Gov. Jim Justice and Director Jill Upson of the Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs (HHOMA) awarded $25,000 to the Marshall University Minority Health Institute to aid in their efforts to improve community health and economic development in Kanawha County, West Virginia. The pilot program, called Building Resources In Diverse Geographic Environments (BRIDGE), is a comprehensive community revitalization effort with a mission of addressing poverty, improving community-wide health, stimulating labor force participation and supporting economic development. The program also aims to combat substance abuse and improve crime rates, as well as neighborhood revitalization.
The Minority Health Institute was one out of 10 organizations that were chosen to receive this award. LaDawna Walker Dean, West Virginia minority health coordinator at Marshall, said the Minority Health Institute is grateful for the opportunity to make a positive impact in the region.
“Embarking on this pilot project will give Kanawha County and the state of West Virginia continued foundations to inform and educate minorities on the importance of taking care of their health to reduce the prevalence and incidence of diabetes, hypertension and obesity.”
Learn more about this grant award.