[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 99 (Wednesday, June 12, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S4048]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO STELLA WHITNEY-WEST

 Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Madam President, I rise to pay tribute to 
Stella Whitney-West, a mother, grandmother, public health champion, 
mentor, and leader in Minneapolis. Ms. Whitney-West is retiring from 
her role as chief executive officer of NorthPoint Health and Wellness 
Center which, under her leadership, has become a strong and financially 
stable primary care institution that has improved the lives of 
thousands of Minneapolis families.
  After graduating from the University of Minnesota with a degree in 
biology and earning her MBA at the University of Saint Thomas, Ms. 
Whitney-West began her career as a public health specialist serving 
organizations in the Twin Cities before becoming director at the 
Minneapolis Urban League.
  In 2004, Ms. Whitney-West joined NorthPoint as chief operating 
officer of Human Services and was named CEO three years later. With her 
at the helm, NorthPoint transformed from a struggling health center 
losing $2 million a year to North Minneapolis' foremost provider of 
health and wellness services for underserved families. Her leadership 
has been honored with several awards, including a Bush Leadership 
Fellowship, the International Black Women's Congress Community Service 
Award, and the 2021 Minneapolis Saint Paul Business Journal Women in 
Business Award.
  NorthPoint has been a pillar of North Minneapolis since 1968 and 
today serves over 30,000 residents, guided by its mission of 
``Partnering to Create a Healthier Community.'' The Center improves the 
whole health of North Minneapolis residents. As a Federally Qualified 
Health Center, NorthPoint is also a certified Health Care Home and Ryan 
White HIV/AIDS clinic. NorthPoint is administered through a partnership 
between Hennepin County and a community board of directors composed of 
patients and professionals who live and work in the community 
NorthPoint serves. The center provides comprehensive medical, dental, 
behavioral health, pharmacy, laboratory, lactation consultant, and 
radiology care as well as numerous human service programs. These 
programs include a community food shelf with culturally-relevant food, 
the African-American Men's Project, and a partnership with the 
Minnesota Department of Health to reduce Black maternal health 
disparities. The Northpoint Whole Family Systems Initiative focuses on 
providing culturally responsive perinatal care.
  Under Ms. Whitney-West's leadership over the last two decades, 
NorthPoint has made lasting strides in public health. During her 
tenure, vaccination and cancer screening rates for Black, Latino, and 
Asian Americans in North Minneapolis have more than doubled to nearly 
80 percent. Today, all patients--regardless of what brings them into 
the clinic--receive complimentary depression and dental screenings. And 
Ms. Whitney-West's work has touched lives beyond those the clinic 
treats; thanks to her advocacy, lead paint was safely removed from 
neighborhood homes.
  Recently, I was able to attend the grand opening ceremony for 
NorthPoint's new 135,000-square-foot facility. With this expansion, 
NorthPoint will add new space for patients and clients while employing 
over 400 people and providing new economic opportunities through 
public-private partnerships. The expansion will include a new child 
wellness center, an exercise studio for city residents, an expanded 
food shelf, and access to new dental specialty services. The success of 
this project is a testament to Ms. Whitney-West's leadership.
  Ms. Whitney-West exemplifies servant leadership, both through her 
work at NorthPoint and for organizations across Minneapolis. She is an 
active volunteer with Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, where she is devoted to 
mentoring the next generation of Black women leaders. In addition, she 
serves on the boards of organizations including the Twin Cities LISC 
advisory board, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis Ninth District 
Advisory Council, Penn-Plymouth Partnership, Love Minneapolis board, 
Community Resiliency and Recovery Advisors, and the Minneapolis 
Inclusive Economic Recovery Work Group. She has previously held 
positions for the MNsure Advisory Task Force, Minnesota Tobacco Control 
Advisory Committee, One Minnesota Transition Advisory Board, and 
Stratis Health Board of Advisors.
  I thank Ms. Whitney-West for her decades of leadership and service to 
Minnesota and wish her all the best in her much-deserved 
retirement.

                          ____________________