Blues Plans Collaborate to Host Community and Youth Leadership Forum
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst), Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota recently collaborated to host a Community and Youth Leadership Forum in partnership at our Washington, D.C. headquarters. The event brought together students from Chicago and the National Capital Area to network with accomplished business and industry leaders through interactive discussions to better understand the education and career opportunities available to them.
As one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit healthcare organizations, CareFirst seeks innovative ways to advance affordable, accessible and equitable healthcare for over 3.5 million people. We strive to go beyond the traditional confines of what a health plan does because the health of communities is not limited to clinical settings. Education and access to careers are huge pieces to the overall health of a community and were the foundational elements of this collaborative event with our peer Blue Plans from Illinois and Minnesota. Integral to the success of the event were organizations HCDInternational (HCDI), a Washington, D.C. based organization specializing innovative, patient centered strategies that increase quality of care and reducing costs, and Project sWISH, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization that empowers inner city youth and young adults to reach their full potentials in their personal and professional lives.
Kimberly Harris, Director of Community Health and Social Impact at CareFirst, kicked off the program and welcomed students and business professionals to the event. Kimberly discussed the importance of collaboration and how young adults can create the future they want. Jean Drummond from HCDI, echoed her thoughts, “There is something out there amazing for you to do. We are here saying we believe in you, and we need to take you to the next level.”
“Young people are the catalyst for change. There is power in this room. There is not a room you shouldn’t be in. Never doubt and never wonder, the answer is always yes. Be the leaders that we know you all already are.”
Lester Davis, Vice President and Chief of Staff, CareFirst
“I was fortunate because I had people who encouraged me to see the opportunity out there that I never even imagined. There is limitless potential. If you can imagine a career or future, I promise that you can find it.”
Brian D. Pieninck, President and CEO, CareFirst
Throughout the course of the event, students gained insights on various educational and career choices available to them, interacted with executives from the healthcare ecosystem and engages in authentic conversations with mentors and each other. Students were encouraged to connect with each other to discuss how overall well-being is impacted by various factors including mental, physical health and environments, and resources they can use to address this. Business leaders joined an interactive panel, where they shared their personal path to professional success, strategies to overcome adversities and ways to develop meaningful careers that contribute back to the community.
Panelists included:
- Charity Blackwell, Chief of Culture and Arts at DC SCORES and Director of Poetry Events at Busboys and Poets
- Sidney A. Butcher, Associate Judge, District Court of Maryland, District 7, Anne Arundel County
- Lester Davis, Vice President and Chief of Staff at CareFirst
- Tiffany Davis, Executive Director of Quality Improvement and Health Equity at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois
- Bukata Hayes, Vice President of Racial and Health Equity, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
- Bernard Jackson, President and CEO, Leading Edge Solutions, LLC
During the panel, speakers discussed their personal journeys and how they got to the position they hold, with emphasis that their paths were not linear, and many did not imagine their current realities when they were young adults. They discussed obstacles they faced and how they overcame them, mindsets they adopted at a young age, the importance of mentorship and how they’re brining their expertise back to their communities to create more opportunities for others like them.
“Curiosity led me to this point right now. I was curious about something connected to my work, I got involved, learned a little bit. Through curiosity, it opens up other doors and lead me to where I am now.”
Bukata Hayes, Vice President of Racial and Health Equity, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota
“Adversity at the time feels bad. But, adversity makes you better because you have to overcome it and you come out on the other side of it a better person. Don’t be afraid to fail. Failing is just a learning opportunity. You’re at a young point in your life and the world is ahead of you. Don’t let anyone stop you from having a dream and trying to accomplish it.”
Dr. Bernard Jackson, President and CEO, Leading Edge Solutions, LLC
“Just because it doesn’t exist does not mean it’s not possible. There is something called trailblazing – be a leader and a visionary. Just because you don’t see something now doesn’t mean you can’t be the first one of what you are, can be and should be.”
Charity Blackwell, Chief of Culture and Arts at DC SCORES and Director of Poetry Events at Busboys and Poets
By fostering meaningful dialogues and connections, our organizations aim to equip these young leaders with the knowledge, resources, and inspiration needed to navigate their educational and professional journeys with confidence and resilience. Together, we are shaping a brighter future for our communities by investing in the development and empowerment of our youth.
Read more about CareFirst’s commitment to the community, Blue Cross Blue Sheild of Illinois, Blue Cross Blue Sheild of Minnesota, Project sWISH and HCDInternational
