Alcoa, Tenn. – Kristy Altman, the director of client service for Mary Beth West Communications, was elected to serve as chair-elect for the Community Health Council (CHC). After one year as chair-elect for the organization, she will serve one year as chair beginning in 2015.
“I am pleased to have the opportunity to work more closely with Kristy as my co-chair,” said Karen Pershing, current CHC Chair. “Kristy’s commitment to the health of our community is apparent in the time and expertise she brings to the council.”
CHC evolved out the Together! Healthy Knox initiative in May 2010, with 20 community partners and a mission to improve the community’s health through partnerships across the county. One of the things the committee has done is evaluate Knox County’s status in various areas compared with other cities to assess the community’s health overall. The group has developed an action plan to help make changes in in areas where the community’s health could be improved. The group defines health broadly to include physical, mental, spiritual and social.
“I believe that the Community Health Council is playing a key role in facilitating and engaging local businesses and organizations to create a healthy community,” said Altman. “Our work is far from done but we’ve already made great strides in mobilizing local community leaders to create and implement action plans relating to equity, partnerships, and policy. We are seeing great plans come together that will shape the future of our area.”
Altman was the Knox County Mayor’s appointee who joined the committee in 2013, and she is currently serving a three-year term. Prior to that, she was part of the leadership team for Together! Healthy Knox as the managing director for the Knoxville Track Club.
She was drawn to the serve with Together! Healthy Knox because the group followed the MAPP process (Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships), which is an effective method for community organizing. Altman realized that every business and organization in the community is part of the local public health system and that everyone can and should play a role in creating a healthier community.