Our Mission
Medford Health Matters is a community coalition with a mission to foster an environment of wellness and healthy lifestyles for all those who live, learn, work, and play in the City of Medford. We look forward to building relationships with community partners and other organizations who share a similar mission.
Our Purpose
- to network and support all organizations and initiatives that serve Medford and her residents;
- to improve communication, collaboration, and cultural competency to enhance wellness and the quality of life in Medford;
- to incubate/develop creative solutions by bringing all of the constituents and stakeholders to bear on a problem, concern or need;
- to gather the aforementioned to the coalition table on a regular basis for shared assessments, problem solving and other community efforts;
- to recruit members, partners, collaborators, and staff to facilitate and sustain the efforts of the coalition.
Our Leadership
Board Members
Rev. Wendy Miller Olapade
President
Lisa Tonello
Vice President
Penny Funaiole
Treasurer
Taiany Goulart
Vice Treasurer
Loretta Kemp
Clerk
Sharon Burton
Leah Boudreau
Rocky Lockowitz
MaryAnn O'Connor
Neil Osborne
Loretta Tusa
Erika DeRoche
Chrissy Jache
Associate Members
Steve Schnapp
Cheleval Keshevan
Munir Jirmanus
Noreen Melanson
Diane Sullivan
Houria Chelabi
Our Story
Medford Health Matters (MHM) was formed in 1995 by Lawrence Memorial Hospital with professional staff providing a clinical focus on health initiatives in the community, such as installing defibrillators in key public spaces. Over the next seven years, the group focus shifted to a more public health approach and was led by leaders in community organizations based on needs they identified in the community, like improving heart health with diet and smoking cessation.
Landmark events in the organization include gaining 501(c)(3) status in 2002, and receiving a regional drug-free grant in 2005 which led to long-term institutional changes like youth-led tobacco and drug-prevention programs, the formation of Team Medford and the City’s Office of Prevention and Outreach, substance abuse education/workshops introduced to Medford High School. Other key contributions include helping to revitalize the West Medford Community Center, the Willis Avenue Community Center, and establishing the Boys & Girls Club in Medford.
In 2012, MHM underwent strategic planning/ strategy sessions and decided to embrace a role of incubator, transitioning from the role of service provider. In 2015-16, new leadership brought energy, and together with long-standing members, rolled out the “Big Table/Big Ideas/Big Collaboration” program of events. In 2020, Medford Conversations, a coalition of community members engaging in small group dialogue designed to address topics of city-wide concern became an asset of MHM.
Through it all, Medford Health Matters remains a connector of service providers and a listening platform for the community’s health and wellness needs.
Community Partners
Medford Health Matters is an organization for the Medford Community and of the Medford Community. Here are the community partners that help make our work possible:
Our Bylaws
Simply put, bylaws are an organization’s operating manual. They are a legal document that spell out an organization’s mission and purpose, as well as how its decisions get made.
In the interest of full transparency, you can peruse our bylaws by clicking the button below. They offer a unique lens into Medford Health Matters’s work in the Medford community.
