FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dr. Easterling brings extensive public health background and experience implementing programs
designed to eliminate health inequities and improve health outcomes to BCC Board
Brooklyn, NY (March 28, 2023) – Today, Brooklyn Communities Collaborative (BCC) – a non-profit focused on strengthening health and wealth in Brooklyn – announced the appointment of Dr. Torian Easterling to serve on the Board of Directors.
Dr. Easterling is currently the Senior Vice President of Population and Community Health and the Chief Strategic and Innovation Officer for One Brooklyn Health. He brings years of experience as a leader in healthcare and public health to BCC’s Board of Directors. Previously, he served as Chief Equity Officer at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
“We are thrilled to welcome Torian to Brooklyn Communities Collaborative. As we work to continue to grow BCC to meet the needs of Brooklynites, especially in communities made vulnerable by longstanding disinvestment, we need leaders who understand how to balance striving for excellence and equity. Torian has a proven record of doing both,” said BCC Executive Director Shari Suchoff.
Dr. Easterling’s addition to the board formalizes a long-standing relationship with BCC, both as an ally for health equity and an early collaborator on participatory action research (PAR), a research method championed by BCC that directly engages community members in every step of the research process.
“I am honored to join BCC’s Board of Directors, and I look forward to advancing health equity for all Brooklyn residents with the incredible team and partnerships they have built,” said Torian Easterling. “I have long admired BCC for its hands-on approach to strengthening health, wealth, and leadership in Brooklyn communities. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with communities and key stakeholders across this great city to maximize BCC’s efforts to ensure all Brooklynites live healthier lives.”
As the First Deputy Commissioner and Chief Equity Officer at the NYC Health Department, Dr. Easterling spearheaded efforts to address racial inequities during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure Black and Brown communities had vital access to tests and vaccines. He championed dismantling structural barriers and increasing institutional accountability in recognition of the transformative power it holds for residents, which aligns with BCC’s work to empower communities and driver better health outcomes.
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Brooklyn Communities Collaborative (BCC) is a not-for-profit based in New York that works with local institutions and stakeholders to address long standing health inequities in the borough. BCC was founded in 2019 with the goal of leveraging the financial power of anchor institutions and community resources to address the economic factors that improve the social determinants of health – whether it’s supporting housing stability, advancing economic empowerment, expanding care management services, or strengthening CBOs in the area. BCC builds upon years of collaborative efforts with anchor institutions and community partners in Brooklyn. Visit www. https://brooklyncommunities.org/ for more information.