Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers

05/26/2026

The Mass League is thrilled to recognize Cynthia Mitchell with our Outstanding Community Health Center CEO award. Join us in celebrating her visionary leadership at the Courage to Care Gala: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/tmlochc/event/couragetocaremassleagueannualawardsgala/

Cynthia founded Island Health Care in 2004 to make quality care more accessible on rural Martha’s Vineyard. Driven by an unwavering commitment to her patients, she transformed a small clinic into a federally qualified health center, which provides integrated medical, behavioral health, dental, and community-based services.

Thanks to Cynthia, the Vineyard community can better access comprehensive, culturally responsive care on their home island. She exemplifies the Courage to Care!

05/21/2026

It’s time to celebrate the community health center clinicians who embody the best of our movement! Our 2026 Clinician Awardees live our mission day by day, patient by patient, never wavering in their commitment to high-quality, compassionate care.

Meet our awardees!

⭐ Dr. Herlivi Linares, Associate Director of Dental at Lynn Community Health Center, leads courageously in times of crisis. When an electrical fire disrupted health center dental services, she jumped in to repurpose resources, mobilize partnerships, and work closely with patients to ensure that despite the temporary closure, the department ended the year with an increase in visits. This story exemplifies the innovative spirit and deep dedication that Dr. Linares brings to LCHC and the broader community.

⭐ Dr. Elias Name, an Internist at Holyoke Health Center, is known for making patients feel like family. He is attentive and compassionate, while still deftly managing the administrative burden of modern medical practice. This style has made him a valued mentor to residents, who continue to seek his advice long after they completed their training program. His impact on the Holyoke community is undeniable.

Join us on June 12 to honor these exceptional clinician leaders. RSVP to the Courage to Care gala today: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/tmlochc/event/couragetocaremassleagueannualawardsgala/

05/21/2026

As CEO of The Boston Foundation, Lee Pelton has been a true ally to the community health center movement and the vulnerable populations we serve. When COVID-19 exposed entrenched health inequities, Lee and the Boston Foundation strengthened health centers’ work to distribute vaccines and address hesitancy in underserved communities. Time and time again, Lee stood up for those most in need. The Mass League and our members are thankful for his invaluable support and wish him the best in his next chapter.

Longtime civic leader Lee Pelton is stepping down from his role as president of The Boston Foundation.

05/20/2026

The Mass League mourns the loss of Representative Barney Frank, a true advocate for health care access, social justice, and our most vulnerable.

Throughout his career in the state legislature and in Congress, Representative Frank was a steadfast champion for the health center movement. We could always count on Barney Frank to be there for us and our members. His generosity and support were a constant bright spot for our movement during several key moments in our history.

Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time.

05/19/2026

We’re pleased to honor the Bank of America with our 2026 President’s Award for their enduring support of community health centers and health equity initiatives.

In 2008, Bank of America helped kickstart the Mass League’s loan repayment program to recruit and retain primary care providers and protect access to care for vulnerable communities. Today, our loan repayment offerings have expanded to incentivize retention for thousands of health and human service professionals, addressing critical workforce shortages across the Commonwealth.

Thank you, Bank of America, for your lasting impact on the health center movement in Massachusetts.

We look forward to presenting this recognition on June 12 at our Courage to Care gala. RSVP today to join us in celebrating all our awardees: https://ow.ly/6fN950Z1Ngl

05/15/2026

In the 1960s, two Boston doctors moved to the Deep South determined to care for voting rights activists, and shortly after, the community health center movement was born.

Jack Geiger and Count Gibson saw that the Black, low-income, and rural communities around them had no access to quality care or the basic necessities that promote health. In response, they built the first two community health centers to care for all people and treat not just their symptoms, but the underlying causes of what makes them sick.

At CHI last week, award-winning host and social justice advocate, Angela Rye , encouraged us to live up to the legacy of our movement. She reminded us that while the obstacles of today may be significant, our origins demand more than survival. Just as our early leaders pushed to serve the underserved, we must persist in our commitment to access, equity, and compassion.

CHI 2026 focused on the future of healthcare. By grounding us in our past, Angela inspired us on our path forward.

05/15/2026

The Mass League was proud to stand alongside Governor Maura Healey and Massachusetts Division of Insurance Commissioner Michael Caljouw for yesterday's announcement on new prior authorization reforms that will ensure more Massachusetts patients can get care when and where they need it, without delay.

We are so lucky to be in a state where our leaders prioritize building a health care system that is accessible, equitable, and sustainable.

05/13/2026

What a week! We’re thrilled with the success of last week's Community Health Institute. Hundreds of community health center leaders and allies showed up ready to dive deep into our shared challenges and enjoy moments of connection and community.

Our two parrot mascots, Geiger & Gibson, were thrilled to meet such an amazing group at the Margaritaville Resort.🦜🦜

Thank you to each and every one of our attendees for your insights and your passion for building healthy communities. We’re already looking forward to next year’s conference!🧡

05/12/2026

Community health center nurses are rock stars. Their work of providing vital health services in addition to being patient advocates and educators, is essential to building trust. Last year, we celebrated one rock star nurse, Paulette St. Germain, at our Annual Awards gala. Paulette is known at Codman Square Health Center as a mentor to other nurses and a provider who puts patients at ease.

This National Nurses Week, we thank Paulette and all community health center nurses, for their tireless efforts to keep patients healthy.

Join us in showing appreciation for outstanding health center staff at our 2026 gala. Register here: https://ow.ly/Uxwk50YJ3rV

05/11/2026

The Edward M. Kennedy Founder's Award is given to community health leaders whose work builds on Senator Kennedy's commitment to access and equity. This year, we're proud to honor Christina Severin with this award at our annual gala on June 12. Be sure to get your tickets now! https://secure.qgiv.com/for/tmlochc/event/couragetocaremassleagueannualawardsgala/

And be sure to enjoy this incredible documentary from legendary filmmaker Ken Burns on last year's Founder's Award recipient, Ernani DeAraujo of NeighborHealth!

05/11/2026

The compassionate, culturally proficient care provided by South Cove Community Health Center marked a major turning point for Mayor Michelle Wu 吳弭's family during a difficult period.

Culturally proficient care is critical for building trust with patients because having someone who understands your language, cultural values, and lived experiences encourages greater patient engagement and goes a long way towards maintaining continuity of care and improving health outcomes.

South Cove has helped countless families like Mayor Wu's get the care they need in a safe and welcoming environment. During , we're proud to recognize South Cove Community Health Center for all their work to ensure access to care in our state's AAPI communities.