Terry Plain, Senior Strategist - Initiatives, presented at the  March of Dimes Mom and Baby Action Network Summit, along with community partner Bootheel Babies and Families and consultant Sue Kendig, during a session titled “Nurturing Collaboration to Ignite System Change in Rural Perinatal Care.”

Alyssa Curran, Strategist - Responsive Philanthropy, spoke at an Association of Fundraising Professionals, St. Louis Regional Chapter panel. The panelists shared tips for creating compelling proposals, trust-based philanthropy, and engaging with funders. Alyssa also presented to the St. Louis Funders Learning and Evaluation Group, an independent funder collaborative partner of Philanthropy Missouri about the Foundation’s work in Responsive Philanthropy.

Brian Washington, Strategist - Initiatives, Dwayne Proctor, President and CEO, and representatives from four other Missouri foundations participated in the Commission on Investment Imperatives for a Healthy Nation’s Philanthropic Coalition for Community Organization. Part of the National Academy of Medicine’s Leadership Consortium, the group provides a platform for diverse community partners to identify and inform strategies for cross-sector alignment on health equity.

Jennifer Carter Dochler, Director of Government Affairs, presented at the MARC Aging Positive Conference on advocacy strategies to advance the interests of older Missourians. She was also featured in a video at the Missouri Against Child Abuse’s Standing with Children Awards Ceremony.

Sarah Moody, Director of Community Relationships, was a panelist for “Unapologetically Rural: How Three Foundations are Changing the Game” during the Grantmakers in Health (GIH) Annual Conference. The session explored three models of rural community engagement and empowerment that contribute to health equity and social justice goals.

Sheldon Weisgrau, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, participated in a pre-conference workshop panel at the GIH annual conference titled “Medicaid Unwound: What Comes Next?”

Strengthening Community Ties:
Liaisons in Action

The Foundation’s community liaisons play an integral role in helping us understand the needs of Missourians. This video from Fund For Shared Insight explores how Teletia Atkins, our liaison in the Southeast region of Missouri, engages with community organizations and leaders in the Bootheel. From town halls to coffee meetings, the liaison team builds relationships that connect us to what is happening across the state.  Check out the video to see how MFH listens to and learns from partners working to advance health equity.

MFH Board Members Making Headlines

Dr. Alex Garza was named one of the 50 Most Influential Clinical Executives by Modern Healthcare.

Francine Pratt spoke to KY3 about supporting youth in Springfield as co-chair of the Gun Safety and Violence Collaborative.

In Case You Missed It

Sarah Moody, Director of Community Relationships, wrote a blog on reimagining the program officer role for The Center for Effective Philanthropy.

A blog by the Association of Health Journalists cited the importance of the Foundation’s firearm safety research for reporters and advocates.

Dwayne Proctor, President and CEO, appeared on the America Dissected podcast about the Foundation’s work.

Racism Can Make You Sick

"Silence in Sikeston" explores what it means to live with racism and violence, then charts the toll on health — from hives and high blood pressure to struggles with mental health. The deaths of two Black men killed nearly 80 years apart in the same Missouri community anchor a conversation about the public health consequences of systemic bias.

Listen to the companion podcast exploring how we find the words to say things that go unsaid. A limited series led by host and KFF Health News Midwest correspondent Cara Anthony.

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