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Anthony Jackson
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Broward Healthy Start Coalition, Inc Welcomes New Board Members

Fort Lauderdale, FL – July 1, 2008 – Broward Healthy Start Coalition, Inc announced it has elected James Gress, Maria Hernandez, Lori Kessler, Shawn Lamarche and Reverend Hazel Young to its Board of Directors. Each new board member will proudly serve on the committee to encourage the ideals and increase of Broward Healthy Start Coalition, Inc.

James Gress manages day-to-day functions of the Covenant House as Executive Director and has been an integral part of this organization for over 20 years. Gress brings in fundraising, advocacy, personnel and fiscal management skills. Gress is a member of the Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW), National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the Clinical Faculty at Barry University. His dedication to community and tireless work ethic will be tremendous addition to the 2008-2009 team.

As Department Director of Family Support Services at Family Central, Inc., Maria Hernandez brings also management and budgeting capabilities. Hernandez is a member of Community Health Worker Project and Cero to Three. She also currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Teen Parent Task Force and Steering Committee for the Infant Mental Health, and. She will be integral in communicating the immediate needs of mothers-to-be and is also very active in the community.

Lori Kessler is the School Health & Disease State Management Programs Director for the North Broward Hospital District. In this position, she is directly responsible for the Health Centers of William Dandy Middle, Lauderhill Middle and Deerfield Beach High Schools. Kessler also handles budgeting and grants with American Society, AVON Foundation, County and State.

Resource Development Coordinator of Children’s Service Administration, Shawn Lamarche contributes to the budgeting structure. Lamarche has been involved in such community organizations as Broward Early Learning Coalition, Sun-Sentinel Diversity Venture Fund, Sex Advisory Committee, Junior League of Greater Fort Lauderdale, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Broward County and the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art.

Fort Lauderdale native, Reverend Hazel Mitchell Young is founder of the WWJD Youth Outreach Ministry which volunteers time to promote assistance within Broward County neighborhoods through caring campaigns geared to the upliftment of the community. Rev. Young has also founded such programs as a Double Dutch team that traveled around the country, working with Publix to provide bread pastries to local homeless shelters, and has also organized annual holiday dinners and toy drives for local shelters.

About Broward Healthy Start Coalition, Inc.:
Broward Healthy Start Coalition Inc. is proud to lead Broward County in fulfilling the mission of the Black Infant Health Practice Initiative (BIHPI) - “To eliminate health disparities in black infant deaths in Florida.” We are committed to illuminating this critical issue and bringing community members together to create a county-wide will for change. We intend to champion this effort for years to come, ensuring that we see a reduction in infant mortality rates and that the circumstances and outcomes for black babies are improved. The goal of Healthy Start is to reduce infant mortality, reduce the number of low birth weight babies and improve health and developmental outcomes. We are called to action and are prepared mobilize through providing messages, resources and services that promote prevention and intervention! Every baby deserves a Healthy Start!