Volume 158, No. 154 covering the 2nd Session of the 112th Congress (2011 - 2012) was published by the Congressional Record.
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“RECOGNIZING MR. WADE NORWOOD OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, WINNER OF THE ``ROCK IN THE POND'' AWARD” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1867 on Dec. 4, 2012.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
RECOGNIZING MR. WADE NORWOOD OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, WINNER OF THE
``ROCK IN THE POND'' AWARD
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HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER
of new york
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, it is my esteemed honor to recognize Mr. Wade Norwood of the Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency (FLHSA) in Rochester, New York, who was today awarded the ``Rock in the Pond'' Unsung Heroes of Public Health Award by the Campaign for Public Health. I am immensely proud of Wade and the work that he and the FLHSA do for the citizens of Rochester.
Wade has dedicated his life to ensuring long-term community change for today's families and future generations. When it comes to public health, he is a true ``rock in the pond''--advocating for the betterment of our community, with a keen interest for the underserved and the most vulnerable. He gives a voice to those who do not have one, and advocates health care equity for all, whether in his role as Director of Community Engagement at the FLHSA, as Pastor of the Holy Jerusalem Spiritual Church in Rochester, NY, or as a member of the New York State Board of Regents.
At FLHSA, Wade plays a crucial role in convening programs that improve public health, such as the local Partnership for the Uninsured, the Rochester Area Task Force on AIDS, the Coalition to Prevent Lead Poisoning, the African-American Health Coalition and the Latino Health Coalition, and Healthi Kids, among others. He has been the face and voice of statewide health care improvement as he has led the FLHSA's effort to reduce health disparities, helping to shape the Agency's community engagement efforts and providing leadership to issues that have a tremendous impact on the health of the city of Rochester and the Finger Lakes region. He heads up a program called Healthi Kids, which advocates for policy changes that prevent childhood obesity, and which has resulted in returning recess into Rochester City School District
(RCSD) elementary schools and working with the RCSD to provide healthier, more nutritional and culturally relevant meals during the school year and summer camps. As a result, approximately 30,000 children and youth receive healthier school meals daily.
Wade also convenes the Coalition to Prevent Lead Poisoning in Rochester, an education and advocacy organization composed of nearly 100 individuals and community organizations dedicated to eliminating childhood lead poisoning in Monroe County. The program received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Environmental Justice Achievement Award for its leadership in community-based efforts to prevent childhood lead poisoning. It has influenced major lead-related public policy changes, including a local lead ordinance requiring inspections for lead paint hazards.
Under Wade's leadership, the High Blood Pressure Collaborative aims to reduce the incidence of hypertension and its devastating effects
(heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke) through a collaborative approach and community engagement. The program includes working with employers to establish worksite wellness initiatives, collaborating with faith and community based organizations in inner city neighborhoods where residents find barriers in accessing care, and working with health providers to improve their practices' control rate of high blood pressure. In 2012 alone, the Collaborative provided over 7,000 face-to-face blood pressure readings and consultations, and another 6,000 with kiosks strategically located in public facilities, such as libraries.
Wade has expanded the roles of the Health Disparities/African American and Latino Health Coalitions to ensure there is a community table that is truly representative, and that all voices are heard. Wade and the members of the coalitions address diseases of deep impact to minorities, which include metabolic syndrome and high blood pressure. This effort included engaging 19 churches--including his own--with a membership in excess of 5,000 minority congregants, to engage in screening and health literacy programs.
Wade also led the Partnership on the Uninsured in its evaluation of insurance coverage barriers, defining community-wide strategies to address these barriers, and implementing a strategic approach to diminishing the number of those without health insurance.
Whether it is through his extensive work with FLHSA, on volunteer boards, in his parish, or in the many civic roles he holds, Wade embodies the ``Rock in the Pond'' award he has received. He makes a difference in the health and well-being of all in our community. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. Wade Norwood for his commitment, his selflessness, and his passion to improve the health and lives of all those around him.
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