In the Headlines

May 11, 2026 - Phyllis Jackson, community wellness project manager for Common Ground Health/FLPPS/RHIO, said, “The biggest part is we feel useless, like we don’t have much value. When you feel like that, you will isolate.”

May 8, 2026 - “We want neighborhoods where kids feel safe to play and adults feel safe to walk. We need communities where people can move around freely and feel secure doing it," said Erick Stephens parent engagement specialist for Common Ground Health/FLPPS/RHIO.

April 21, 2026 - Candice Williams, a mother of three and the Food Policy Coordinator for Common Ground Health/FLPPS/Rochester RHIO — shares a story that illustrates how racial disparities in maternal care affect real families and how many Black mothers continue to face barriers to the care they need.

April 21, 2026 - Phyllis Jackson, RN, community wellness project manager for Common Ground Health/FLPPS/Rochester RHIO emphasized that people in underserved neighborhoods aren’t neglecting their health needs — the real issue is that the healthcare system often isn’t structured around the realities of their daily lives.

April 21, 2026 - “We want kids to feel like they can bike to school or walk to the playground, and we want parents to feel safe," said Mike Bulger, director of whole child health advocacy for Common Ground Health/FLPPS/Rochester RHIO as he addressed parents’ unease about letting their children walk or bike in their neighborhoods.

April 17, 2026 - Common Ground Health joined local community organizations for the “Thriving Communities Fair," a free event connecting community members with local health and supportive services.

April 17, 2026 - Dina Faticone, chief program officer at Common Ground Health–FLPPS–Rochester RHIO, collaborates with maternal and child health organizations across the region to identify best practices and develop actionable interventions.

April 17, 2026 - Common Ground Health participated in the Thriving Communities event, a free, family‑friendly gathering that helped residents connect with local resources and receive complimentary grocery gift cards.

April 17, 2026 - "The consequences of removing social-emotional supports for students who are experiencing significant challenges to their mental health would be devastating," said Melanie Funchess, director of mental health and wellness at Common Ground Health.

March 21, 2026 - The conference was curated by the Rochester Urban Agriculture Working Group with the help of Wegmans, the Rochester Food Policy Council (a joint initiative of Common Ground Health, Foodlink, and the City of Rochester), Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Taproot Collective, and the Monroe County Soil and Water Conservation District.

March 21, 2026 - Phyllis Jackson, RN, community wellness project manager at Common Ground Health will speak on clinical trial equity, participation barriers, and inclusive research.

March 17, 2026 - "When individuals have health literacy, they can ask informed questions, seek necessary information, and make educated decisions," said Phyllis Jackson, RN, community wellness project manager at Common Ground Health.