By Sylvia Powers
Correspondent
Texas Metro News
Charlton Medical Center, emphasized the
vital role of community while serving on a
health disparities panel at the AALI Fall
Policy Summit.
The African American Leadership Institute (AALI) Summit convened its ninth annual gathering, bringing together government officials, community leaders, and healthcare advocates to address pressing issues such as housing, criminal justice, mental health, and health disparities.
The summit continues to serve as a vital platform for dialogue and collaboration on matters that directly impact communities of color.
Housing as a Driver of Health
“Housing is such an important upstream driver of health issues. We are very excited to be part of this collaboration,” said Jean Drummond of Healthcare Dynamics International. “AALI is supporting and amplifying the voices of community members, policy leaders, and community-based organizations so that together, we can address issues people may not even be aware of or have a level of housing literacy to navigate. That’s how we can truly improve population health in the city and the county.”
Jobs, Culture, and Survival
Former TexasState Representative Carl O. Sherman emphasized the urgency of intentional collaboration.
“In the first six months of this year, 350,000 Black women have lost their jobs. This administration has been intentional about going after Black, Brown, and people of color. We have to be intentional about gathering,” Sherman said.
He added that preserving culture and creating space to gather is not only a celebration but also a form of survival. “Sometimes we gather because of tragedy—candlelight vigils or similar moments. But AALI provides a consistent annual opportunity to come together, which is vital.”
Health at the Core
The summit opened with a one-day health seminar, including screenings sponsored by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Texas. Health disparities, particularly mental health, were a key theme of AALI this year.
“While people always focus on healthy eating and working out, there’s another component your body responds to as well—stress,” said Michael Stewart, President of Methodist Charlton Medical Center, who participated in a panel discussion on healthcare disparities.
Stewart underscored how the loss of community traditions has taken a toll on minority health.
“Think about how important family reunions were and how neighborhoods helped raise children. When you look back, those generations lived long lives without the healthcare advancements we have today. Community engagement was a major part of their wellness plan.”
Building Coalitions for Change
Policy makers stressed the importance of collective action, particularly given current political challenges.
“Most of the people in attendance are my constituents, so we invited leaders from economic development, education, government, and human services to sit down and talk about the issues,” said State Senator Royce West.
He emphasized that AALI provides an essential forum for questions, answers, and accountability.
“We’re getting better every year. The last legislative session didn’t bring us a lot of wins—in fact, we had losses. But we are resilient,” State Senator West said.
State Senator West concluded with a call for coalition-building and a sense of unity between policymakers and the community.
climate, the work of AALI is more important than ever.
“We’ve got to stop just talking about it and start developing a coalition with other ethnic groups who share our interests. Everyone has a right to a seat at the table. We must maintain our seat and ensure we have people working together to achieve the things that matter most to our community—and to other communities as well,” said West.
Sylvia Powers is an award winning author, accomplished writer, gifted photographer, and nationally recog-nized breast cancer advocate with a deep passion for empowering others.
