Episode 173: Living Black History
Celebrating Black History should not just be regulated to one month. L. Joy always celebrates and uplifts Black History because we need history and context to enact effective change. We celebrate and uplift C. Virginia Fields, who is the epitome of living Black History, as she comes to the front of the class to discuss her remarkably civically active life and shares the important work the National Black Leadership Commission on Health is doing to improve Black health outcomes.
Homework:
Research and see what kind of data there is around your area of civic engagement (voting, health, housing, education, etc.)
See if your elected Congress member supports the reintroduced MOMMIES (Maximizing Outcomes for Moms through Medicaid Improvement and Enhancement of Service) Act. https://pressley.house.gov/sites/pressley.house.gov/files/117th%20MOMMIES%20Act%20One%20Pager%20FINAL.pdf
Check out the National Black Leadership Commission on Health. https://nblch.org/
Our Guest:
C. Virginia Fields is the President and CEO of the National Black Leadership Commission on Health Inc., (NBLCH), formerly known as the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, whose mission is to champion the promotion of health and prevention of diseases to reduce disparities and achieve equity for the Black community. Under Ms. Fields’ leadership, the organization has grown to include affiliate chapters in 12 cities nationwide and established partnerships with over 140 organizations. Her expertise in government and politics has led to the successful implementation of noteworthy public policy achievements in health promotion and disease prevention, including HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care.
In 2008, Ms. Fields was appointed to the New York State AIDS Advisory Council by Governor David A. Paterson. She was appointed to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Regional Health Equity Council for Region II, one of ten such advisory councils established to address racial and ethnic health disparities. In 2016, Ms. Fields was appointed to the ENDING THE AIDS EPIDEMIC Task Force that is charged with significantly reducing new infections in New York State by 2020. In 2018, Ms. Fields was appointed to serve on a special Task Force to help eradicate Hepatitis C in the State of New York.
Ms. Fields is the former President of the Borough of Manhattan, chief executive of 1.5 million residents, to which she was elected in 1997 and re-elected in 2001. She served as a member of the New York City Council from 1989-1997. Prior to elected office, Ms. Fields established a distinguished career in her professional field of social work, where she served in various positions as a Social Service Administrator for the New York City Work Release Program; Director of Foster Care/Adoption at The Children’s Aid Society; and Consultant to the National Board of the YWCA. Ms. Fields served as an Adjunct Lecturer at New York University’s Silver School of Social Work and Columbia University Graduate School of Social Work.
A civil rights activist, political leader, educator and philanthropist, Ms. Fields serves as a featured speaker on leadership issues, social justice, health, politics, and government at governmental, organizations, political and private industry events. In 2004, she addressed the International Business Conference in Beijing, China; and was a speaker at the National Democratic Convention in Boston. In 2005, Ms. Fields was a Democratic Candidate for Mayor of New York City becoming the second African American woman to seek that office.
Born in Birmingham, Alabama, Ms. Fields received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Knoxville College in Tennessee; Master’s Degree in Social Work from Indiana University; and postgraduate certificate in Education Administration from New York University. She is a member of the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church, New York City, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and The Links, Inc., among other civic and national organizations.
A recipient of numerous awards, citations, and honors of distinction for her leadership on health, education, civil rights and social justice issues, Ms. Fields resides in New York City.
