Whittier Street Health Center, a community health center with a 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 a diverse patient population, will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month on Friday, October 13th from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. at 1290 Tremont Street, 2^nd floor.

The theme for this year's annual event is "Prioritizing Health: A Prescription for Prosperity, Power and Progress!" with Paul Francisco, senior vice president and chief diversity officer at State Street Bank as keynote speaker. Mr. Francisco stated “I’m honored, and thrilled to have this full circle moment with Whittier Street Health Center, as their Hispanic Heritage Month speaker. As an immigrant to this country, I received my first primary health care from this organization. The access, care, and welcoming environment they provided me, is a hallmark of what makes Whittier Street Health Center a special place, a vital provider, and somewhere where our communities health outcomes can thrive because of exceptional care.”

"Whittier Street Health Center serves a large immigrant population and Paul Francisco exemplifies the health center's belief that by promoting equity and equality, its patients are better positioned to realize their American dream and the possibility of prosperity, power and progress. We are proud to celebrate and recognize the significant contributions and rich and diverse backgrounds of our patient population," said Frederica M. Williams, president and CEO of Whittier Street Health Center. "An estimated 41% of Whittier's patients identify as Hispanic or Latino, and more than 50% of our employees identify likewise. We stand united in addressing the health equity of all and look forward to honoring our Hispanic community, friends, patients and colleagues with this special program." 



The afternoon's event will also feature musical entertainment and a discussion about preventable chronic conditions including diabetes and led by Whittier staff members in Spanish. All are welcome to attend this free event.

About Whittier Street Health Center

Whittier Street Health Center is a community health system with a 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 its diverse populations. A champion of equitable access to high quality, culturally appropriate and community-focused healthcare and social services, Whittier Street Health Center is accredited by The Joint Commission (TJC), certified by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Patient-Centered Medical Home, and recognized by the NCQA for its Behavioral Health Integration. Through its locations in Roxbury and North Dorchester, School-Based Clinics and Mobile Health Van program, Whittier Street Health Center serves more than 30,000 patients and 20,000 community outreach visits annually; its ethnically and racially diverse patient base is primarily made up of individuals from Roxbury, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, the South End and greater Boston. Approximately 27% of Whittier’s patients are uninsured. Whittier Street Health Center provides a comprehensive array of 40 healthcare programs and social services designed to meet the primary health care, behavioral health, and social needs of the community. For more information, please visit www.wshc.org as well as Facebook (www.facebook.com/WhittierStreetHealthCenter), Twitter (@Whittier_Boston), or LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/whittier-street-health-center), or call 617-989-3221.