facing public health-addressing the health care needs of underrepresented communities.
My first guest was Dr. Charity Reynolds, MD who is the Medical Director at the Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in northeastern Minnesota. In our discussion, Dr. Reynolds told me how she collaborated with the Tribe to build trust between public health workers and the community, a community with historic medical distrust. This trust, along with Tribal self-governance and infusion of resources, made Fond Du Lac one of the first places in the state to vaccinate all of their elders. You can watch the video here.
Next, I was fortunate to talk with Amira Adawe, who is a current Bush Fellow and founder of the Beautywell Project. Ms. Adawe shared how her organization uses public health strategies to spread awareness of the dangers of skin-lightening products, and to enact policies to regulate them. You can watch the video here.
The last conversation I had was with J’Mag Karbeah, a University of Minnesota researcher who is doing important work examining how structural racism within maternal and child health systems creates inequities. In the video, we discuss our desire to end public health disparities between Minnesota’s communities of color and white populations. You can watch the video here.
You can also see my Black History Month and Women’s History Month conversations from earlier this year.
Minnesota has an abundance of diverse and talented leaders who are emerging as important voices on issues that are important to our state. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to speak with them and I invite you to hear what they have to say.
Take care,
Tina
* This newsletter was prepared, published, and mailed at taxpayer expense.