The REACH Foundation congratulates longtime staff member and Vice President of Programs, Carla Gibson on being selected to serve on the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) Health Equity Council. NRHA announced 9 additions to the council this month. The Health Equity Council’s mission is to promote physical and mental well-being for rural and frontier underserved populations through national leadership, representation and advocacy for quality and affordable health services. The council works to identify and elevate health issues related to rural and underserved LGBTQ, veteran and homeless populations as well as multiracial and multicultural populations.
Gibson, who joined REACH in 2006, is responsible for program functions of the foundation, including developing community investments designed to implement REACH’s mission of advancing health equity. Gibson has guided the foundation’s strategic focus on community awareness and support services for immigrants and refugees; helped to establish a learning and action network, Communities Concerned for Immigrants and Refugees; initiated a partnership with Welcoming America to help Kansas City region leaders build a Welcoming KC coalition and action plan; and launched a new REACH initiative, Centering Black Voices, to build capacity and leadership for nonprofit organizations led by black leaders and serving the black community.
Gibson currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Missouri Rural Health Association. She previously was an appointee to the Office of Minority Health’s National Partnership for Action – Heartland Regional Health Equity Council (RHEC VII).
Read the press release.
