City of Lawrence Mayor's Health Task Force: About Us

The Mayor's Health Task Force (MHTF) is a broad base collaborative of health care, social services providers, environmental groups, academic institutions, local businesses, city planners, and visionaries whose mission is to "develop healthy public policies and activities that accommodate the changing conditions of the total community, and promotes improvement in the quality of life of its citizens."

The Task Force serves as an advisory board to the mayor by placing public health issues high on the political agenda of the city and establishing new partnerships that build community capacity to address health disparities. The Task Force is a comprehensive effort by community activists to move Lawrence forward as a healthy city in the broadest possible terms.

The Mayor's Health Task Force brings members together to address public concerns through community education and awareness, developing strategic plans through research, needs assessment, and prioritizing action steps and funding. Currently, MHTF is addressing the major plans though five different initiatives: career disparities, new research, men's and women's health, youth department, and mental health services.

The Task Force focuses on the following areas:

Addressing major health issues including socioeconomic and environmental conditions that affect the health of Lawrence residents
Advocating for health policies that address health disparities
Providing a platform for active participation of citizen groups in community health assessment to address and improve quality of life outcomes
Developing collaboratives to address public health and mental health priorities
Providing technical assistance to local service providers
Advocating for social justice

"Lawrence has been nationally recognized for its cancer (prostate and breast) and diabetes awareness campaigns. The Task Force has been instrumental in Lawrence receiving these recognitions." - Mayor Michael Sullivan

Executive Committee

The MHTF Executive Committee (EC) was appointed by Mayor Michael J. Sullivan in December 2007. This seven member committee is comprised of community members, healthcare professionals, Board of Health members, academician, researchers, and representatives from local hospitals.

Its purpose is to improve the health of Lawrence residents' and to oversee citywide health initiatives, work with the BOH, Health Dept, community-based organizations, and other appropriate city departments to engage the larger community to reduce health disparities.

The EC works to fulfill its purpose by advising the mayor, city elected officials, and policymakers while providing leadership and direction to the MHTF and it's working Groups.

Milagro Grullón, MM	Barbara Keller, MBA
Director of Community Health Strategies and Research City of Lawrence Mayor's Health Task Force	Director of Public Affairs, Lawrence General Hospital
G. Dean Cleghorn, EdD	Linda Silka, PhD
Director of Quality Management and Research Latino Center of Excellence for Eliminating Disparities Greater Lawrence Family Health Center	Professor Center for Family, Work and Community University of Massachusetts Lowell
Vilma Lora, BS	Peg Burton, MA, RN
Director of Women's Services YWCA of Greater Lawrence Community Resident	City of Lawrence Board of Health Community Resident