A Farewell Message from Julia Kehoe | | |
Dear Friends,
It has been such an honor to serve as CEO of this incredible organization for the past 13 years. Thanks to our remarkable staff, board, funders, and supporters, Health Imperatives is a bold, mission-driven, innovative organization dedicated to reducing health and wealth disparities in one of the most expensive regions of the world.
Despite some of the biggest public health challenges of our time, including COVID-19 and the federal government’s orchestrated assault on the people we serve and the programs we operate, we have grown to meet the complex needs of people who have not had equal access to quality opportunities, including women, immigrants, and trans youth.
Our vision to ensure that all residents of Southeastern Massachusetts are safe, healthy, and economically secure is ambitious but possible. We believe that government agencies, private funders, and individuals can work together and build on our successes to transform systems, so they work for people who have been disproportionately impacted by poverty, violence, and discrimination.
These successes include filling gaps in one-size-fits-all government programs, such as:
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The Women Infants and Children (WIC) program, so it works for rural communities.
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Raising private funding to provide cervical cancer screening for immigrant women who aren’t eligible for preventive health coverage.
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Designing a comprehensive supportive housing model (Sanctuary Place) for survivors of human trafficking with substance use disorders and mental health concerns that can serve as a blueprint for the state to leverage and maximize housing and service dollars that do not typically align.
I am thrilled to pass the reins to my former coworker and friend, Stephanie Brown, who has a similar commitment and approach to addressing the seemingly impossible but solvable challenges facing people with low incomes.
Thank you all for your partnership and dedication. I miss you already.
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Julia E. Kehoe
President and CEO
| | Health Imperatives Announces Upcoming Leadership Changes | | |
After 13 years as the Chief Executive Officer of Health Imperatives, Julia Kehoe will complete her tenure on June 30, 2026. The Board of Directors has named Stephanie Brown, a seasoned nonprofit and public sector leader, as the organization’s new CEO effective September 14, 2026.
During Kehoe’s tenure, Health Imperatives expanded from a $10 million organization into a $21 million regional provider serving communities across Southeastern Massachusetts, including the Cape & Islands. The organization broadened its reach in sexual and reproductive health care, trauma-informed services, low-threshold housing, substance use support, immigrant services, gender-affirming care, and economic empowerment initiatives.
Brown currently serves as CEO of Casa Myrna, a Boston nonprofit dedicated to ending domestic violence. Under her leadership, the organization’s budget grew from $3 million to $11 million, while expanding services to support more than 2,200 survivors annually.
To learn more, please read our press release.
| | An Update on Our Grant from Action for Women's Health | |
In November 2025, Health Imperatives was awarded a $2.5 million grant to enhance and support our programs including health care, nutrition assistance, and transformational services for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. We are so grateful to have received this award as such a critical time.
Since last fall, we’ve been using these funds to improve and expand our services across several areas of critical care. We are:
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Increasing access to services, reaching more clients, investing in staff leadership, and anticipating continued challenges as a result of political and economic realities.
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Expanding reproductive health services in Wareham by launching in-clinic procedural abortion care, hiring specialized nursing support, and developing plans to increase space for patient care and recovery.
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Creating new outreach and care coordinator roles in Sexual and Reproductive Health Services, Sexual Assault Services, and Housing Stability and Economic Security to ensure our clients receive more comprehensive and connected support.
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Implementing a new Leadership Development initiative to strengthen our leadership team, improve communication across divisions, and address emerging needs.
This grant also helps us protect access to WIC nutrition and survivor support programs, no matter what happens with federal funding.
We will share additional updates later this year.
Want to help us to protect and expand our lifesaving and life-affirming programs and services? Make a donation today.
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In case you missed it, here's who we're talking to, and what we're talking about:
To stay up-to-date with Health Imperatives news articles, press releases, and previous issues of this newsletter, visit our News web page.
| BrAGLY Pride Event - Thursday, June 11 | | |
You are invited! On Thursday, June 11, 5:30PM at 942 West Chestnut Street in Brockton, Health Imperatives and the Brockton Area Gay Lesbian Youth Program (BrAGLY) will host a special Pride performance of Literary Monsters by ensemble Shadow, Sound, Spectacle.
Part concert, part puppet show, and part ghost story, Literary Monsters reimagines gothic classics through original live music, shadow puppetry, video, and narrative.
After the show, stay for a discussion about queer identity and its relationship to the "monsters" of literature and pop culture.
This program is funded in part by the Brockton Cultural Council.
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