✨ ¡Cerramos la semana con broche de oro! ✨ Más de 80 personas se reunieron para aprender sobre los peligros del fentanilo en un espacio lleno de comunidad, amor y compasión. Gracias a Ana María Severino y Nancy Contreras por su liderazgo como Promotoras de Salud y por abrirnos las puertas para compartir este importante mensaje. También agradecemos al pastor, la pastora y a toda la congregación por recibirnos con tanto cariño. Terminamos una semana de aprendizaje, colaboración y fortalecimiento de relaciones, reafirmando nuestro compromiso de educar, apoyar y construir comunidades más saludables y resilientes. ❤️ Gracias por la oportunidad de servir. ¡Esperamos volver a compartir con ustedes muy pronto! #PromotoresDeSalud #PrevenciónDelFentanilo #SaludPública #Comunidad #Juventud #VACHWA

Powerful discussion today with Maryland and Virginia Health Secretaries on the impact of HR1. One message was clear: Community Health Workers, Promotores de Salud, doulas, navigators, and trusted community leaders will be essential in helping families maintain access to healthcare and benefits during these changes. @VDHCommissioner @VDHgov @MDHealthDept This is a moment for collaboration, advocacy, and investment in community-based solutions that keep people connected to care. #CommunityHealthWorkers #PromotoresDeSalud #HealthEquity #Medicaid #PublicHealth #VACHWA

🚨 VACHWA CHW Rewards Program Update – Week of June 7, 2026 🚨 Have you submitted your points yet? There’s still time! 🎉 The VACHWA CHW Rewards Program is open to ALL Community Health Workers and Promotores de Salud. You do NOT have to be a member of VACHWA to participate—just be a CHW who is making a difference in your community. Earn points for activities such as: ✅ Attending meetings and trainings ✅ Participating in WhatsApp discussions ✅ Sharing resources and information ✅ Community outreach and events ✅ Social media engagement ✅ Recruiting and supporting fellow CHWs ✅ And much more! 🏆 Current Leaders for the Week of June 7, 2026 🥇 Narcisa – 74 Points 🥈 Jada – 56 Points 🥉 Jessica – 31 Points 🌟 Also on the leaderboard: • Lesly – 28 Points • Odette – 20 Points • Sergio – 4 Points • Gina – 4 Points • Maryam – 3 Points 🎁 Grand Prize Alert! The top participant will receive a FREE, all-expenses-paid trip to attend the Southeast Community Health Worker Network Annual Conference! This includes conference registration, travel, lodging, and related expenses. 📋 Submit your eligible activities and points here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F… Don’t wait—every point counts! Submit your activities, track your progress, and climb the leaderboard. 💜 Together we are strengthening the CHW and Promotores de Salud workforce one activity, one connection, and one community at a time. #VACHWA #CHWRewards #PromotoresDeSalud #CommunityHealthWorkers #LeadershipBoard #SoutheastCHWNetwork #CHWStrong #EarnPoints #PublicHealth

🎓 ¡Hoy es el día que tanto esperábamos! Felicitemos a nuestros graduados. 🎉👏🏽 Su esfuerzo, dedicación y perseverancia los han llevado hasta aquí. ¡Estamos muy orgullosos de ustedes! 🌟

In a few hours, I’ll have the honor of delivering my first commencement speech at the Edu-Futuro GED Graduation Ceremony. What makes this even more special is celebrating graduates who refused to give up on their dreams—including Promotores de Salud from Cohort 6 and a Doula from our community. As an immigrant and former adult learner myself, this moment is especially meaningful. Congratulations to the entire GED Class of 2025-2026. Your perseverance, resilience, and commitment to growth are inspiring. ¡Sí se puede! ¡Sí se pudo! 🎓❤️ #EduFuturo #GEDGraduation #PromotoresDeSalud #AdultLearners #LatinoSuccess #CommunityLeadership

