By Dawn Cuello
Director of Marketing & Communications
G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center
Over the past several months, I’ve had the privilege of supporting our CEO, Dr. James L. Coleman, Jr., and helping lead G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center’s Listening Tour alongside Orlandrious Bloodsaw and several dedicated members of our team throughout the communities we serve across Mississippi. Through this experience, one thing became very clear to me, advocacy starts with listening.
What began as a community engagement initiative quickly became something much deeper. As we traveled from community to community, I listened to patients, parents, seniors, community leaders, and families speak honestly about their healthcare experiences, challenges, and hopes for the future. Some shared concerns about affordability. Others spoke about transportation barriers, access to specialty care, mental health services, or simply the importance of having trusted healthcare close to home.
These conversations reinforced why Community Health Centers matter more than ever.
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) like G.A. Carmichael Family Health Center exist to ensure that healthcare remains accessible, affordable, and community-centered, regardless of a person’s ability to pay. In many rural and underserved communities, Health Centers are more than healthcare providers; they are lifelines.
At G.A. Carmichael, we proudly provide comprehensive medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, women’s health, school-based health, and preventive services across the communities we serve. Every day, we witness the direct impact healthcare access has on individuals and families. We also see how quickly communities can be affected when healthcare resources are limited or underfunded.
That is why advocacy matters.
For many people, the word “advocacy” can sound political or distant, but to me, advocacy is deeply personal. Advocacy means speaking up for the patients who may not always have a seat at the table. It means helping policymakers understand the realities facing rural healthcare organizations and the communities we serve every day.
Programs such as the Sliding Fee Discount Program and the 340B Drug Discount Program help make healthcare and medications more affordable for thousands of families. Continued support for Community Health Centers allows organizations like ours to expand services, improve outcomes, create jobs, and reinvest resources directly back into patient care.
Through our Listening Tours, I’ve come to realize that advocacy and community engagement are inseparable. When we truly listen to our communities, we become better advocates for them. Their voices help guide conversations, shape priorities, and remind us why this work is so important. Community Health Centers continue to stand at the forefront of improving healthcare access across this country, especially in underserved and rural areas. At G.A. Carmichael, we are proud to continue that mission while remaining committed to listening, serving, advocating, and leading with purpose.
Because at the heart of every strong community is access to care, compassion, and a voice that is heard and at G.A. Carmichael we are Genuine Always.
