Be Healthy Berrien Awarded $150,000 from Michigan Health Endowment Fund to Improve Health and Access in Berrien County
Community Leadership Academy stakeholders included representatives from Be Healthy Berrien, Corewell Health, city of Benton Harbor, Region IV Area for Agency on Aging, Abonmarche, Southwest Michigan Planning Commission
Be Healthy Berrien, a collective impact initiative anchored by United Way of Southwest Michigan, has received a $150,000 award from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund (MHEF) to continue its efforts to reduce obesity in Berrien County. The two-year grant will support these efforts through the Community Leadership Academy (CLA) project, which will create cohorts of community stakeholders that focus on various health and wellness initiatives in Benton Harbor.
“We sincerely thank the foundation for their contribution, which is instrumental in advancing our efforts to build community wellness," said Dawn Marie Smith, Director of Be Healthy Berrien. “To develop solutions, we must begin with those who navigate complex systems daily. That’s what’s exciting about the CLA — it empowers those with lived experience, giving them the knowledge and tools to drive meaningful change.”
The CLA program will receive support from steering committee organizations including the City of Benton Harbor, the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission, and the Region IV Area Agency on Aging. The inaugural cohort will focus on engaging the community in the restoration of the Bobo Brazil Community Center, a project that recently secured $1 million in funding for its initial phase. Participants in this cohort will work to design and carry out plans that reflect the community's vision for the center.
Be Healthy Berrien and Corewell Health™ will develop the project framework and course content, and support operations, evaluation and sustainability planning while funded by the grant. The project will be sustained by the Corewell Health Center for Wellness in Benton Harbor after the grant funding ends.
“By bringing together the voices of our community members and an active network of partners, we can harness the strength of diverse perspectives,” said Heather Rudnik, Project Specialist at Corewell Health. “This project will unite community members and organizations to create sustainable, community-driven impact.”
Efforts are underway to recruit additional steering committee organizations that are dedicated to social innovation and committed to driving community transformation through systems change. To learn more, contact Dawn Marie Smith through behealthyberrien.org.
About Be Healthy Berrien
Be Healthy Berrien, launched in 2010, is dedicated to reducing and preventing obesity county-wide. The program is guided by a steering committee that includes the Berrien County Health Department, Corewell Health South, Equilibrium Fitness, the Southwest Michigan Planning Commission and the YMCA of Greater Michiana. United Way of Southwest Michigan serves as the anchor support agency and fiduciary. The initiative strives to make an equitable and lasting impact on our community's health by leveraging resources to advocate for policy, system, and environmental changes that improve food access and active living opportunities. Visit BeHealthyBerrien.org
About United Way of Southwest Michigan
United Way of Southwest Michigan works to create & sustain a united community where everyone contributes, belongs and thrives. We harness resources from corporate, nonprofit, and public partners to address our community's most pressing challenges and make lasting change. Join us in giving, advocating, and volunteering by visiting uwsm.org.
About Corewell Health ™
People are at the heart of everything we do, and the inspiration for our legacy of outstanding outcomes, innovation, strong community partnerships, philanthropy and transparency. Corewell Health is a not-for-profit health system that provides health care and coverage with an exceptional team of 65,000+ dedicated people—including more than 12,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and more than 15,500 nurses providing care and services in 21 hospitals, 300+ outpatient locations and several post-acute facilities—and Priority Health, a provider-sponsored health plan serving more than 1.3 million members. Through experience and collaboration, we are reimagining a better, more equitable model of health and wellness. For more information, visit corewellhealth.org.
