Monthly Archives: December 2019

New York Universal Health Care Community Holds 2019 Health Care Justice Leadership Annual Gala

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It was a festive evening on December 19th at our 2019 Health Care Justice Leadership Annual Gala when we all gathered at AFSCME District Council 37’s new Non-Profit Division to celebrate another year of “work well done”, prepare for the year ahead (which should be intense), and salute some worthy groups and individuals who’ve made significant contributions to the fight for health care for all.

After some opening remarks from our board chair Jeff Gold, our Executive Director recapped what got done in and what still remains from 2019, and looked forward into the crystal ball of 2020 when our “Vote for Health Care” project will once again be critically important.

Next up was our keynote speaker Barbara Berney, Professor Emerita at the CUNY School of Public Health.  She spoke about some lessons learned from the civil rights era of the 1960s when health care across the U.S. was formally desegregated as Medicare came into being.  Her terrific documentary “Power to Heal: Medicare and the Civil Rights Revolution” reveals that untold story.  Dr. Berney also reflected on what those lessons mean for us in our current times when racism in health care still remains a crucial issue to be addressed in order to successfully move toward universal health care.

Our first honoree of the evening was Dr. Mitchell Katz, President and CEO of New York City Health + Hospitals, for his Governmental and Political Leadership. He was introduced by Karen Jarrett of the New York State Nurses Association.

The next honoree(s), for Trade Union Leadership, were GM Workers from across New York State who are members of the United Auto Workers who went on strike this past fall to defend workers’ rights to health care benefits, among other key issues.  Beverley Brakeman, Region 9A Director for the UAW, accepted the award since the relevant UAW Locals are all located in Western New York.  She was introduced by Robert Score of Local One of the International Association of Theater and Stage Employees.

Our final honorees, jointly recognized for Community Leadership, were Alice Berger, recently retired Vice President for Health Care Planning at Planned Parenthood of New York City, and Terry Mizrahi, recently retired from the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College of the City University of New York and a longtime leading figure in the field of community organizing and health care.

This event was also our major annual fundraiser.  If you haven’t already done so, we ask that you make a contribution in one of the following ways (see below.)  Your support enables us to carry our work forward into 2020 when the future of our shared effort for universal health care will definitely be “on the ballot” here in New York and nationally.

We want to thank the following groups and unions for financially supporting our Gala:

  • AARP New York
  • Anthony DiMarco Fund for Health Care for All of US
  • Associated Musicians for Greater New York, Local 802 AFM
  • Callen-Lorde Community Health Center
  • Center for Independence of the Disabled New York
  • Children’s Defense Fund of New York
  • Chinese-American Planning Council
  • Citizen Action of New York
  • Coalition for Asian-American Children and Families
  • Commission on the Public’s Health System in New York City
  • Committee of Interns and Residents, SEIU Healthcare
  • Communications Workers of America, District One, and Locals 1102 and 1180
  • Community Health Care Association of New York State
  • Community Healthcare Network
  • Community Service Society of New York
  • District Council 37, AFSCME
  • Doctors Council, SEIU Healthcare
  • Doctors for America, New York Chapter
  • 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East
  • 1199-GNYHA Healthcare Education Project
  • Greater New York City Laborers and Employers Cooperation and Education Trust
  • Hudson Center for Health Equity and Quality
  • International Cinematographers Guild, Local 600 IATSE
  • Make the Road New York
  • Medicare Rights Center
  • New York City Central Labor Council
  • New York Gray Panthers
  • New York Professional Nurses Union
  • New York State Nurses Association
  • New York Statewide Senior Action Council
  • Open Door Family Medical Centers
  • Organization of Staff Analysts
  • Peace Action of Staten Island
  • Physicians for a National Health Program, New York Metro Chapter
  • Planned Parenthood of New York City
  • Primary Care Development Association
  • Professional Staff Congress, CUNY
  • Project Hospitality
  • Public Health Solutions
  • Raising Women’s Voices, New York
  • Ryan Community Health Network
  • Retirees Association of DC 37
  • Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 1 IATSE
  • United Auto Workers, Regions 9 and 9A
  • United Federation of Teachers, Local 2 AFT
  • West Side Federation of Senior and Supportive Housing
  • Workers Circle

We thank everyone for all you do all year long to further the cause of universal health care here in New York and across the US.  We look forward to our continuing partnership with you throughout 2020.