Building Capacity for Equity: CHCM + REACH Partnership

Over the past several months, the Community Health Commission of Missouri (CHCM) partnered with the REACH Healthcare Foundation to host a series of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging (DEIAB) capacity-building workshops. These five sessions, held between April and August 2025, brought together more than 100 nonprofit and community leaders to explore practical strategies for sustaining equity-centered, trauma-informed work in today’s challenging environment.

Participants engaged in sessions on resilience and well-being for advocates, navigating policy changes, inclusive community leadership, and using data to drive systems change. Feedback showed strong outcomes: 100% of participants reported learning new strategies to sustain DEIAB efforts, and nearly all left feeling more confident in their ability to foster community engagement and equitable representation.

Most importantly, the workshops underscored the value of connection. Attendees emphasized that “fellowship matters” and that the opportunity to share experiences and strategies reminded them they are not alone in this work.

Moving forward, CHCM and REACH will continue to build on this strong foundation, expanding accessibility, deepening dialogue, and strengthening organizational capacity to advance health equity across Missouri.

Use the button below or click here to read more.