Birmingham nonprofit Prosper and startup Acclinate have partnered to create a new portal aimed at reducing minority health disparities.
The partnership unveiled a new website, dubbed B-Included, for Jefferson County residents. The portal is designed to increase access to resources and supportive services in an effort to remove health-related barriers to employment.
“B-Included is needed to move the needle toward health and wealth because it is one of very few resources directly engaging communities of color that knows what those communities need, how they think, and why and how they can best be reached,” said Tiffany Whitlow, Acclinate's co-founder. “For that reason, B-Included is a full resource that offers activities, connection, stories, shared experiences and engagement in a way that feels safe and authentic. Essentially, B-Included provides a community for the community.”
The partnership is supported by members of the board of directors that are championing Proper’s health-tech strategy. They include Alabama Power CEO Mark Crosswhite, Blue Cross Blue Shield CEO Tim Vines, Altec Industries Co-Chairman Lee Styslinger and UAB President Ray Watts.
Prosper said the initiative is also pairing with existing efforts at UAB, Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine and Cooper Green to improve community health outcomes. It will initially introduce the platform to Live HealthSmart neighborhoods. Live HealthSmart is a UAB initiative that aims to tackle major health challenges through a holistic approach, targeting nutrition, physical activity, prevention and wellness through policy and environmental improvements in neighborhoods.
“For Prosper to be successful, we have to be sure we’re working with the community. Our collaboration with Acclinate, a great Birmingham-based business startup helping meet health needs and connecting people to resources leading to gainful employment, is one way we’re intentionally partnering to assist black-owned businesses and small businesses,” said J.W. Carpenter, Prosper's president. “When we’re able to do this, we’ll be living out our vision to grow Birmingham and Jefferson County’s economy in an inclusive way.”
