(L to R) George Fernandez, CEO, Latino Connection and Rev. Dr. Lorina Marshall-Blake, President, Independence Blue Cross Foundation
Independence Blue Cross Foundation’s (Foundation) President Lorina Marshall-Blake recently spoke on a panel at Pennsylvania’s State of the Union on Latino Health conference, in Harrisburg. Latino Connection organized the conference, which addressed key issues such as health equity and housing.
William Calo, assistant professor at the Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, was the moderator. Other panelists included Gelvina Stevenson of the Hispanic National Bar Association; Glady Rosa-Mendoza, design researcher at Facebook; and Mali Tejada, extension educator at Food Families and Health.
Since 2011, the Foundation has provided more than $10.5 million to 14 non-profit community health centers where Latinos make up more than 50 percent of patients.
The Foundation supported Latino Connection when it established the state’s first COVID-19 mobile testing unit in 2020 known as Community-Accessible Testing & Education (CATE). As of January 2022, CATE has hosted 220 free community events, tested more than 5,000 people and vaccinated more than 10,000 people against COVID-19 and 2,500 people against influenza.
