BHCHP’s Consumer Advisory Board (CAB) is composed of up to 13 individuals who are experiencing or have experienced homelessness. The CAB meets monthly to develop BHCHP’s advocacy agenda and to provide invaluable feedback to help shape programs and policies. Three of the CAB members are also members of BHCHP’s Board of Directors.
The CAB participates in and supports Patient Satisfaction Surveys, voter registration, and staff orientation, provides and delivers holiday presents to a BHCHP partner shelter each year, and so much more. The CAB is the first of its kind in the nation and our CAB model is replicated around the country.
Read our latest story about the CAB on our blog by clicking here. The following video was shown at the 2023 Medicine that Matters Gala, which honored Tracy Kidder for writing his critically acclaimed book about BHCHP entitled Rough Sleepers: Dr. Jim O’Connell’s Urgent Mission to Bring Healing to Homeless People.
Consumer Advisory Board
- Mr. Lazaro Cruz – Consumer
- Ms. Joanne Guarino – Consumer
- Ms. Demetrius Hill – Consumer
- Ms. Christelle Latour – Consumer
- Mr. Warren Magee – Co-Chair/Consumer
- Mr. Andrew Maier – Consumer
- Ms. Sara Reid – Consumer
- Ms. Kacia Wilkinson – Chair/Consumer
- Mr. Derek Winbush – Consumer
- Ms. Linda Winn – Consumer
“To our donors and benefactors who have graciously helped us over the years to accomplish this program, I say thank you, because you have a hand in saving my life because without your generosity and caring, none of this would have been possible, and I wouldn’t be sitting here today, so thank you.”
– Kacia Wilkinson, CAB Chairperson
“You know, thank you is not enough…there is no big enough thank you for people who have hearts bigger than life.”
– Joanne Guarino, CAB member and member of BHCHP’s Board of Directors
Photo of Joanne Guarino meeting with students at Harvard Medical School White Coat Ceremony
“Being on the CAB has given me a sense of purpose. When I was homeless I had a lot of challenges and it was hard. How am I going to survive today? So I’m always thinking of the person coming behind me, the person I meet on the street or in the BHCHP lobby. I’ve gone through that same dark tunnel and I try to be a light for people who are experiencing the same thing.”
– Derek Winbush, CAB member and member of BHCHP’s Board of Directors
