Recognizes Trailblazers for International Women’s Day
Accelerate Action is the theme for International Women’s Day 2025. In honor of this movement, Edgewater Health in Gary, Indiana, is recognizing four trailblazing women who make it their mission to prioritize mental and physical health and well-being in the communities they serve.
Accelerate Action is a powerful call to make urgent, inclusive, and transformative change around issues of gender equality in both personal and professional spheres. According to the Sustainable Development Goals Report of 2024, women continue to face economic and social barriers, including lower pay, unequal access to resources, and discrimination. This makes it clear that equality cannot be delayed and demands collaboration across all sectors of society to propel progress in women’s rights and empowerment forward without hesitation.
The panelists discussing their successes in overcoming barriers related to health inequities faced by women and Black families include Dr. Shawnise Carter, Owner of HealthyCare, HomeCare LLC; Merry Green, President of MGPG Events, Inc., and Executive Producer of the Black Women’s Expo; Jess Kern, Founder and President of Raindrops Rising; and Yajaira Ruiz, First Lady of Iglesia Cristiana Pentecostes. The discussion will be moderated by Chelsea Whittington, CEO & Consultant, C WHITT Public Relations.
“Edgewater Health is pleased to recognize these outstanding women during Women’s History Month, and on the occasion of celebrating International Women’s Day. It is no secret that when we lift up women, we are lifting up the family unit. We applaud the work of these outstanding panelists, and we are grateful for the support of Ivy Tech Lake County and The Links – Northwest Indiana Chapter, for partnering with us to make this recognition possible.”
If you would like to attend Edgewater Health’s Mind, Body, & Spirit Wellness Program celebrating International Women’s Day, the event will take place Wednesday, March 5th, from Noon to 2:00 p.m., at Ivy Tech Community College, 410 E. Columbus Drive, Multipurpose Room, East Chicago, Indiana. We encourage registering via email to LaTanya Woodson, the Director of Community Health Education, at Edgewater Health at [email protected].
About Edgewater Health
Edgewater Health celebrated fifty years of healthcare excellence in 2024. Originated in 1974 as the Gary Community Mental Health Center, Edgewater Health is Northwest Indiana’s full-service partner for culturally competent, high-quality primary care and behavioral health services. Our approach to caring for the whole person begins with health screenings and assessments and extends to integrated and specialized care, including addiction and opioid treatment, inpatient, outpatient, and adult residential services in ten locations. Edgewater Health established the first crisis stabilization center in the State of Indiana (2015); achieved Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike status under HRSA (2019); opened a clinic in Cedar Lake to focus on women’s health (2022), and more. Edgewater Health participates in the VA’s Substance Treatment and Recovery (STAR) model for active duty and veteran service members. Edgewater Health is accredited by The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). Visit us at edgewaterhealth.org.