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Risa Silverman, director of the Office for Public Health Practice and Outreach in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences, has been named to the Massachusetts Public Health Alliance (MPHA) Board of Directors.

Founded nearly 150 years ago as the Massachusetts Public Health Association, MPHA is a non-profit organization that promotes a healthy Massachusetts through advocacy, community organizing, and coalition building. The alliance seeks to eliminate all forms of structural inequities that impact public health by addressing the root causes of health and wellness – such as access to healthy food, safe affordable housing, clean air and water, and transportation – and by tackling the intersecting forms of oppression and discrimination, including classism, sexism, ageism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism and xenophobia, among others.

“I believe MPHA is a very strong organization with a great mission, and I’m excited to be part of making substantive change in the state’s public health landscape,” says Silverman, whose three-year term began this past January. “I also hope to help represent communities in Western Massachusetts and our unique public health stories. I also am impressed by MPHA's long-standing and authentic commitment to racial equity and social justice. For years, I have made use of the MPHA Health Equity Policy Framework with the community development course I teach every year, and am glad to be joining MPHA at this critical time in our field.”

“For nearly 30 years, Risa has advanced community-centered public health as outreach director for the UMass Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences,” the MPHA stated in its announcement of Silverman to the board. “A long-time champion of health equity and racial justice, she convenes the Western MA Health Equity Network and has led across labor, food justice, and community advocacy spaces.

“After years of partnership with MPHA—including more than five years of service on our Policy Council—we’re grateful to have Risa’s insight, leadership, and collaborative spirit shaping our work,” the statement concluded.

More information about the MPHA can be found at MAPublicHealth.org.