BOSTON, MA – October 11, 2024
Link Health, in strategic partnership with TEK Collaborative and NeighborHealth, is thrilled to to announce the 2nd Annual Enroll Boston campaign. This citywide initiative, set to take place on Friday, October 11th, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, marks a significant step towards Digital Inclusion Week, aiming to connect Boston residents with crucial public benefits that address social determinants of health.
ER physician and Link Health Founder, Dr. Alister Martin, underscores the significance of this partnership, stating, “This collaboration with TEK Collaborative for the Enroll Boston campaign is a powerful step towards bridging healthcare and digital access in our community. Together, we are setting a foundation for sustainable health equity and connectivity.”
Enroll Boston will focus on facilitating access to essential services such as affordable internet, energy assistance, and nutrition support. Spearheaded by undergraduate and medical students from various Boston universities, who will operate out of Link Health’s partnering health centers and additional high-traffic community locations, including streets and subway stops.
The primary goal of Enroll Boston is to expand access to federal benefits, thereby addressing the digital divide that persists in urban settings. This initiative underscores the importance of community involvement and civic engagement, with support from local city officials.
“What we see in our patients is that access to the Internet, just like access to healthy food and safe housing, can have a significant impact on one’s health,” said Donetta Barros, Senior Director, Neighbor Health South End.
“At TEK Collaborative, our mission is to promote digital equity and work to close the digital divide by providing internet enabled devices to anyone in need at no cost. We believe in the transformative power of technology to bridge the gaps in our society. Partnering with Link Health for the Enroll Boston campaign aligns perfectly with our mission to provide underserved communities with the tools they need to thrive in the digital age. By distributing free computers, we are not just closing the digital divide but are actively fostering a more inclusive future where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.” Jeff Williams, TEK Collaborative Founder.
For more details about this initiative and its impact on communities, please visit https://link-health.org/ or contact arsheill@ahealthierdemocracy.org.
This campaign not only aims to provide immediate benefits but also to foster long-term civic engagement and community health improvement.
About Link Health:
Founded by ER physician and Harvard Assistant Professor, Dr. Alister Martin, as a branch of the non-profit incubator A Healthier Democracy, Link Health leverages healthcare resources to connect patients to over $80 billion in unclaimed federal aid. Link Health epitomizes the commitment to fostering health equity and civic participation, and its groundbreaking contributions have been featured at the Aspen Institute, The Boston Globe, Houston’s KPRC, and the New England Journal of Medicine.
About TEK Collaborative:
TEK Collaborative is a dedicated nonprofit organization committed to reducing the digital divide by providing technology to underserved communities. Their core mission is to ensure equitable digital access, which is fundamental in today’s increasingly connected world. TEK Collaborative’s active participation in Enroll Boston is a pivotal element of the campaign, significantly enhancing its impact by ensuring that the technology necessary for digital inclusion is directly in the hands of those who need it most, thereby actively bridging the gap in digital access within the community.
About NeighborHealth:
NeighborHealth, formerly East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, is one of the nation’s largest Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and the largest community-based primary care health system in Massachusetts, serving over 120,000 people and recognized by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as a National Quality Leader. For more than 50 years, NeighborHealth has offered access to comprehensive primary care, specialty care and emergency care for patients in the Commonwealth. In a first-of-its-kind merger in 2020, East Boston Neighborhood Health Center joined forces with the South End Community Health Center and expanded services to patients who live and work in Boston’s South End and Roxbury neighborhoods. NeighborHealth champions innovative care models to actively bridge health equity gaps in our low-income and immigrant communities with services unique from other healthcare providers in our state.