Welfie's Year in Review: A Celebration of Achievements and Collaborations

Wow. What a year it was! Here is a quick look at 2023 along with a shoutout to just a small handful of the incredible people who have contributed to our success. And hats off to our own beloved Dr. Steven Moyo who inspires us every single day.?

?? Major Milestones and Achievements (most recent first)

• Finalist for Ragan Video Awards: Up against industry giants like 3M, with winners soon to be announced.
• Finalist for an Anthem Award by The Webby Awards: Awaiting the exciting announcement (up against Visa!).
• $250,000 Grant from NewSchools: Recognized for our innovative solutions in reimagining education.
• American Public Health Association Screening: Selected for screening at the APHA 2023 Meeting and Expo.
• Featured in Forbes, Newsweek, and EdTech Magazine.
• Finalist in Accenture’s HealthTech Innovation Challenge: In New York, July 2023.
• NXTSTAGE Community Health & Vibrancy Pilot Competition: A finalist, negotiating a paid pilot with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas.
• Finalist in MIC Medicaid Innovation Collaborative SDOH Showcase.
• Jumpstart Foundry Funding: Awarded funding plus an additional $100,000.
• Health Innovators Hub Grantee at ESSENCE Festival: Selected for this prestigious grant.
• Prime Health Innovation Competition Winner: In California, with $75,000 and a pilot opportunity.
• UCSF Adapt Challenge Winner: Gained $100,000 and a potential pilot program.
• Semi-Finalist at the San Diego Angel Conference: One of 13 chosen out of 106.
• GSV Elite 200 Selection: Semifinalists for the million-dollar cup.
• Telosity Mental Health Innovation Challenge Finalist.
• VOA Futures Fund Community Health Incubator Selection: Sponsored by the Humana Foundation and powered by Seed Spot.
• Alliance Health Foundation Million Dollar Prize Finalist.

?? Appreciating Our Team and Collaborators

• Partnerships and Friendships: Thank you to the wonderful Rachel Dixon, former CEO of Prime Health, and amazing Daniel Borck, also formerly of Prime Health,?Shawn Beals of Simens Medical Solutions, Karen Shimamoto and Ashley Heathfield of OeHI, Matt McMahon of NIH SEED, Kim Bimestefer of Colorado Governor's Cabinet, Stephen Konya of HHS, and David Aylward of Colorado University Department of Medicine, to Doug Roberts and Tiffany Law from IEI, to new friends Breny Aceituno, Brittany Hunsinger, Sebastian Montiel, Marcus Fisher, and Lisette Munoz from Public Strategies, to Uriel Berrum, John Boughey, and Andrea Gronberg from Scholar Lead, to Greg Bybee and Sonali Soi from Avela, to Dr. Maya Adam, Stanford School of Medicine, and to VOA Ventures Fund, especially Stephen Samuels, Robert Gibson, and Tiffany Gathers, along with SeedSpot’s Tristan Gandolfini and Jorge Mendez. ??
• Fellow Innovators: Shoutout to Tanoshi's Lisa Love, Co-CEO and Co-Founder, and Brad Johnston, Co-Founder & CEO; Beverly, Mica Le John Idoru, and Dr. Manju Dawkins from Thimble; to Jacob Geller and his lovely bride-to-be, Jacqueline, along with Joe and Maddy from Paper, to Mika Eddy and Daniela Bahamon from Hey Malama, Joi Chevalier and Amy Bell from Cooks Nook, Alicia Oliver and Melanie Richardson from My Training Grounds, Jonathan Kumar and Chris Sunfrom Samaritan, Kwame Terra and Brianna Simms from bEHR Health Systems, and Christine Lum Lung, from Origin Healthcare, Matt Giovanniello from Frenalytics (IEI Supes Choice Winner 2023), and ?Sari Hurme-Mehtala of Kide Science (STEM/STEAM Instructional Solution 2023 Supes Choice Award Winner (2023) -- you all rock! ?
• I'm inspired by school superintendents, school board members, consultants, and inspiring teachers and administrators I have met recently who are doing so much good for your children and the future of the world, including Dawn Baumgartner from Phoenix Elementary, Ana Maria Rojas of San Diego Charter School, James Patterson of Rochester City Schools, JP Balmat, Music director at SDUS, Katie Williams at Clark County School District, Shannon Dobson and LaTrayl Adams of Forsyth County Schools, Seneca Bing from Columbus City Schools, Arcelius Brickhouse from East Baton Rouge Parish School System, Ryan Imbriale from PowerSchool, Barby Castro, Jennifer Tull, and Marcus Jackson Jr. from San Deigo Southy County School Districts, Karen Martinez from Escuela Popular, Dawn McConnell from John Muir Charter school, Jared Bloom from Franklin Square School District, Quintin Shepherd from The Victoria Independent School District, PJ Caposey, who was the 2022 Illinois Superintendent of the Year, and, speaking of Superintendents of the Year, while I haven't met him yet, Dr. Adam Clark, CAAASA 2023 Superintendent of the Year, who is doing some of the BEST work in the country and is someone I learn from with every single social post and communication.
• Shout out to my friends in Edu communications and marketing, especially Eileen Belastock, Monica Burns, Daylene Long, Elana Leoni, Rachelle Dene Poth, and Sarah Williamson (SWPR), Alison Kosakowski Contant, Michael Smart, Susan Dosier, Leslie Farrell, and Anne Isenhower, all fine people who work to lift up others.
• Our Dedicated Team: Lakshmin Bangaru, Mike Erskine-Kellie, Nicole Trickett, Dr. Pamela Moyo, and more.
• Our Interns: Amelia Mullins, Harini Sridar, Nicholas Chua, Emily Hy, Mindy Tsai, and Rachel Parez.
• Advisors and Mentors: Jenna Bilinski, Alice Cahn, Dr. Ed Greene, Dr. Lisa Fazio, Dr. Abe. McDaniels, Eve Delfin from Oakland Unified, and Karla Armendariz from KIPP Socal, and thank you to Jolene Anderson, one of the busiest people I know, but she still finds time to keep us on her radar screen.

We’re excited about 2024, and looking forward to new projects with amazing schools, hospitals, and payors.

We are inspired by the work being done in San Diego by Rady Children's Hospital, especially by our friends Dr. Donald Kearns, Domonique Hensler, Elizabeth Rains, and Dr. Benjamin Maxwell, along with our friends at SDUSD, especially Aaron Pterson and Jason Babineau.

We are excited about all the great work happening at Julia Lee Performing Arts Academy and Tanya Lee Taylor's efforts to craft an extraordinary and healthy future for her students. And at Da Vinci Schools, who are embracing fresh ideas as they ready their students for college and careers.

We are working hard to bring our vision of health equity into the world. Thank you to everyone who's been a part of our incredible journey!

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