On Tuesday, September 16, Priority Health Total Health Foundation executive director Shannon Wilson presented a check for $75,000 to Congress of Communities to support its work with immigrant families and empower parents in Southwest Detroit.
Congress of Communities (CoC) will use the grant funds to expand and integrate health and wellness care across all its programs including parent leadership, high school-aged youth programs, and early childhood programs. Specific programs supported by the grant include the Taking Action por Nuestros Niños (TANN) Fellowship, TANN Action Team, TANN Open Conversations, the Latinx Youth Council, Youth Environmental Healing Cohort, and the Informal Childcare Providers Cohort.
“We are thrilled to be able to provide this grant to strengthen the work being done by the community to promote safety, education, opportunity and quality of life for families in Southwest Detroit,” said Shannon Wilson of the Priority Health Total Health Foundation.
The Priority Health Total Health Foundation was formed in 2020 as a result of the merger between Total Health Care, the longest serving HMO in Detroit, and Priority Health, a nationally recognized nonprofit health plan serving more than 1.3 million members. The mission of the Priority Health Total Health Foundation is to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Detroit by investing in organizations dedicated to serving the needs of the community.
“It was a natural fit for us to support Congress of Communities because their work empowers families in Southwest Detroit to make positive life changes in both the short and long term. This aligns with our commitment to provide resources to Detroiters to improve their overall health and well-being,” Eamon Harnois, program officer at Priority Health Total Health Foundation said.
Congress of Communities (CoC) of Southwest Detroit is a nonprofit serving Southwest Detroit since 2009 to build local leaders, amplify resident voice, and work collaboratively to meet Southwest Detroit needs. Its mission is to provide leadership and facilitate collaboration between residents, youth, and stakeholders to foster a vibrant and sustainable community while its focus is on leadership development, community organizing, and creative problem solving for Southwest Detroit.
In accepting the grant, Amanda Holiday, early childhood programs director at CoC, noted the critical timing of the support. “At a time with so much change in Southwest Detroit, we are grateful for this funding that will help Congress of Communities to intentionally incorporate for our Latino families a needed platform of wellness and selfcare.”
