ChesMRC’s Michelle Hammond receiving the grant check from Willis B. Scott Jr., Finance Officer for American Legion Blake-Blackston Post #77

The Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center (ChesMRC) was awarded a $2500.00 grant by American Legion Blake-Blackston Post #77 based in Easton, MD. The funds will support a community health program beginning July 1 that will include healthy eating cooking demonstrations, hypertension, diabetes and fitness workshops open to the community. A portion of the funds will also be used to send ChesMRC community health outreach staff to the 2015 CSHO Unity Conference sponsored by The Center for Sustainable Health Outreach at the University of Southern Mississippi.

This annual conference is for and about community health workers, and Unity 2015, being held in Memphis, TN July 12-15, will address the role community health workers play in creating access to care, reducing care costs and promoting healthy and happy communities. The conference will also stress the importance of community health workers to the delivery of health and health reform; promoting social justice; shaping policy and practice; return on investment; and methods of overcoming barriers to CHW program success.

Michelle Hammond, ChesMRC Health Outreach Coordinator, is presenting a paper at Unity 2015, which will be attended by hundreds of participants from across the country. “We are so grateful for the support of the American Legion in helping us to lead this important effort for the community. Their financial support will provide our staff with the opportunity to share knowledge, receiving training and network with other providers throughout the country at the Unity 2015 conference. And their gracious donation of funds and space will support our community-wide health workshops over the summer.”

Expressed Frederick Davidson, Commander of the American Legion Blake-Blackston Post, “One of the Legion’s key tenants is to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation. Health care is a critical issue for this entire country. We are pleased to support the ChesMRC in their mission to provide health education and outreach assistance to our community residents.”