Easton, MD – The Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center (ChesMRC) is proud to announce that it is a recipient of the Shirley Nathan-Pulliam Health Equity Champion Award, a distinguished honor named after the Honorable Shirley Nathan-Pulliam. As a pioneering nurse, legislator, and founding sponsor of the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities, Senator Nathan-Pulliam has set an unmatched standard for transforming empathy into impactful policy. Her advocacy culminated in the Health Equity Act of 2021, which continues to shape Maryland’s approach to health disparities.
Accepting the award, ChesMRC’s Executive Director, Matthew Peters, reflected, “To receive an award bearing Senator Nathan-Pulliam’s name is an extraordinary honor. At ChesMRC, we strive every day to live up to her legacy by championing health equity in our community.”
ChesMRC has been instrumental in breaking down barriers for immigrant and multicultural communities. Through initiatives such as connecting non-English speaking residents with preventative screenings and offering cultural competency training to local healthcare providers, ChesMRC is not merely providing services—it is dismantling the obstacles that have historically marginalized immigrants from Maryland’s healthcare system.
Thanks to the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) grant provided by the MDH Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities over the last couple of years, ChesMRC has sustained its mission to serve immigrant communities on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. This funding has enabled the organization to maintain essential programs, including health insurance enrollment assistance and work authorization services. As a result, ChesMRC continues to bridge critical gaps for immigrants, ensuring access to health coverage and employment opportunities that contribute to overall well-being and stability.
“Health equity is a team sport,” said Peters. “It requires the collaboration, coordination, and integration that Senator Nathan-Pulliam always advocated for. We are grateful to our local partners—from health departments to fellow nonprofits—for walking this path alongside us.”
As part of its ongoing commitment, ChesMRC pledges to continue advocating, interpreting, and striving for a future where neither zip code nor language is a barrier to quality healthcare. “Thank you for this incredible honor. Together, let’s keep working toward true health equity,” Peters concluded.
For more information about ChesMRC and its programs, please visit Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center at www.chesmrc.org or by calling 877-772-9832.