Latest Common Ground Newsletter

October 2025 Newsletter

Local leaders and community members give input on Medicaid recipients' most pressing health needs

To improve health outcomes for Medicaid recipients, more than a hundred regional leaders discussed the most pressing health-related social needs Sept. 9 in Geneva.

Participants prioritized such conditions as diabetes and heart disease and such health-related needs as housing, transportation and food access.

The work was part of a regional convening for the 1115 Medicaid waiver led by the United Hospital Fund, a nonprofit that advances population health by ensuring that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to live a healthy life.

Learn more about United Hospital Fund's role with the waiver.

Older adults who have helped promote healthier living in Rochester were honored by the Senior Adult Community Engagement (SACE) program and the City of Rochester. Marie Brown, Bertha Brinkley-Clancy, Ariel Davis and Toni Upshaw received the Martha Hope BIPOC award for their contributions to the community. The event marked Black and Brown Senior Adult Appreciation Month, recognizing the wisdom, leadership, and contributions of senior adults of color who strengthen and shape our community. Learn more.

Read the new NYS Association for Rural Health Aging report

At its Annual Meeting on Sept. 17–18 at the Lakefront Hotel in Geneva, the New York State Association for Rural Health hosted Ann Marie Cook, CEO of Lifespan, and Melissa Wendland, director of Strategic Initiatives, for a timely discussion on advancing policy opportunities for older adults, building on key recommendations from the recently released NYS Master Plan for Aging.

“Our rural communities are resilient, but they need support,” said Wendland, a NYSARH Board Member and report co-author. “With this report, we’re offering not only a diagnosis of the challenges but a vision for what is possible when we work together to advocate for the health and dignity of rural seniors.”

Read the report.

Women of color shared, inspired and performed

It was 6:15 p.m., and A Call to Women of Color was technically over, but the women line dancing to the directions of Divine Line Dance and Fitness weren't slowing down.

The annual event focuses on empowering women and girls of color to engage in conversation and promote healthy living among women. The event took place Sept. 13 at the Roundhouse Pavilion at Genesee Valley Park, Rochester.

“During this event, women of many generations come together to receive the power, unity and healing that comes from sharing experiences and wisdom,” said Jackie Dozier, director of Community Health and Well-being for Common Ground Health.

Read how we are eliminating bias in our data work

Common Ground Health is on a journey to embed data equity principles into our research and analytic processes to ensure that our work is inclusive, equitable, and minimizes potential biases.

Potential for bias exists at every stage of research and analytic processes. To mitigate biases in our work, staff participate in data equity training utilizing an approach developed by Heather Krause at We All Count. We actively integrate and adapt these principles to fit the work we do.

Find out how we have developed these data equity principles.

Help build a playground on Friday

Help Healthi Kids, KABOOM!, the City of Rochester and other partners build a new playground! The build day will take place from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 3 at the Ryan R-Center.

This playground build is the first build of Rochester's 25 in 5 years partnership with KABOOM! To help, sign up at healthikids.org/build25. Families can begin playing on the playground on Monday, Oct. 6.

Learn more.

Save the date: Hair and Health Symposium, Oct. 12

Dr. Janice Cheong, a gastroenterologist, and Wade Norwood, co-CEO of Common Ground Health, will be the featured speakers for the 2025 Hair and Health Symposium. The event will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at the Stardust Ballroom at the Edgerton R-Center, 41 Backus Street in Rochester.

Dr. Cheong will talk about the importance of colorectal cancer screening, and hepatology and liver health. The theme is Black Royalty: Your Hair is Your Crown. The event is free to attend and includes dinner. Learn more.