Partners in Health & Wholeness

An initiative of the NC Council of Churches

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Champions of Change

· by Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Congratulations to two of the Council’s friends and colleagues on being designated Champions of Change by the White House. Linda Walling, Executive Director, of Faithful Reform in Health Care (and soon to be a NC resident) and native North Carolinian Adam Searing, Director of the Health Access Coalition for the North Carolina Justice Center, were honored for their dedication to improving access to health care. These individuals are helping others in their community understand the impact and opportunities from the Affordable Care Act.

Faithful Reform in Health Care is the largest interfaith coalition of national, state and local organizations and individuals working for accessible and affordable health care. As its ED, Linda has partnered with the Council in working for health care reform for the last three years. Under Adam’s leadership, the Health Access Coalition is North Carolina’s leading voice for progressive health care, and he has been a friend of the Council, leading workshops and working with us in joint efforts.

–Sandy Irving, Volunteer Program Associate

About Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Aleta Payne first joined the Council staff in the spring of 2001 as the Communications Associate. She continues to oversee that work along with development, represents the Council in several partnership efforts, and serves in other administrative roles, as well. Aleta is a graduate of the University of Virginia with a degree in government and foreign affairs and spent much of her early career as a journalist. She has three young adult sons who continue to come home to Cary for dinner, or at least groceries, and two young adult terrier-mix dogs who keep the nest from feeling too empty.