Mobilizing community leaders, businesses, organizations, public officials and other citizens is key to promoting healthy lives, improving education and helping people achieve financial stability. That’s the “collective impact model” embraced by the United Way of Central Iowa and its three Community Impact Cabinets, which drive the resources and influence of the organization to achieve its goals for 2020 in the areas of education, income and health. In July, DMU President Angela L. Walker Franklin, Ph.D., began a two-year term leading the Health Cabinet.
In that role, President Franklin is providing direction to staff and a group of 15 community leaders making decisions about designing and implementing effective strategies to achieve progress in the area of health in central Iowa, specifically regarding health care access, healthy environment and healthy lifestyle.
“Dr. Franklin is a respected community leader, a strategic thinker and a champion for improving the health of central Iowans,” says Mary Sellers, United Way of Central Iowa president. “As chair of our Health Cabinet, she will be instrumental in leading strategy, investments, volunteers and advocates to progress toward our community health goal for 2020.”
Erin Drinnin, M.S.W., United Way community impact officer for health, says the visibility with which Dr. Franklin exercises her expertise and passion for improving health and well-being make her an incredible asset to the Cabinet.
“She definitely ‘walks the walk’ and demonstrates her dedication to having DMU serve as a community resource and partner through initiatives such as the community garden partnership with WesleyLife,” Drinnin says.
The role is a natural fit for President Franklin, who has long championed the United Way cause. DMU conducts an annual United Way campaign to support the initiatives, and she steps up as a leading contributor.
“By definition, United Way is about being of service to the community,” she says. “United Way initiatives in the areas of health, education and income go hand-in-hand with our vision. The focus on prevention and wellness aligns with who we are as an institution, which is why I’m especially excited about the opportunity to lead the Health Cabinet.”
