Black History Month Spotlight: Leaders at Evergreen

This year and every year, Evergreen Health is proud to celebrate Black History Month, and to celebrate the many Black leaders within Evergreen who make our mission of providing unconditional health care to communities of color in Western New York possible.

As our world changes, racial inequities and their effects on health show up in new ways, and we continue to adapt to the changing needs of the communities we serve. Over the last three years, Evergreen has collaborated with leaders at our affiliate Community Access Services (CAS) to address how communities of color in Buffalo have been disproportionately affected by Coronavirus. With the leadership of CAS executive director Kim Brown, we opened a drive-through testing site at our shared location at 3297 Bailey Avenue that made testing accessible to people living in an underserved area.

This year, our behavioral health department completed advanced training on providing care for people who are experiencing racial trauma. Our entire behavioral health team, from counselors to syringe exchange employees, are now better educated and prepared to provide care to communities of color who have disproportionately faced trauma in the wake of recent local and national events.

Organization wide, Evergreen is currently in year 2 of a 3-year diversity, equity and inclusion program led by Ekua Mends-Aidoo, Evergreen’s chief people and diversity officer. The goals of the program include making Evergreen a more equitable work environment for all our employees, increasing employee diversity, and strengthening our collaborations with BIPOC owned businesses.

Evergreen, and the work we do to help communities of color access health care, wouldn’t be here today without the efforts of Black leaders throughout our organization like Kim and Ekua. Below, meet a few more of the many Black leaders working at Evergreen and our affiliates today as they speak about how their work helps communities of color access health care, and what being a leader means to them.

DeJuan Burnell, MOCHA Program Manager (he/him)

How does your work help Black communities in Western New York access unconditional care? My work helps communities of color with access to care, linkage to other services, safe space, free testing, and advocacy.

What does being a leader mean to you? Learning to follow in order to lead, empowering people, helping them to grow under my leadership, and realize their full potential and to use it as a stepping stone while celebrating their go-getter abilities.

Kelly Craig, Executive Director, Pride Center of WNY (she/her)

How does your work help Black communities in Western New York access unconditional care? My work helps Black and Brown communities in Western New York access unconditional care through advocacy, lived experience, and creating diversified and safe spaces for my community.

What does being a leader mean to you? A leader means someone who inspires and motivates others by just being their authentic self.

Latrese Myers, AVP of Marketing & Communications, Evergreen Health (she/her)

How does your work help Black communities in Western New York access unconditional care? I have the honor of leading the team that ensures Black and Brown people are aware of the unconditional care, support, passion and advocacy that we provide at Evergreen Health, Community Access Services and the Pride Center of WNY.

What does being a leader mean to you? Being a solid example. I want to show people who look like me (and those who don’t) that your lineage is your superpower and that you can take your past experience (and your family’s experience) wherever you go and make a real impact on the world. Through your unique journey and leadership, you can truly open people’s heart and minds. That’s what leadership means to me and I hope I’ve been that example and have made my ancestors proud.

Marlyn Moore, Public Safety Manager, Evergreen Health

How does your work help Black communities in Western New York access unconditional care? How my work helps the Black community access unconditional care is when folks need guidance and have questions about their health, it is my job to assure them they will get that at Evergreen, CAS and Pride. Making sure their patient experience and visits are the best. Making our patients feel comfortable knowing that they are in good hands and their medical needs are being fulfilled.

What does being a leader mean to you? Being a leader means leading by example. Showing up to work and working side by side with your staff, guidance, teaching and being willing to take responsibility are key to becoming a leader.

Stephani Miranda, Correctional Health Initiative Program Director, Community Access Services (she/her)

How does your work help Black communities in Western New York access unconditional care? Black communities continue to face disproportionately high incarceration rates often resulting in even higher challenges in ensuring stable employment, receiving proper health care, securing safe housing, and other barriers stunting their ability to thrive post release. These challenges can be additionally hard on communities with an HIV and/or HEP-C diagnosis. In my work with Correctional Health Initiative, we seek to empower and support Black communities in the Wende Hub (7 correctional facilities in WNY) receive proper health care and treatment through sexual health education as well as assist in their re-entry back into the community. Our care is unconditional in breaking down stigmas and barriers associated with being formerly incarcerated to help the person reclaim the respect and care they deserve by focusing on the individual as a whole and not just their medical diagnosis.

What does being a leader mean to you? Being a leader to me means being authentic. It means being able to understand and support others in their potential. Able to advocate and serve the people that you lead. An active listener and a solution focused responder.