City To Host Town Hall Meeting On Healthcare

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 13, 2006

For more information, contact:
Craig Brenner, Special Projects Coordinator, Community & Family
Resources, City of Bloomington, 349-3471
Beverly Calender-Anderson, Safe and Civil City Program Director,
349-3560
Maria K. Heslin, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349-3569

Bloomington, IN - As part of his Community Condition initiative, Mayor Mark Kruzan announced that the City of Bloomington will host a Town Hall Meeting on Healthcare October 3, 2006. The meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the Monroe County Public Library Auditorium, 303 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington.

The Town Hall Meeting will give the community an opportunity to examine the existing healthcare situation, address current challenges and explore possibilities that may allow the community to expand services and develop public support for improvements. The meeting also will explore ways to provide access to the local healthcare system for those who are currently excluded.

The meeting will be moderated by Dr. Edwin Marshall, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Indiana University School of Optometry, who will give introductory remarks on current national, state and local issues. Marshall's remarks will be followed by 10-minute presentations by panelists representing various healthcare providers, organizations and individuals working to expand healthcare for the under- and uninsured in our community.

Panelists include Senator Vi Simpson, Dr. Rob Stone, Kem Hawkins, Winston Shindell, John VanderZee and Nancy Woolery, who will present information based upon their expertise that will enable attendees to learn about existing services, challenges and potential local solutions. The public will have an opportunity to ask questions toward the end of the meeting.

Initiated by the City of Bloomington's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission, the Town Hall Meeting is sponsored by the Commission plus the City's Safe and Civil City Program, Commission on the Status of Black Males, and Community and Family Resources Department. Light refreshments will be served.

For additional information, contact Craig Brenner, Special Projects Coordinator, Community & Family Resources, 349-3471 or [brennerc@bloomington.in.gov|mailto:brennerc@bloomington.in.gov] or Beverly Calender-Anderson, Safe and Civil City Program Director, 349-3560 or [andersb@bloomington.in.gov|mailto:andersb@bloomington.in.gov].

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