Community health promoters - moving towards a healthier community through health justice and community development

Proyecto Salud is an innovative and powerful program that has trained and mentored more than 75 members of the Latino community as “Promotores de Salud” in Wisconsin. Proyecto Salud's model is one of community development and capacity building and has been recognized by the Wisconsin Department of Minority Health Services as “Promising Practice”. In 2009 Proyecto Salud was also awarded the “Commissioner's Community Award of Excellence”. With an ecological approach to public health Proyecto Salud has successfully maintained the program voicing the strengths and needs of the underserved Latino community in WI. In this presentation the project director will present, in a participatory way, the journey of working with those amazing leaders who come from 7 different countries. She will also present Proyecto Salud's model of social and systemic change through meaningful partnerships and a robust team of well-trained promotores who have been not only increasing access to health care but also working to alleviate socio-economic determinants of health. She will also share the lessons learned and will reflect on the most important points on how to support the growth of community leaders despite of the oppression and undeserved conditions they live in. Together with the project director, the Promotores de Salud will share their experience of working with the community and how they are successfully engaging the community members in designing campaigns and shifting policies that have been obstacles to good health. For more information on Proyecto Salud please visit: http://proyectosalud.shutterfly.com/