By Qiana Thomason
President and CEO
Health Forward Foundation
“We believe in the possibilities of a greater democracy where all have equal access to power, money, and the necessary resources to be healthy.”
2020 has been a year like no other. The COVID-19 pandemic, glaring health injustices for people of color, the economic downturn, racial unrest, and political polarization have all challenged our health, mental health and livelihood.
If there is a bright side to the challenges we face, it is the opportunity to emerge anew. In 2021 and beyond, we can use the urgency of the pandemic to do more than recover. We have an opportunity to work together to advance prosperity for all. To create conditions in which everyone thrives and has a fair and just opportunity for health and economic well-being.
We believe in the possibilities of a greater democracy where all have equal access to power, money, and the necessary resources to be healthy. What we need now is the unique strengths of every sector working together to redesign a system that applies a racial equity and a health justice lens to all decisions, policies and practices.
As we move forward, Health Forward is committed to exploring various paths at the nexus of health, economic well-being, and race equity. And while philanthropy is uniquely positioned to lead, we cannot do this alone. We ask individuals, other organizations, businesses and government to join us in developing equitable, asset-building opportunities that produce health.
We are proud to be a part of this region. We have witnessed the resilience of our communities, and we know through shared commitments to equity, we will rise stronger together.
Qiana Thomason, a lifelong Kansas Citian, has dedicated her career to the improvement of health and wellness across the region, with a special focus on communities with significant health disparities and those living in marginalized conditions. Thomason serves as the President and CEO of Health Forward. By focusing on people most in need, Health Forward works through partnership and advocacy to transform communities so everyone has a fair and just opportunity for better health.
Visit healthforward.org to learn more.
