Health Justice Now Webinar Series Part 4: Community Voices: How State Policymakers Can Advance Health Equity - Families Usa Skip to Main Content

Health Justice Now Webinar Series Part 4: Community Voices: How State Policymakers Can Advance Health Equity

05.12.2022

This is part 4 of the Health Justice Now series.

As lawmakers across the U.S. work to address the country’s health inequities, community-based voices remain an important and necessary piece for setting policy agendas. Fifty community leaders fighting for health equity and racial justice in their states joined forces to compile recommendations for state reforms to improve access to culturally-centered health care.

During this webinar, several of these community leaders highlight key priorities for state policymakers to consider and candidly share some of the challenges they faced. They also share some of the lessons they learned in hopes of better preparing and equipping attendees to further advance priorities with policymakers in their states. For additional information and background on the compiled report, view Community Voices: Recommendations to State Policymakers for Advancing Health Equity.

Moderator:

Presenters:

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Enjolie is a mom, sister, tía, psychologist, hypnotherapist, womb to tomb comadre, and business owner. Originally from Southern California, she is Afro-Cuban (Taino/Arawak) and Guatemalan (Maya). As a former faculty developer and professor specializing in the Psychology of Gender and Culture, her degrees from Arizona State University and the University of Southern California were in counseling psychology with an emphasis on multiculturalism. Dr. Lafaurie’s passion for diversity resulted in her teaching in Tanzania, Africa, in 2004, on the prevention of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other culturally bound practices. Additionally, in 2007, Enjolie became a certified hypnotherapist and in 2014 received training in mindfulness and biofeedback at New Mexico State University. 

Since transitioning out of academia, Enjolie is incorporating her varied experiences within the nonprofit sector. Given both her business and educational background she is now focusing on her role as the Co-Executive Director of Operations and Community Relations for the Cihuapactli Collective, a non-profit organization that supports urban Indigenous families to reconnect with ancestral knowledge. As a bilingual professional, Dr. Lafaurie is a regular contributor to podcasts, called on for speaking engagements, and as a consultant providing leadership and counsel to a variety of boards and organizations. Her most recent writings have been included in the book titled, Beyond the Surface of Restorative Practices: Building a Culture of Equity, Connection, and Healing. 

Lee Che Leong is Northwest Health Law Advocates (NoHLA)’s Policy Analyst, bringing extensive experience in public health, higher education, international human rights, youth engagement, and reproductive justice in New York City and Washington state. Lee Che has worked for non-profits at the local, state and national levels including directing the NYCLU’s Teen Health Initiative and collaborating in the launch of two of Washington’s Accountable Communities of Health.  She is proud to volunteer as Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood’s board treasurer. 

Gabriella Barbosa is the Managing Director of Policy at The Children’s Partnership, where she oversees an advocacy agenda focused on advancing systemic changes that center and protect the health and well-being of children of color through public policy, research, and community engagement. She previously served as the Public Policy Director for a local elected official and a non-profit advocacy organization, where she developed and utilized a policy-making approach that shifts power to community members as the drivers of systemic change for themselves, their families and their communities. Gabriella began her career as an Equal Justice Works Fellow in the Children’s Rights Project at Public Counsel where she represented children from immigrant families facing barriers to receiving an equal educational opportunity in Los Angeles and California public schools. She was also previously a public school teacher and is a proud daughter of immigrants. She received a B.A. in political science and human rights as well as J.D. from Columbia University.