RI Represents at NACHW Unity!!!
Swanette Salazar honored with “Hope in Healthcare” Award!
Six RI CHWs including those from the 02907 HEZ and Sankofa Initiatives teams at the West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation attended last weeks Unity Conference in Columbus Ohio. Read NACHW’s recap here.
RI’s new ambassador to NACHW, Lina Roman, spoke about the conference, “This is my second Unity conference but my first time as ambassador. I met the other ambassadors, one from Alaska, Nebraska, Puerto Rico, New York and New Hampshire. It is interesting and important to see how other states are doing with CHW – do they have training, do they have a state organization? (Nebraska does not.) It helps us understand where Rhode Island is at and where we need to continue to advocate.”
Outgoing NACHW Ambassador, Swanette Salazar was awarded the ‘Hope In Healthcare Award’ honoring CHWs demonstrating exemplary work towards achieving health equity. She shared, “Unity was such a meaningful experience, and it’s always a joy to be surrounded by my CHW family. This year felt special — I got to share the space with RI’s new ambassador Lina Roman, Geraldine McPhee, and the amazing West Elmwood HEZ leaders, Jessica Thigpen and her team once again!
I was truly surprised and deeply honored to receive the Hope in Healthcare award.
Thank you to everyone who believed in me, nominated me, and continues to pour into me with love, encouragement, and support. When you love what you do, it really doesn’t feel like work. I’m so grateful to be walking in my purpose — and I’ll keep showing up, doing the work, and pouring back into the community I care so deeply about.
Rhode Island, I love you — and I’m not done yet. ❤️”