Meaningful Engaging with Communities: Experiences from Community Organizations
Beata Nelken, MD
Dr. Beata Nelken, MD is a Pediatrics Specialist in Central Falls, RI and has over 22 years of experience in the medical field. She graduated from University Of Connecticut School Of Medicine in 2001 and founded Jenks Park Pediatrics in 2020. Dr Nelken and Jenks Park Pediatrics played an essential role in the response to COVID 19 and have continued to expand the services they provide to the Central Falls community in the wake of the pandemic, including OBGYN services as well as mental health support.
Silaphone Nhongvongsouthy
Job title or function
Sil Nhongvongsouthy is the behavioral health program manager for the Healthy Communities Office at the City of Providence. She has been warded the 2019 Tom Roberts Prize for Creative Achievement by the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, she has built extensive collaborations with local, national and global cultural organizations. Ms. Nhongvongsouthy is passionate about public health, community engagement and has over 10 years of programming experience..
Rev. Howard M. Jenkins Jr.
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Pastor Jenkins is President of the Ministers Alliance of Rhode Island and is highly active in several community organizations. He was visible in engaging and educating the community regarding the importance of COVID vaccination and testing. In addition, he advocates heightening the awareness of the impact of Alzheimer's, which is the 4th leading cause of death affecting our Black population 2-3 times more than other ethnicities. Most recently, he is starting to become involved in cancer awareness and education and its impact on communities of color. Pastor Jenkins's goal in the community is to renew, rebuild, and restore the people of God. Rev. Jenkins lives by the belief that "to whom much is given, much more is required" (Luke 12:48).
Swanette Salazar
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Swanette Salazar is a Certified Community Health Worker (CCHW) and CHW Supervisor at Family Service of RI. As a home visitor in the First Connections program, Swanette supports high-risk prenatal women and caregivers of newborns. She is also the Lead CHW Consultant for EOHHS and RIDOH’s Rhode to Equity Initiative. In that role she is supporting CHWs to be an engaged partner for multidisciplinary teams working to advance community and clinical linkages.