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Ethnic media
weighs in on
health reform
Sen. Al Franken last Saturday heard from represen-
tatives of Minnesota communities of color about
their perspectives on the health care reform debate in
Washington, D.C.
Fifth District Congressman Keith Ellison (D-
MN) and North Minneapolis' State Representative,
Bobby Joe Champion (DFL-58B) joined health care
providers and representatives of the Asian, Hispanic,
African American, and Native American
Communities exploring the impact of policies and
practices that created gaping disparities in health
care outcomes for people of color in Minnesota.
Ellison said the Minnesota Congressional dele-
gation appreciated the advocacy and strong support
for health reform coming from communities of color.
Champion said meetings with stakeholders and insti-
tution leaders help shape and strengthen legislators'
capacity to create effective laws and policies that
actually include the voices and vision and interests of
people of color.
Stella Whitney West, CEO of NorthPoint Health
and Wellness in North Minneapolis said community
clinics have demonstrated their ability to provide
culturally competent health care in emerging mar-
kets.
Patricia Walker, Medical Director of
HealthPartners Center for International Health, said
Minnesota is viewed around the nation as a leader in
developing culturally competent health care strate-
<< AL MCFARLANE, INSIGHT NEWS; REP.
BOBBY JOE CHAMPION (58B); SENATOR AL
FRANKEN; NGHI HUYNH, ASIAN AMERICAN
PRESS; JONAH OGIAMIEN, MMMC; BASHE
SAID, AFRICAN NEWS JOURNAL
gies.
Eric Meininger, President of Rainbow Health
Initiative, said cultural competence must be inclusive
of GLBT community issues.
Helen Jackson Lockett-El, who leads the
Stairstep Foundation health outreach initiatives, said
health reform must more effectively engage legacy
leadership resources and the innovative collabora-
tions that empower people of color to take ownership
of health challenges and solutions.
Al McFarlane, vice-president of Minnesota
Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC) said
both community and government health care pro-
grams must engage ethnic media to "help create a
public mind in our communities, that allows our peo-
ple to see ourselves as solution makers, not just as
'the problem.' You need to work with us to promote
and celebrate responsible and responsive civic
engagement and leadership in our communities," he
said.