May: Celebrating Mother’s EveryDay, AAPI Heritage Month, and more!

Throughout May, we had the privilege of starting big conversations across our social channels. NYC moms and proud members of the City’s AAPI communities made their voices heard.

From our Mother’s EveryDay initiative to AAPI Heritage Month celebrations, ?our team accomplished a lot. Here’s the highlight reel:

Mother's EveryDay

What does it take to be a mom in today’s world? Our team wanted to find out.

We asked 1,000+ people in NYC and across the U.S. about caretaking and maternal health. The results showed some surprising gaps in awareness and access to care. This study’s findings underscored big differences in preparedness for the mental health challenges that come with parenthood. There also continues to be less awareness about the increased rates of maternal mortality for Black pregnant people in NYC and beyond.

All of our major findings from this study can be found in our 2023 MetroPlusHealth Motherhood Report, which was featured in Crain's New York Business . You can read their coverage here.?

Want to read the entire report yourself? Check it out for free here.?

To address these findings, our team decided to take an entirely new approach to Mother’s Day. Our study showed that moms and pregnant people need support beyond just one day in May. That’s why we created an entire resource hub featuring articles, interviews, and exclusive insights from NYC moms, health experts, and content creators.?

Our Mother’s EveryDay initiative is all about empowering caretakers who face unique challenges in the City we support.?

You can view it all on our Mother's EveryDay landing page here.

AAPI Heritage Month

May is also Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. To celebrate, our team got together to discuss their personal experiences as members of this vibrant community.

In almost every chat we had with team members, one connection came up again and again: food and family. Across cultures and backgrounds, this link is a way for parents, children, and extended family to express joy and compassion. The power of opening up is also more important than ever. Total health isn't just about the body. It's about the mind, too!

A huge thank you to Dennis,?Paula,?Harlan,?Estelita,?Brindha, Dr.?Shah,?Carlos, and?Luna?for opening up and sharing their perspectives all May long! Below is a video showing some of their stories. Make sure to check out the individual videos for more insights!

On a more serious note, AAPI Heritage Month is also a time to reflect on important issues members within this community face. Did you know suicide was?recently cited as the?leading cause of death for AAPI people aged 15-24? Asian American girls are also 20% more likely to attempt suicide compared to their white peers. These concerning statistics cannot live in the shadows. They must be addressed head-on.

To raise awareness, our very own Luna Liu teamed up with Jo-Ann Yoo, the Executive Director of the Asian American Federation, to discuss this critical topic. Although mental health awareness has grown in the AAPI community, there is still work to do.?

Read their piece in the Gotham Gazette to learn more:?https://bit.ly/3MOSOp1

Employee of the Month

Congratulations to our April Employee of The Month,?Sasskia Jara! As a Purchase Requisition Analyst, she has a unique perspective on the work we do at MetroPlusHealth. Every day, she has the chance to collaborate with each department within our organization. Her knowledge of health care and how it translates to our internal needs is invaluable. We are beyond lucky to have such a dedicated, thoughtful person on our team!

Learn more about her career at MetroPlusHealth and her dedication to serving NYC in this video:

Five Borough Bike Tour

Did you know the TD Five Boro Bike Tour is the world’s largest charitable bike ride? Every year, tens of thousands of cyclists pedal together to raise money for a great cause. This year, we joined in on the fun.

Nine MetroPlusHealth team members banded together for this 40-mile tour of NYC. A huge thank you to our team captain, Steven Mitchell, for leading the charge. This was an unforgettable opportunity to connect with the City and each other.?

More Events, Press, and Celebrations

• Our Chief Medical Officer?Sanjiv S. Shah, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, sat down with?Crain's New York Business?to discuss what total health means in today’s world. Check out the full interview to learn more about Dr. Shah’s thoughts on the future of care, our groundbreaking ILS-MTM program, and more:?https://bit.ly/3Bu0ypU
• Congratulations to our Bronx Associate Director of Sales,?Rasheeda Petersen, for being honored as one of the Power Women of the Bronx by?Schneps Media! Every day, she fosters truly collaborative relationships within NYC communities and helps New Yorkers access quality health care for little to no cost.?
• Speaking of awards, Schneps Media also honored our very own, Dr. Julie Meyers, for her impactful H.I.V. prevention services and?Brindha Sridhar for her transformative customer impact, strategy, and culture. So proud of our talented team!

What does June have in store?

NYC is officially heading into summer. We’re ready to bring the heat!

• Pride Month: Pride is a true part of our City's history and future. Throughout June, we will be celebrating with events, helpful resources, and collaborations with LGBTQIA+ community leaders and artists. Stay tuned for exclusive content!
• Festival Season: From the 116th Street Festival to Governor’s Ball, NYC’s festival season is about to be in full swing—and we are ready! If you’re coming to the National Puerto Rican Day parade this year, look for our COMIDA, CULTURA Y AMIGOS float celebrating TRAILBLAZER HONOREES. Want to get involved? Take a look at our Instagram to see how you can be a part of this special day!

Let’s keep in touch. Follow us to stay in the know about all things NYC and MetroPlusHealth:

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