Volunteer Spotlight

Judy Garland is on a crusade for health care justice and is inspiring others in the Tri Cities to join her in the movement. Her commitment to this issue stems from an extraordinary sense of compassion for people in need. She will extend a helping hand to anyone, anytime, anywhere. She will listen to their story and she will retell it to anyone that can make a difference.

She shows tremendous courage to stand up and speak for those who have been pushed aside, even when it's not popular - especially when it's not popular. Judy radiates energy and her passion for this issue is absolutely contagious. She has single-handedly tripled the size of the Tri-cities Local Organizing Group. When asked why she takes the risk of alienating herself by speaking out in a very conservative area on a polarizing issue, she simply said, "The people who need this make me brave." Her courage inspires us all to stand up and speak with her.

A Practical Radical

As a Nurse Practitioner, Rich Henighan has applied his commitment to care for his patients to his work towards health care justice for all. Over his many years of involvement with THCC, he has become a staunch advocate and strong leader within our Knoxville-area Local Organizing Group.

Rich's dedication to the goals of THCC is reflected in his tireless work: planning events, facilitating LOG meetings, moderating public panel discussions, co-chairing the media team and helping to lead the strategic planning process for our Knoxville LOG. This past year, he stepped up to coordinate the efforts of 20 local volunteers to organize, publicize and host a Regional Training Meeting for nearly 100 participants! The success of that event and many others is due in no small part to Rich's leadership and follow-through.

Physician Who Puts Plans Into Action

Dr. Art Sutherland brings his talents as a healer and humanist to advocacy work. He may be retired from is cardiology practice, but he is far, far from being retired. He is involved in many causes in the Memphis area and beyond, and we are thankful that he gives so much of his time and expertise to health care justice as THCC board member and Memphis LOG leader, and as the President of the Tennessee Chapter of Physicians for a National Health Plan (PNHP).

Art has a knack for bringing people together and making things happen. He was instrumental in helping THCC draw quality speakers and sponsors to its “Pathway to the Promise” 20th Anniversary celebration. He is one of the most active members of the Memphis LOG and is always ready to roll up his sleeves to do what is needed, be it giving a presentation to a community group, making phone calls to Congress, demonstrating against greed outside insurance company headquarters, or hosting house parties.

He has taken the lead with faith outreach in Memphis area clergy and has helped to form THCC’s Faith and Health Care Justice Committee, which meets regularly and is planning to have interfaith events in the future.

Thank you, Art, for your humor, humanity and making things happen!

Bringing People Together in the Tri Cities

Claire Lovelace is a deeply spiritual and compassionate person, who is interested in faith-based outreach around health care reform as a social justice issue. Putting her faith into practice, she recently led the Tri Cities LOG in conducting a public screening of "Sick Around the World" at Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church in Johnson City. With the help of other LOG members, she reached out to area churches to co-sponsor the event, which focused on the moral basis for universal health care.

Claire is an active member of Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church, where THCC meets every month. She worked with Munsey's administrative staff and the Church and Society Team to host the event. From soup to nuts, she led the way: organizing logistics, communicating with sponsoring churches, designing the program, and coordinating publicity.

This successful public education event was a testament to Claire's outstanding organizational skills, commitment to health care justice, and ability to communicate effectively with people from all walks of life.

Claire has been an important part of THCC's statewide grassroots network for national health care reform. She is one of our key volunteer leaders and active member of our Tri-cities Local Organizing Group (LOG). She works tirelessly behind-the-scenes: scheduling meetings, securing locations for events and communicating with the rest of the group. She served on the Publicity and Outreach Team for our Regional Conference in April 2009 and is an active Media Team member, monitoring local coverage and writing letters to the editor. She communicates regularly with her legislators via fax, letters, and phone calls, and participated in two of Senator Corker's Town Hall meetings this summer, engaging him with thoughtful questions about health care reform.

Claire volunteers her time & talents to many worthy causes in her community and we are fortunate that she gives so much to us. Thank you, Claire!

This THCC Volunteer is a Genuine Beauty Queen and So Much More!

Lorri Mabry is Ms. Wheelchair Tennessee 2009, but she needs no official crown for the world to see how beautiful she is, inside and out! Lorri has been committed to progressive disability and health care issues for many years, and has been an active and important member of THCC for a long time.

Cerebral palsy may have stolen her speaking voice, but she is far from silent. Lorri is one of the most powerful voices for justice in our community. Middle Tennessee TV and print news media often turn to Lorri to get “the scoop” on what’s happening with important issues like state policies changes to in-home nursing or Daniels (SSI) TennCare.

Not Even Bad State Policy Holds Her Back
The state’s Draconian in-home nursing policies that forbid nurses from accompanying clients to meetings or to take them our to dinner or a movie have forced many people with disabilities to become virtual prisoners in their own homes—but not Lorri. Despite being in a wheelchair, with very limited use of her hands only, and having to speak through a portable, voice-activated computer, Lorri is a mover and shaker.

Lorri travels on her own through Access Ride to participate in meetings, such as THCC’s Nashville LOG meetings, committee planning meetings for events such as the big Cover America Rally that happened during Presidential Debate at Belmont last October, and many other gatherings. She even traveled from Nashville to Murfreeboro, where she earned a Bachelor's of Liberal Arts (what else?!) degree from MTSU in 2007.

THCC is very, very fortunate to have Lorri as one of our committed volunteers and to call her our friend. She is truly a role model for us all. Thank you, Lorri!