Health Forward Foundation

Our President/CEO, Qiana Thomason, has been honored with the prestigious Athena Leadership Award from Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. This award, named after the Greek goddess Athena, is given to those who excel in their fields, communities, and support women’s leadership. Qiana has championed building inclusive and equitable healthy communities and has led Health Forward through national and international crises. She is a member of the 2022 class of Women Who Mean Business, now known as Women of Influence. She has also been recognized nationally for her leadership, being named to the inaugural Bizwomen 100, a list of women making an impact in their communities. Under Qiana’s guidance, Health Forward Foundation has become a national model for inclusive and equitable healthcare. Read more ➡️ bit.ly/4dOLPYt

Congratulations to Health Forward's McClain Bryant Macklin for being selected as a Terrance Keenan Institute Fellow! #TKIFellows24

It's National Community Health Worker Awareness Week! Community health workers are the backbone of our communities, providing essential health services and support 💪 Join us in advocating for policies that support, respect, and protect them. Want to learn more about the importance of leveraging community health workers for health equity? Check out our latest policy brief 👉🏽 bit.ly/3Z3biZw #NCHWAW #NCHWAW2024 #ValueCHWs #CommunityHealthWorkers

So proud to reconvene our Health Equity Learning and Action Network (LAN) yesterday! We embarked on this journey together two years ago, and the progress we've seen is inspiring. Thank you to our amazing partners! Want to learn more? Stay connected with KC Health Equity at kchealthequity.org #KCHealthEquity #KCHELAN

Inspiring conversations at the Kansas Housing Conference! Yesterday, Jennifer Tidwell and Katrina Van Valkenburgh shared valuable insights on building community support for supportive housing. Supportive housing can help end homelessness by offering affordable housing with crucial services. However, it often faces local opposition. This session helped clarify misconceptions, taught strategies for gaining community support, and explored ways to engage residents. We're proud to have supported our partners and staff in attending the conference. Thank you for joining us and learning about the latest trends and innovations in affordable housing. #KansasHousingConference #supportivehousing

August marks Black Philanthropy Month, a global celebration and campaign to inform, inspire, and invest in Black philanthropic leadership — online, offline, locally, and globally. This year’s theme is Afro-futurism — ideas that reimagine, reinterpret, and reclaim the past and present for a more empowering future for Black people. As we celebrate #BPM2024 our very own Brenda Calvin shared her musings on working in the field of philanthropy for more than 25 years on https://lnkd.in/gNDrciKB Join us in this year-round movement. Let’s continue to imagine, innovate, and take action toward a future where health and economic equity are within reach for all. #BlackPhilanthropyMonth #FutureOfGiving #CommunityVoices #EquityInAction

Excited to share the latest Views From The Field with United Methodist Health Ministry Fund! Our teams are collaborating on a 5-year campaign to strengthen community health worker impact in Kansas. Learn more about this exciting partnership and our shared commitment to improving health outcomes.

Make an impact with our board of directors! Health Forward is seeking candidates to fill three to four vacancies on our 2025 board. We will prioritize finance, legal, investment, and rural expertise in our selection of directors. https://lnkd.in/gDchsYuE

August is Civic Health Month — a time to showcase the link between voting and health and celebrate efforts that ensure every voter has the opportunity to support their community’s health at the ballot box🗳️ Our health is on the ballot! By getting involved, we can influence policies and systems that lead to better health outcomes for all #CivicHealthMonth

📢 Big news for housing justice: We are proud to have funded efforts to introduce a Right to Counsel program in Kansas City, ensuring that more residents have access to legal representation during eviction proceedings — ultimately helping more people stay housed and healthy. With the federal government now making resources available to expand these vital programs, we are optimistic that more communities will receive the support they need — especially as states like Missouri are making eviction moratoriums illegal. Heartland Center for Jobs and Freedom #RightToCounsel #HousingJustice #HealthForwardKC https://lnkd.in/es934gYg