Press Release
Neighborhood Health Plan Takes Stand Against Racism
Organizes Human Chain in Support of YWCA's National Stand Against Racism Day
Boston, April 29, 2011 - More than 300 people came together today to form a human chain stretching across the Summer Street and Congress Street bridges in Boston's Fort Point Channel. The event was organized by Neighborhood Health Plan (NHP) to support the YWCA's Stand Against Racism Day.
Held annually by the YWCA, Stand Against Racism day is a national civic engagement project that raises awareness that racism still exists in our communities and that it should not be ignored or tolerated.
"We join YWCA of Boston to spotlight the need to engage in meaningful dialogue about the issue of racism in our country," said Deborah C. Enos, president and CEO of NHP. "Diversity is an essential part of building communities and so we stand together to celebrate our differences."
According to the most recent census data, Boston is in 11th place among large cities for the most extreme residential segregation between blacks and whites. In addition, Boston ranks 4th in Hispanic/white segregation and 5th in Asian/white segregation. At the same time, the Hispanic and Asian populations have grown substantially creating a more diverse city.
"Supporting diversity and racial equality is at the core of YWCA Boston�s mission," said Sylvia Ferrell-Jones, YWCA Boston president and CEO. "We need to celebrate the richness that diversity adds to our city and are delighted to have Neighborhood Health Plan join us in that."
Other organizations whose employees became links in this chain include ARGUS, Boston Children's Museum, Beacon Health Strategies, Shawmut Printing, and Solomon McCown. Enos, Ferrell-Jones, and Carole Chernow, CEO of Boston Children�s Museum, each addressed the participants about the importance of their willingness to take a stand during the event.
For more details, please visit www.StandAgainstRacism.org. For local information, please contact the YWCA Boston at (617) 585-5423 or dialogues@ywcaboston.org.
About Neighborhood Health Plan
Neighborhood Health Plan (NHP) is a licensed, not-for-profit Managed Care Organization (MCO) founded in 1986 by the Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers and the Greater Boston Forum for Health Action. Working in partnership with community health centers and other community-responsive providers, NHP offers our members access to care from over 2,800 primary care physicians and over 10,400 specialists in over 300 primary care locations throughout Massachusetts.
Media Contact: Amanda Fountain -- Solomon McCown & Co. -- (617) 933-5021
©2012 Neighborhood Health Plan