Purpose 

MPHA’s Policy Council is based in the belief that to select meaningful priorities, we need input from local, regional, and statewide leaders, and that communities of color and low-income communities most impacted by health inequities should be represented in MPHA’s decision-making by leaders of community-based organizations. The Council is based in principles developed over the last six years as part of MPHA’s Act FRESH Campaign. That campaign, which focused specifically on healthy eating and active living, had a similar leadership structure. In launching this new Policy Council, MPHA is “mainstreaming” these principles into our entire organization, charging the Council with recommending positions on all the issues that are important to MPHA. 

Members

Allyson Perron Drag,  American Heart/Stroke Association
Jamiah Tappin, Boston Alliance for Community Health
Anne McHugh, Boston Public Health Commission 
Paulo Gomes, Brockton’s Promise
Cristina Huebner Torres, Caring Health Center (Springfield)
Vilma Martínez-Dominguez, City of Lawrence Mayor’s Health Task Force
Irene Hernandez, Community Connections (Fitchburg)
Kerrie D’Entremont, Greater Lowell Health Alliance
Lesly Melendez (Vice Chair), Groundwork Lawrence
Brenda Evans, MA Association of Community Health Workers
Cheryl Sbarra, Massachusetts Association of Health Boards
Barry Keppard, Metropolitan Area Planning Council
Catherine Ratté, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Sylvia Chiang-Raposo, Revere CARES/Revere on the Move
Jamie Berberena, Southcoast Community Health Workers’ Collaborative
Risa Silverman, UMass-Amherst SPHHS/Western MA Health Equity Network 
Liz Sheehan Castro, Worcester County Food Bank

UNAFFILIATED
Ray Considine (Chair)
Zach Dyer
Neil Maniar
Lacina Onco
Steve Shestakovsky
Angela Wangari Walter