Organization History

The Elder Health Care Disparities Coalition (Elder Coalition) is a continuation of the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (R.E.A.C.H), which was established in 2002 with a grant from the Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For five years, REACH operated as a program of the Boston Public Health Commission. In September 2007, when the CDC grant ended, Elder Coalition founders concerned about the disproportionately high mortality rates of people of color in Boston’s inner-core communities, lead them to collaborate with the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts. Using this affiliation with the Urban League, the Elder Health Care Disparities Coalition was launched. During the first year of operation, the Elder Coalition applied for and received funding from the Grimes-King Foundation to continue our monthly Health Forums and discussions on important health issues. In May 2008, the Elder Coalition held its first Health Forum at Twelfth Baptist Church, which through member gifts and continued funding from Grimes-King Foundation, enabled the organization to sustain and expand its services. In 2011, the Elder Health Care Disparities Coalition (Elder Coalition) became an independent, IRS, Type I. 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Coalition delivers culturally competent, prevention-focused health education services annually to approximately 200 predominately African American and Afro-Caribbean seniors. As of July 2012, the Elder Coalition secured an office through the Black Ministerial Alliance