MINNEAPOLIS (October 3, 2009) U.S. Sen. Al Franken (DFL-MN) heard from representatives of Minnesota minority groups about their perspectives on the health care reform debate in Washington, D.C. and health care disparities in the state.
The event, Beyond Health Disparities, took place at the Minneapolis Urban League Saturday, with brief presentations from elected officials, U.S. Congressman Keith Ellison (DFL-5), and State Rep. Bobby Joe Champion (DFL-58B) of Minneapolis.
Other presenters included health care providers, and leaders of the Asian, Hispanic, African American, and Native American Communities.
The roundtable included: Laurie Gillquist, a Franken staff member and specialist on health reform; Rosemarie Rodriguez-Hager, Minnesota Department of Health; Patricia Walker, M.D., director, HealthPartners Center for International Health; Helen Jackson Lockett-El, Stairstep Foundation; Stella Whitney-West, Northpoint Health and Wellness Center; Peter Carr, Minnesota Department of Health; Mike Siebenaler, office of U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison; Makeda Norris, Urban League; Molly Greenman, Family and Childrens Service; Patrick Rock, M.D., Indian Health Board of Minneapolis; Eric Meininger, M.D., Rainbow Health Initiative; Jeanne Bailey, United Family Medicine; Nancy Pomplun, Minnesota Asian/American Health Coalition; Cheryl Morgan Spencer, Minneapolis Urban League.
Also present were members of the Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium, representing various media of the Asian, African, African American, Latino and Native American communities.
Nghi Huynh, publisher, Asian American Press, said the meeting was an opportunity to work with the new Minnesota Senator Franken's Office, as they would also want to work with Sen. Amy Klobuchar on community issues of health, technology, education, youth, business, landing trust, international trade, and others.