Phew! 😅 What a busy and rewarding weekend at VACHWA! We kicked things off by celebrating one of our CHW Alumni, @Lucero RVA Latinas, at the vibrant “¿Qué Pasa?” Festival. What a proud moment to see community leadership in action! 🎉 On Sunday, our Doula Training Program Cohort 2 completed their final site tours at VCU Health and Premier Birth Center of Chantilly. A huge thank you to Jaliah, Cierra, and Dr. DeRocco for providing such meaningful learning experiences. We are incredibly proud of our doulas and look forward to celebrating their graduation on June 26, 2026—stay tuned for details! 👩‍🎓 At the same time, Jackie Murrell was representing VACHWA at Fifth Street Baptist Church, celebrating Mental Health Awareness and connecting with community members. A special thank you to our amazing team—Nataki, Jackie Green August, Odette, Stephanie, and many others—whose hard work made it all possible. We are also deeply grateful to our funders, especially the Potomac Health Foundation, for investing in this important work. Weekends like this remind us that community, partnership, and service are at the heart of everything we do. 💙 #VACHWA #PromotoresDeSalud #VirginiaDoulas #BirthEquity #MentalHealthAwareness #CommunityStrong

Exciting things are happening in maternal health! Channel 13 News recently interviewed Community Health Workers (CHWs), doulas, and a midwife to highlight the power of collaboration in supporting healthy pregnancies, positive birth outcomes, and stronger families. By working together, these professionals are helping to bridge gaps in care, provide culturally responsive support, and ensure that families receive the resources they need throughout their maternal health journey. We are proud to see this important work receiving recognition and helping to raise awareness about the vital role CHWs, doulas, and midwives play in our communities. Don’t miss this inspiring story—be sure to follow Channel 13 News for updates and coverage of this groundbreaking maternal health collaboration. I’ll leave you with some of the pictures from the interview and behind-the-scenes moments! #MaternalHealth #CommunityHealthWorkers #CHWs #PromotoresDeSalud #Doulas #Midwives #BirthEquity #HealthEquity #CommunityCare #Virginia

BIG NEWS! 🌟 We’re officially crossing state lines. VACHWA is now an accredited CHW training entity in Maryland! 🎊 We are beyond stoked to be entrusted to support the professional growth of frontline workers. More to come! MD, Thank You ! 🙏🏾✨ #Thankful #Grateful

🚨 VACHWA CHW REWARDS PROGRAM 🚨 Virginia CHWs — this is YOUR moment! 🌟 🎯 STEP 1: SIGN UP! 👉 docs.google.com/forms/d/1UFS… Want a chance to attend the Southeast CHW Network Conference in South Carolina? 🌴 🎉 3 winners will receive: ✅ Transportation ✅ Conference Registration ✅ Hotel Stay (travel meals included) After signing up, earn points by: ✔ Attending meetings ✔ Engaging in WhatsApp ✔ Following us on social media ✔ Inviting new CHWs ✔ Staying active ⭐ Every action earns POINTS! 🔥 SIGN UP NOW and start collecting points TODAY! #VACHWA #CHWStrong #VirginiaCHWs #SECHWN

Today we honor the heroes who gave everything. Their legacy of service fuels our commitment to care for every neighbor. Wishing you a peaceful and reflective Memorial Day. E #MemorialDay

