In honor of Pride month, we shine the spotlight on the Stephaun Wallace Advocacy and Community Engagement Division (SWACE Health), a local organization creating LGBTQ+ programming that explores the intersectionality of art, health, and culture.
We interviewed Kurt Ragin, MSW, the Executive Director of SWACE Health. As Executive Director, Kurt has been able to integrate his many years within the public health profession and ballroom community to cultivate a unique healthcare experience.
- What is the mission of SWACE Health? The mission of SWACE Health is to bolster, support, and empower Black and Brown communities to be healthy, build capacity for self-sufficiency, and enhance the health and well-being of community via intersectionality of art, health, and culture. What was the influence that started SWACE Health recognizing that no organization was directly working alongside the community to create programming they would utilize and putting community members in positions of power and control to relay all forms of wellness especially for QTBIPOC community members.
- What services does SWACE Health provide? SWACE Health services range from healthcare referrals, health education, specialized training, restorative justice training, community outreach, community event cultivation, and leadership development programming.
- What are you most proud of that the organization has done? At our Hold That Pose for Me Drop-In sessions last summer, a parent came up to say thank you for seeing my child and building their confidence in space. The parent had been having difficulty building a relationship with their child until we supported both the parent and child to work on communication and educate each other on a variety of new discoveries. Moments like that truly are the fuel to keep going in moments when you may feel like giving up especially in times like this.
- How does sponsorship/community fundraising impact the work you do? Sponsorship/community fundraising impacts the work of SWACE Health by continuing with realistic sustainability for community centered programming and events. As this current administration has fatally reduced funding for many nonprofits that offer services that save lives and promote social change, innovation to keep programming afloat has become a priority. In addition, sponsorship demonstrates the trust that many community partners have in the capabilities of SWACE Health.
- If someone wanted to volunteer, how would they get in touch? We always need volunteers for many events we host. Anyone interested in volunteering can visit www.swacehealth.org to fill out our volunteer form and we will set them up as needed.
Partnering with organizations like SWACE Health aligns with our company’s mission to make sure no one is left behind.
Pride is not just about June, or about parades and events. Pride is an ongoing movement to create healthy, vibrant, and sustainable communities everywhere. We are honored to be a positive, proud partner in this larger movement.
Delta Dental of Washington’s mission is to help more people gain access to oral healthcare. To make sure we’re reaching as many people as possible, we are also committed to publishing ongoing guides, resources, and articles about how LGBTQIA+ people, specifically, can protect their oral health.
Learn more about our year-round Pride efforts here: https://www.deltadentalwa.com/our-company/dei/pride
