DENVER — The Colorado Health Foundation is thrilled to announce Hillary Jorgensen as its 2024 Dr. Virgilio Licona Community Health Leadership Award recipient. The Colorado Health Foundation will present the award on Oct. 2, 2024, at an award reception held in Hillary’s honor.
Hillary, the co-executive director of the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, actively advances health equity, significantly contributing to positive systems-level and community-level change and fostering connections throughout Colorado. She brings both her lived experience and extraordinary legal skills to her work as she fulfills CCDC’s mission: “We advocate for social justice for Coloradans with all types of disabilities.”
Hillary has played a major role in the passage of legislation improving health care, economic justice and housing on both a statewide and local level. Her roots as a community organizer mean she consistently invites those directly impacted by policy into the rooms where decisions are made. She exemplifies CCDC’s motto: “Nothing About Us Without Us.”
During his lifetime, Dr. Virgilio Licona pushed barriers and created disruption to make room for positive change as he fought toward health equity. Hillary embodies this legacy by using her skills and ideas to fight for health equity, and bringing other marginalized perspectives to the forefront by working with other organizations and training volunteers who want to use their voices at the legislature and lead in their own communities. She believes deeply in shared power. By empowering others and using her own voice, Hillary pushes the boundaries of what lobbyists, advocates and leaders look and sound like in Colorado.
“Hillary is a relationship-builder,” says Karen McNeil-Miller, president and CEO of the Colorado Health Foundation. “And those relationships have made an indelible mark on disability justice in our state. We are honored to present Hillary with the Dr. Licona Award and excited to see the continued impact of her work.”
Learn more about the Dr. Licona Community Health Leadership Award.
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About The Colorado Health Foundation
The Colorado Health Foundation is a statewide philanthropic organization that champions the overall health and well-being of every Coloradan. By advocating for and investing in solutions and policies that drive health equity and racial justice, the Foundation collaborates with organizations and communities to break down systemic inequities that hinder health and prosperity. Learn more about Colorado Health Foundation on its website.