Every doula has a story. 💜 And every story begins with care. Some of us were called into this work through our own birth experiences. Others through advocacy, motherhood, massage therapy, public health, yoga, or simply being “the friend” everyone asked to be in the delivery room. One doula shared: > “My own birth ignited it. I wanted to be there for women in the way I wish someone had been there for me.” Another reflected: > “I didn’t even know what a doula was. I thought I was just helping my friends. Then I realized… I’ve been doing this work all along.” For some, the journey began in childhood. > “My mother was a midwife in Costa Rica. We traveled to indigenous communities where women walked hours to reach care. I learned early that birth work is about companionship, education, and serving the community.” Others entered this work after seeing how mothers were treated. > “I interviewed mothers during my undergraduate research, and I realized mothers are the heart of strong communities. But they weren’t receiving the same care they gave to everyone else.” One doula described how her work evolved from massage therapy into birth and postpartum support: > “Postpartum doula work became my transition out of corporate America and into purpose.” And through every story, one truth remained constant: ✨ Doulas show up. ✨ Doulas advocate. ✨ Doulas nurture. ✨ Doulas create spaces where mothers feel seen, heard, and supported. This work is personal. This work is cultural. This work is community. Thank you to the incredible doulas who continue to pour love, wisdom, advocacy, and healing into families every single day. 💐 #DoulaStories #BirthJustice #MaternalHealth #CommunityCare #BlackMaternalHealth #LatinaMaternalHealth #BirthWorkers #DoulaLife #HealingCommunities #CHWandDoula

I see you, rural healers. ✨ The VA Rural Health Transformation Grant Webinar is this June! 🏥🌳 We're signed up: are you? Learn how new funding transforms your community. Don't miss: ✅ Funding insights ✅ Community growth ✅ Application steps #RuralHealth

Happy Mother’s Day ❤️

📱 Did You Know? The justice-impacted community is transitioning to tablet-based communication for staying connected with loved ones. Rollout: Feb–June 2026. Share these resources to stay informed and prepared. 💙 #JusticeImpacted #CommunitySupport #CHW #VACHWA

In commemoration of Mental Health Awareness Month, staying connected is vital for wellbeing. 🌟 CSBs are reimagining strategies to focus on community care (the 80/20 rule) where people live & work. 🏠 CHWs bridge the gap to ensure access for all. ✨ #CommunityCare #VACHWA

What a phenomenal conference! ✨ We learned, we shared, and we created new memories and friendships. Most importantly, we leave energized and committed to changing systems — systems that improve wellness, expand access, and advance equity for our communities. Real change happens when the programs and systems we invest in help close gaps and remove barriers that prevent communities from thriving. That’s the work. That’s the mission. 💜 The Virginia Community Health Worker Association (VACHWA) was honored to be part of this year’s Virginia Funders Network conference, and we are deeply grateful for the many allies and partners who recognized and uplifted our work. Community Health Workers matter, and together we are building healthier, stronger communities. 📸 Check out the photos and relive the moments with us! #VACHWA #CommunityHealthWorkers #HealthEquity #VirginiaFundersNetwork #CommunityPower #EquityInAction #PublicHealth #CHWLeadership #SystemsChange

Stronger Together. 🤝✨ Honored to be a plenary speaker at the @VAFundersNetwork conference! Sharing space with visionaries to drive system change across Virginia. We see the vision. We build the future. ✊🏾 #VAFundersNetwork #VACHWA #SystemChange #Virginia

On the move and in community 💫 Spending the day traveling from Northern Virginia, partnering with Dreamers Mothers in Action (DMIA)—the MIA—and deepening lifesaving skills in CPR, First Aid, and AED training alongside some truly amazing Promotoras de Salud. Now heading into the Eastern region as we prepare for the Virginia Funders Network conference—grounded, grateful, and excited for what’s ahead. Building relationships, strengthening skills, and showing up for community every step of the way. “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” — Helen Keller Thank you 💛

Happy Freedom Friday! 🕊️ We’re kicking off Mental Health Awareness Month. Theme: See the Person. Support the Journey. CHWs, you are the bridge to healing. We see you. We value you. Because YOU matter. 🤍 #VACHWA #CHW #MentalHealthAwareness #FreedomFriday

This evening I had the honor to present an award in memory of Allison and to meet her beautiful family. This moment was bigger than one person—the entire LMR Class of 2025 stood in solidarity to uplift her legacy. Grateful for my classmates for leading this effort together. Allison, your light lives on through all of us. Rest in power—we will carry it forward. ✨