Aspen Global Innovators Group

📣 We are thrilled to share our 2023 Impact Report, highlighting major milestones, including the elevating local leaders through new initiatives and the continued success of our established programs. Dive into the report to explore how AGI is fostering global health equity and leadership. ➡️ Discover the interactive report at https://lnkd.in/eBaqXYkC ➡️ Download the pdf version at https://lnkd.in/eui8fKt3 #globalinnovators The Aspen Institute, AMP Health Gloria Agyare, Stephen Lucke, Veron Blue, Ashli Sims, ABDUL-RAHMAN KOROMA,Donald SINGUE TANKO, Dixon Chibanda, Friendship Bench Zimbabwe

✨Meet our 2024 Healthy Communities Fellow Marcia Bruno-Todd, MPA. As the Executive Director of Leadership Tulsa, Marcia is driving change in Oklahoma by empowering emerging leaders and fostering collaboration across diverse sectors. Her work is focused on breaking down silos and ensuring all voices are heard at the table, with a strong commitment to equity and inclusivity. Marcia is inspiring the next generation of changemakers, uniting leaders with a shared vision for equitable access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. #fellowspotlight #globalinnovators The Aspen Institute

🗣 START the conversation. Suicide is a global public health challenge, claiming more than 700,000 lives annually, according to World Health Organization. This #WorldSuicidePreventionDay, let’s transform how we talk about mental health. A small gesture, a simple “How are you?” could help someone more than you know. Dixon Chibanda’s incredible work with community elders shows how local support can save lives. Dixon and his team leverage the wisdom and knowledge of elders in communities and train them in the basis of cognitive behavioral therapy. After the training they allocate them in a wooden park bench in their communities. They facilitate referrals. And they support grandmas with digital tools alone with group sessions. Learn more about how Friendship Bench is transforming communities:  https://lnkd.in/djM5q6_t #WorldSuicidePreventionDay #globalinnovators Friendship Bench Zimbabwe, John P. and Anne Welsh McNulty Foundation, The Aspen Institute, Aspen Ideas

#fellowspotlight ✨ Meet our 2024 Healthy Communities Fellow, Mary Oxendine! As a financial activist, she is working to shift power and resources to reduce the wealth gap in the United States. She was the inaugural Durham County Food Security Coordinator and helped support the growth of a Black, femme-led community-accountable grocer and launched initiatives to develop an incubator farm centering Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). As a fellow at Potlikker Capital, she works with beginning and established farmers to develop and grow their businesses using environmentally sustainable practices and build intergenerational community health, wealth, and healing, especially in Indigenous, Black, and Latino communities. In her recent op-ed, "Feeding the Crisis: Agricultural Subsidies and the Rise of Ultra-Processed Diets," Mary explores how U.S. agricultural policies contribute to the prevalence of unhealthy, ultra-processed foods, particularly in low-income and Indigenous communities. She advocates for policy changes that would make nutritious food more affordable and accessible, helping to reverse the trend of diet-related diseases. 📖 Read her recent piece: https://lnkd.in/g7uVZvA9 #globalinnovators

#fellowspotlight ✨ Meet our 2024 Healthy Communities Fellow, Courtney Smith! Courtney Smith is a chef, an activist, and a storyteller who is deeply connected to her community. Her mission is to bring business owners, farmers, food producers, policymakers, and consumers together to heal through food, and to start imagining new food systems and communities. She is the co-owner of Piri and one of the co-founders of The Culinary Femme Collective, and her mission is to build support for femmes of color who want to impact their communities through food. In her piece, she discusses food insecurity in her home of Durham County. She highlights how the broader community has come together to fight food insecurity with innovative programs like the Double Bucks Program, which allowed for nearly 700 families to shop at local farmers markets with their SNAP/EBT cards by 2023. 📖 Read her recent piece:  https://lnkd.in/eYaq3Hrs #globalinnovators

The Advanced Advocacy Program equips alumni with advanced tools for effective advocacy. By providing ongoing support through advanced communications training, networking events, and mentoring, we elevate alumni to drive transformative change at local, national, regional, and global levels. 🔎 Read more in the 2023 Impact Report. https://lnkd.in/eBaqXYkC #globalinnovators

Monique Castro, MS, LMFT, a dedicated advocate for Indigenous wellness and community healing, has made significant strides through the Healthy Communities Fellowship. Her work with the Indigenous Circle of Wellness addresses the mental health needs of Indigenous communities in Los Angeles. ⬇ Read more about Monique's journey and impact in the Healthy Communities Fellowship Five Year Impact Report: https://lnkd.in/eGqNQ6UE #globalinnovators

🎧 New Episode from The Dose Podcast! Tune in to hear host Joel Bervell lead critical discussions with two of health care’s inspiring new thinkers each of whom is working to redefine community health and wellness. First, meet Shameca Karmel Brown,MPA, a dedicated mental health advocate and provider in Tulsa, Oklahoma, who approaches the state's health care challenges through intentional initiatives designed to improve mental health services. Then, Joel speaks with Mary Oxendine, who brings her rich heritage as a Lumbee and Tuscarora granddaughter to her work centered on enhancing food security and supporting intergenerational community health in Durham County, North Carolina. 🔗 Listen as our Healthy Communities fellows share their unique journey and explore the impact of their work. Don't miss this one!   https://lnkd.in/eUD_BCFN #globalinnovators The Commonwealth Fund

Reflecting on last year’s impactful events during the 78th session of UN General Assembly, we focused on advancing global health equity and mental health. Our discussions were both insightful and inspiring, setting the stage for meaningful progress. As we look ahead to #UNGA79, we’re thrilled about the opportunities to continue to delve into crucial topics. This year, our focus will be on community-driven solutions, Black maternal survival, and advancing climate health. We are excited to engage in transformative conversations and collaborations that drive real change at local, national, and global levels. Stay tuned for updates and let us know below if you plan to be in NYC during #UNGA79! #globalinnovators #tbt

#fellowspotlight Today, we highlight our incredible New Voices fellow, Omido Phyllis, a tireless environmental and social justice activist from Kenya. As the Founder and Executive Director of the Center for Justice, Governance, and Environmental Action (CJGEA), Phyllis has been a pivotal force in combating industrial pollution and advocating for communities' rights. Phyllis' journey began in 2009 when she uncovered the harmful effects of lead pollution from a battery recycling plant in the Owino Uhuru community. Her relentless advocacy led to a landmark court ruling in 2020, awarding $12 million to the affected community and mandating government action to clean up the area. Phyllis' remarkable efforts have earned her global recognition, including the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize in 2015 and the Right Livelihood Award in 2020. She was also named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in 2021, a testament to her impactful work and leadership. Phyllis Omido's story is one of resilience, courage, and unwavering dedication to justice. She continues to inspire and drive change, proving that one person's commitment can make a world of difference. #globalinnovators