You are invited to the next session of our Health Equity Learning Series. The November installment centers on reallocating organizational resources to advance health equity. Organizations must intentionally and institutionally commit to advancing health equity as a primary focus/mission of their organization. This session aims to give practical methods for (re)allocating resources for the work of health equity at any budget level. The November digital session is part of a larger series focused on Health Equity, a value of the Partnership for Better Health: "We improve health and amplify the voices of those who are not always heard to ensure that all people have the chance to enjoy healthy lives." Please share our registration link with your team, organization and/or networks.

In a time when many meetings occur online, our 2024-2025 Board and staff members gathered one September evening to reflect on our mission to advance health equity. It was an opportunity to connect to each other on a human level, collectively review our path forward in the coming year, and affirm our ongoing commitment to centering persons with lived experience in our work.

The Partnership is committed to building an equitable, just, and inclusive community investment process and to supporting our local nonprofit community. Three funding opportunities are available for the upcoming December 1 grant deadline:

General Operating Grants for Organizations Leading in Equity Work

• Flexible funding for existing grantees that can be used at their discretion to advance health equity in its missional efforts.
• Grant size: $10,000 – $50,000/year

Project Grants to Address Root Issues

• Funding for a specific project to address the root causes of one or more social determinants of health among an underserved or marginalized population.
• Grant size: $5,000.01 – $100,000/year

Spark Grants

• Funding to support opportunities to meet a community need in a responsive manner.
• Grant size: up to $5,000/year

Applicants may:

• Apply for more than one grant type per year but not two of the same type for the same grant application deadline; 
• Apply for a General Operating Grant but no other grant type for the same grant application deadline; and
• Request support for new or pilot projects that address emerging opportunities or needs.

Funding decisions will be made by March 15. Visit our website to learn more: https://forbetterhealthpa.org/what-we-fund/.

Funding questions may be directed to Gail Witwer, Director of Health Promotion (gwitwer@ForBetterHealthPA.org), and Dr. Marcellus C. Taylor, Director of Health Equity (marcellus@ForBetterHealthPA.org).

As food insecurity and food waste continue to increase, gleaning (gathering leftover produce after a harvest) from our local farm fields is one strategy to address hunger and reduce produce waste. To address these two concerns, the Cumberland County Food System Alliance (CCFSA) sponsored a Community Conversation on the topic of Gleaning on October 10th. The event was graciously hosted by Project SHARE in Carlisle.

This event featured an interactive panel comprised of the following gleaning specialists: Dr. Sean Cornell (Shippensburg University Campus Farm), Glenn Franklin (Gleaning Ambassador for Project SHARE & Shippensburg Produce and Outreach), Steve Kuhn (Project SHARE Consultant), and Natalie Sinclair (The Gleaning Project, South Central Community Action Program). Featured topics included: Relationship building between farmers or home gardeners and emergency food service providers; Effective and inclusive ways to engage, manage, and value volunteers; Educating the community about the benefits of gleaning and food recovery; and Exploring other sources of food recovery such as grocery store and restaurant donations and tapping into warehouse surpluses.

In addition to the energetic and informative exchanges between the panelists and the participants, the event was supported by an array of invested partners who attended and tabled at the event, sharing information about local and statewide resources that support a local and vibrant food system. The CCFSA looks forward to continuing the conversation at future events!

As safe, affordable, and accessible housing is important to one's health, the Partnership participated in the Cumberland County Housing Summit on September 18th. 

Keynote speakers included Chris Kapp (Cumberland County Housing & Redevelopment Authorities), Scott Shewell (Safe Harbour), Kirk Stoner (Cumberland County Planning Department), and Phyllis Chamberlain (Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania). Topics included data regarding homelessness, new affordable housing developments, the County's comprehensive plan, and landlord engagement and eviction trends.

A panel session moderated by Scott Shewell included our Executive Director Carol Thornton, former Partnership Board member Matt Madden (Keller Williams), Phyllis Chamberlain, and Gary Lenker (Tri County Housing Development Corporation) and discussed impediments to affordable housing. 

This event was held to support Cumberland County’s and Carlisle Borough’s five-year Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Consolidated Plan updates and Year One Action Plans specifying how they will be allocating their respective FY25 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) awards.