Dear Friends,

To begin, I want to thank all of you for your continued support of Whittier Street Health Center as well as the well-being of our patients and staff. The first half of 2023 has been off to a productive and successful start with the recognition of the contributions of Whittier’s Boston Health Equity Program towards closing the life expectancy gap by 10 years in Roxbury when compared to the Back Bay, expansion of our breast cancer screenings and services thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration's reignited Cancer Moonshot initiative, the opening of our first brick-and-mortar School Based Health Clinic at the Boston Day and Evening Academy, expansion of our Mobile Health programming to include behavioral health services, and the launch of our Day Engagement Center for the unhoused.



We are also preparing for our 23rd annual Men's Health Summit which will be on June 24th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to address the continued disparities in men’s health — the theme this year is UNITED in Men's Health: Grounded in Equity. 

Whittier's Boston Health Equity Plan Highlighted in WBUR and Boston.com:

With our vision to become an exceptional community health provider that addresses health care inequities, closes gaps in life expectancy, and pursues social justice, Whittier raised awareness about the 33-year gap in life expectancy for those living in Roxbury (59.5years) compared to those living in the Back Bay, a gentrified neighborhood less than 2 miles from Roxbury (92 years). Whittier focused on the “Tale of the Two Cities” and partnered with its patients, community residents and leaders, corporations and public sector partners to raise awareness and to develop programs to close the life expectancy gap.

Whittier launched its Boston Health Equity Program (BHEP) in 2012, a system of care for people with chronic illnesses and those at risk and fully integrates innovative community outreach, linkage to social services, wellness support and care coordination with a focus to eliminate health disparities and their associated costs. The population health management system stratifies all patients according to their conditions and social factors so that appropriate services can be provided by Whittier’s multidisciplinary team.

A little over a decade later, Whittier has made large strides in improving life expectancy in its service areas. Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Boston’s Public Health Commissioner, said in a WBUR article that our Boston Health Equity Program greatly helped the community. WBUR reported that, according to a study by the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) released on May 11th, 2023, in the 2 miles between Roxbury and Back Bay, there is a 23-year life expectancy gap between residents. This is a significant improvement from the BPHC report in 2007, where the gap was previously 33 years.

Whittier’s BHEP incorporates the social determinants of health, the non-medical factors that influence health outcomes. These are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and system shaping the daily conditions of life. While we are grateful for these improvements, we still have more work to do. A 23-year gap in life expectancy is still unacceptable and Together We Must Achieve Health Equity!

Honored During Black Women Who Lead Event at State House:

I was among 200 Black women honored at a special event at the Massachusetts State House on May 12th, hosted by Amaka Ubaka of Channel 7 News. The honorees represent Black women who worked tirelessly to make the greater Boston area a better place since the 1700s and were selected by the Black Women Lead Honorary Committee.

To be included in such an illustrious list is a true honor. The contributions that these Black women leaders have made over the centuries are immeasurable and a testament to their intelligence, talent, determination, and strength of mind and character. This award represents all the Black women on whose shoulders I rest, my family, colleagues and patients at Whittier.

The event was presented by Boston City Councilor Brian Worrell, State Representative Christopher Worrell, Ed Gaskin Executive Director Greater Grove Hall Main Streets with support from The Kraft Foundation. The committee members include Senator Elizabeth Warren, Attorney General Andrea Campbell, State Representative Brandy Fluker-Oakley, Congresswomen Katherine Clark and Ayanna Pressley, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, & Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio.

Free Whittier Community Events To Address Health Equity, Social Justice and Economic Inequities:

Alongside our fundraising events, we at Whittier host several free community events throughout the year to engage and educate our patients.

Some of the events we've hosted this year are: MLK Day of Service event, free sexual health screenings and HIV testing for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, Prescription for Health events and Walking Group, a PrEP/PEP Workshop and luncheon for National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, weekly Community Garden club, Mother's Day Celebration, and an event for Mental Health Awareness Month.

Whittier's First School-Based Clinic at Boston Day and Evening Academy:

Whittier currently manages six School-Based Health Centers utilizing our Mobile Health Van Teams. We recently launched our first Department of Public Health licensed on-site health clinic at the Boston Day and Evening Academy. The School-Based Health Services program address the health and social issues that frequently interfere with students’ academic success. Under the supervision of the Center’s medical director and lead pediatrician, the school-based services include routine and preventative care, such as pediatric well visits, health education, and oral health calls. Additionally, the team conducts health screenings for early detection and prevention of chronic conditions such as weight issues, diabetes, blood pressure, vision, depression, and substance misuse.

When health is integrated into the academic environment, young people are more likely to stay in school, better cope with stressors, and learn how to value their own mental health and well-being. We are grateful to all of our school partners who help us reach and support as many young people as possible.

Whittier's Day Engagement Center:

In October 2022, we launched our Day Engagement Center to provide a comfortable, safe space for unhoused adults. The center also addresses basic needs and fosters linkage to Whittier's medical, behavioral health, and recovery services. To date, we have served more than 200 homeless individuals with significant health and social needs. Many are engaged in recovery services, linkage to care and social services including housing and jobs. Our staff uses a therapeutic milieu approach to encourage healthier lifestyles and habits while giving access to healthcare and social services.



In addition to medical care, the center offers food, beverage, clothing, and personal hygiene products to all participants as well as a daily selection of activities and services such as: topical workshops, sexual health education, meditation, and other self-care groups.

It is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information about the Day Engagement Center, please contact engagementcenter@wshc.org or 617-858-2460.

2023 Roast of David Long Raises Over $1 Million

Our annual fundraising event, the 2023 Roast, honored David Long, Executive Chairman of the Board, Liberty Mutual Insurance, and was a great success! I want to thank all of our guests, sponsors, donors, program participants, and David for helping us raise over $1 million. This is critical financial support of our health center’s mission to serve as a center of excellence that provides high quality, and accessible health care and social services that achieve health equity, social justice, and the economic well-being of our diverse patient populations is greatly appreciated. With your support, 100% of our social services programs to address the social determinants of health is free of charge and we provide healthcare services to patients regardless of their ability to pay.

On April 6th, we embraced David's Liverpool roots with a soccer and British pub themed evening. Karen Holmes Ward, director of public affairs and community services at WCVB as well as host and executive producer of "CityLine," was our "referee" and our Roasters were: Liberty Mutual President and CEO, Timothy Sweeney, last year's honoree Joseph R. Nolan, Chairman, President & CEO of Eversource Energy, Frank Doyle of Connell Limited Partnership, and the honoree's brother, Steve Long. John Kim, founder and managing partner of Brewer Lane Ventures, served as our video presenter.

As Liberty Mutual's CEO for over a decade, David shaped the company into the sixth-largest property and casualty insurer in the word, growing it into a $49 billion organization ranked number 78 on the Fortune 100.

Thank you for your continued support! With your partnership and support, and the dedication of our colleagues, patients and the communities we serve, WE WILL ACHIEVE HEALTH EQUITY!

Warm regards,

Frederica Williams

President and CEO