Nominations Being Accepted for Moving Upstream Health Leadership Award

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation is seeking nominations for its second annual Moving Upstream Health Leadership Award. The award recognizes individuals and their organizations who demonstrate extraordinary leadership in building healthier communities by working across sectors in new ways to improve health and opportunity.

In making the award, the Foundation looks beyond the traditional definitions of health to honor an organizational leader who is working “upstream” to address health inequities. In the words of the Institute of Medicine, “Interventions to improve access to medical care and reduce behavioral risk have only limited potential for success if the larger societal and economic context in which people live is not improved.”

The award recognizes efforts that improve key social, economic and environmental conditions that have an impact on health, such as housing, the environment, early childhood development and social connectedness.

Eligibility

To be considered for the award, nominees must be:

• Minnesota based
• Working in two or more of the following areas: health, early childhood development, housing, the environment, social connectedness and civic engagement
• Affiliated with a 501(c)(3) organization that serves Minnesotans (staff, volunteer, trustee)
• Leaders who demonstrate a commitment to on-going community collaboration

Nominators should consider the following attributes in developing their nomination:

• Aligns words with actions; respectful and trusted
• Collaborative and inclusive
• Inspires hope, and builds leadership in others
• Courageous and compassionate
• Visionary and values-driven
• Works long term for the common good
• Makes a difference in the health and well-being of the community

Deadline and nomination form

Beginning in mid-July, nominations may be submitted online or by downloading the nomination form (below) and sending or delivering it to Moving Upstream Health Leadership Award, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation, 3535 Blue Cross Road, Eagan, MN 55122. Nominations must be received by 4:00 pm on August 31, 2007.

» fill out the nomination form online

» download the nomination form (PDF)

Selection Process

Nominations will be reviewed and the awardee selected by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation. Self-nominations will not be accepted, and nominees will not be notified of their nomination.

Award Celebration

An award ceremony will be held in the Twin Cities on November 16, 2007. During the celebration, the Foundation will also present the awardee’s organization with a $15,000 grant to advance its upstream work.