by KHI News Service
The Sunflower Foundation on Tuesday announced its Advocacy Fellowship Class of 2016.
The fellowship provides education and training opportunities for 15 Kansas leaders whose work can help shape public policy and ultimately improve the health of Kansans. A total of 74 leaders have graduated from the fellowship’s first five classes.
The yearlong program features six sessions, including a visit to Washington, D.C. Topics include developing advocacy strategies, building coalitions and grassroots efforts, navigating the political process and working with the media. This year, emphasis will be placed on utilizing civil discourse in advocacy efforts.
“Bringing together nonprofit leaders with a wide range of experiences and interests brings a new voice to policy discussions — on a local, state and national level,” said Billie Hall, president and CEO of the Sunflower Foundation. “These fellows, as well as the classes before them, are committed to learning, engaging and building a network across the state that can address health care issues facing us now and in the future.”
Those selected for the Advocacy Fellowship Class of 2016 and their hometowns:
Garden City
• Tim Cruz, safety and health specialist, Kansas Department of Transportation
• Liz Sosa, CEO, Public Square Communities Inc.
Hutchinson
• Jason Ball, president and CEO, Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce
Kansas City, Kan.
• Maureen Mahoney, chief of staff for Mayor Mark Holland, Unified Government of Wyandotte County
• Eva Schulte, president and CEO, Communities Creating Opportunity
Lawrence
• Benet Magnuson, executive director, Kansas Appleseed
• Chris Tilden, director of community health, Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department
Iola
• David Toland, executive director, Thrive Allen County
Overland Park
• Tracey Osborne, president, Overland Park Chamber of Commerce
Pittsburg
• Jason Wesco, executive vice president, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas
Topeka
• Denise Cyzman, executive director, Kansas Association for the Medically Underserved
• Annie McKay, executive director, Kansas Center for Economic Growth
• Sheldon Weisgrau, director, Health Reform Resource Project
Wichita
• Vernetta Dixon, behavioral consultant and prevention coordinator, HealthCore Clinic
• Kaye Monk-Morgan, program director, Upward Bound Math Science Center at Wichita State University
The Sunflower Foundation is a Topeka-based charitable organization with a mission to serve as a catalyst for improving the health of Kansans.
The nonprofit KHI News Service is an editorially independent initiative of the Kansas Health Institute and a partner in the Heartland Health Monitor reporting collaboration. All stories and photos may be republished at no cost with proper attribution and a link back to KHI.org when a story is reposted online.
– See more at http://www.khi.org/news/article/sunflower-foundation-announces-2016-advocacy-fellows#sthash.LZ6FAmeq.dpuf