Hispanic Heritage Month Spotlight: Lucia Colindres, Ibero-American Action League
Hispanic communities encounter significant disparities in accessing quality healthcare and achieving the best health outcomes. Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, Fidelis Care celebrates diversity, equity, and inclusion by supporting our Hispanic colleagues and partners.
Lucia Colindres, MSHA, FDC, CHW, is the Chief Program Officer at the Ibero-American Action League, Inc. Born in San Salvador, El Salvador, Colindres came to America in 1989. “Hispanic Heritage Month is a time of year when we observe how our community's unique contributions have added to the story of the United States. My children and their friends can learn about our culture, food, and traditions,” she said.
The Ibero-American Action League is a dual-language multi-service agency that uplifts and empowers Latinos and the underserved. Its goal is to advocate for these communities to achieve equity and help individuals become valued community members.
“Many of our services support Latino families to address social determinants of health,” Colindres said. “This includes opportunities for employment connections, family and social support, financial support, community safety, health and sexual education, language services, care coordination services, and more.”
Common Ground Health, a Rochester-based health research and planning organization, lists some of the health inequities faced by the Hispanic community as diabetes, hypertension, cancer, heart disease, and mental health.
"We also know that language barriers and lack of health insurance significantly impact health access,” Colindres said. “Ibero appreciates the fact that Fidelis Care provides health insurance enrollment services at our Community Resource Center and has bilingual representatives onsite to connect directly with participants in our many programs.”
Hispanic heritage is celebrated all year long at the Ibero-American Action League. During Hispanic Heritage Month, the organization supports local community events at The International Plaza featuring traditional music, arts, food, and culture. The organization also participates in the Hispanic Heritage Block Party in Rochester.
“Through our work at Ibero, we are proud to empower people while serving and transforming our communities,” Colindres said.
Lucia Colindres, MSHA, FDC, CHW, is the Chief Program Officer at the Ibero-American Action League, Inc. She oversees several Ibero programs and related health initiatives throughout the Finger Lakes and Capital Region. Colindres was the Executive Director of the Community Health Workers Association of Rochester, Inc., and is currently the board co-chair. She is also a member of the Community Health Worker Leaders of the National Association of Community Health Workers.