Rep. Charlie Brown joins group aiming to enhance quality of life for minorities

INDIANAPOLIS – State Rep. Charlie Brown (D-Gary) has been invited to serve on the Indiana Minority Health Coalition’s (IMHC) Public Policy Committee [visit the IMHC website].

Brown was a co-author of the bill in 1993 formally establishing the IMHC.

Former Rep. Bill Crawford (D-Indianapolis) was the principal author of the bill, which was an Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC) initiative. Crawford currently serves as chair of the IMHC Public Policy Committee.

“I am deeply honored to serve on the Public Policy Committee of this worthy organization,” said Brown.

“The Indiana Minority Health Coalition serves thousands of Hoosiers every year as the coalition seeks to enhance the quality of life for minorities through quality health care, education and advocacy. The IMHC is one of the great success stories of the Indiana General Assembly.”

The IBLC and local minority health coalitions met in 1992 to develop a five-year strategic plan for minority health efforts. The IMHC was created to bring that strategic plan into fruition.

In 1993, House Bill 1568 was written by Reps. Crawford and Brown, along with the other IBLC members, to formally establish the IMHC, which was legally incorporated in 1994.

Brown is the ranking Democratic member of the Indiana House Public Health Committee. He will be the featured speaker at the Minority Health Coalition of LaPorte County’s “Real Men Wear Pink Ball” on Oct. 18 at the Orak Shrine Center in Michigan City. The event will raise funds to assist uninsured and under-insured women, so they may receive the care they need as well as enable the organization to continue to provide educational and emotional support to cancer patient families.