LEWISTON — Healthy Androscoggin presented its 2017 Coalition Awards at its recent annual meeting at the Auburn Public Library. The Leadership and Partnership awards recognize exemplary individuals or organizations who are working to improve the health of the local and regional community.

The Leadership Award is granted to an individual who had exemplified superior leadership in their work in the community and for their diligence and altruism in improving public health and promoting the ideals of Healthy Androscoggin. The award was presented to Kathy Durgin-Leighton, executive director of the YWCA of Central Maine.

“Under Kathy’s leadership, the YWCA of Central Maine has become a site of community transformation in Lewiston-Auburn,” Healthy Androscoggin’s Executive Director Erin Guay explained.

“Kathy has been a tireless worker in the pursuit of helping to create a safe, supportive community for women of all cultures and races. She has provided support and resources to develop and implement a single-gender swim program as well as a single-gender walking program to promote health and wellness where women, especially Muslim, can feel comfortable and welcomed,” Guay said.

The Partnership Award recognizes an individual or organization that has exemplified superior partnership with Healthy Androscoggin and has worked to help further Healthy Androscoggin’s mission and vision in the community. Nate Miller, SeniorsPlus Aging and Disabilities Resource Center manager, received the award.

“For the last three years, Nate has been a key partner in Healthy Androscoggin collaboration with SeniorsPlus’ implementation of the (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health) program,” Holly Lasagna, REACH program manager at Healthy Androscoggin, said. 

“Nate has been instrumental in facilitating cultural competency training for staff and development of culturally appropriate services within SeniorsPlus in the area of chronic disease self-management.

“He has also been instrumental in collaborating on creating a chronic disease self-management program specifically for new Mainers,” Lasagna said.

FMI: 207-795-5990, [email protected], www.healthyandroscoggin.org.