United Way Hosts Forum on Community Health Issues

United Way and Northwest Health Foundation will co-host a Community Issues Breakfast and Forum on Thursday, October 8. The event will feature Dr. Adewale Troutman who will discuss how jobs, working conditions, education, housing, social inclusion, race, and even political power influence the health of individuals and our community.

The forum is designed to deepen understanding about programs and initiatives that are using the health equity and social determinants of health framework in our community. Adewale Troutman, MD, MPH, MA has a distinguished record of achievement in public health education, leadership, research, and advocacy. He is the Director of Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness and is an Associate Professor at the University of Louisville School of Public Health.

During his career in Louisville, Dr. Troutman has accomplished many notable goals including the establishment of the Center for the Elimination of Health Disparities at Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness.

Featured on the PBS documentary “Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?,” Dr. Troutman will be speaking about health equity.

By bringing members of the community together at this event, it is hoped that participants will learn from each other and create a vision for better community health in the future.

“We are delighted to be a part of this important forum and have the opportunity to talk about how important it is to address these issues collectively,” said Nancy Stevens, Director of Community Benefits and Chair of the Kaiser Permanente Community Fund at the Northwest Health Foundation. “United Way’s focus on income, education, and health is right on track to create changes we know need to happen in our region.”

The event is co-sponsored by the Northwest Health Foundation. Other partners include: CareOregon, Concordia University, Kaiser Permanente, The Susan G. Komen Foundation, Portland Community College, Portland State University and Providence Health & Services. The event is endorsed by the Coalition of Communities of Color.