Health Care Equality Project to Launch, Amplify Obama’s Call For Equality

Leading Labor Groups, Community Organizations, Health Advocates, Civil Rights Groups, Social Justice Advocates, and Faith Networks Join Together to Announce Major New Campaign

WASHINGTON, DC--The HealthCare Equality Project, a unique coalition of major equality and social justice advocacy groups, labor unions, community organizations, civil rights and women’s groups, doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, and activists will launch their national campaign to fight for healthcare equality in America.  This unprecedented platform will serve to mobilize and nationally coordinate the effort to include healthcare equality in the national reform movement.  It’s a single project that will combine the forces of the partners to have a greater and strategic impact on the healthcare debate.

The coalition will hold its kickoff event on Tuesday, March 24 at 3:00 p.m. (EST) at All Souls Unitarian Church in Columbia Heights. The kickoff will allow the coalition to rally activists, outline the campaign, and unveil its strategy to demand that healthcare reform works for everyone, which includes addressing healthcare disparities that exist beyond insurance coverage.  The coalition will be joined by members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

The campaign’s coalition partners include SEIU, Gamaliel, LULAC, ACORN, La Clínica del Pueblo, Center for Community Change, Northwest Federation of Community Organizations, URU the Right to Be, Partnership to Fight Chronic Diseases, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Puerto Rican Coalition, Hispanic Federation, and Latinos for National Health Insurance.

WHO: Congresswoman Donna Christensen  (Chair, Congressional Black Caucus, Healthcare Brain Trust), Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, (D-D.C.) Warren Jones, M.D. (Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease), Crystal Emory (Producer and Director “The Deadliest Disease in America”), Elizabeth Figueroa (Riverside Church) Pastor Arelis Figueroa (St John Lutheran Church), Jaime Contreras (SEIU 32BJ), Dr. Gabriela Lemus (Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, AFL-CIO).

WHAT: Launch of the Health Care Equality Project national campaign.  Hosted by La Clínica del Pueblo.   Food and refreshments will be served.

WHERE: All Souls Unitarian Church,

WHEN: Tuesday, March 24 , 2009 at 3:30p.m.

 WHY: To call attention to healthcare disparities, rally activists and communities, and unite our voices in order to advocate for a reformed healthcare system that will truly serve everyone.

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With 2 million members, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in North America. Focused on uniting workers in three sectors to improve their lives and the services they provide, SEIU is the largest health care union, including hospitals, nursing homes, and home care; the largest property services union, including building cleaning and security; and the second largest public employee union.

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With 2 million members, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in North America. Focused on uniting workers in three sectors to improve their lives and the services they provide, SEIU is the largest health care union, including hospitals, nursing homes, and home care; the largest property services union, including building cleaning and security; and the second largest public employee union.

Kawana Lloyd

National Communications Coordinator, Media Relations

SEIU Communications Department

Washington, D.C. 20036

kawana.lloyd@seiu.org

Office #: 202-730-7087

www.seiu.org