The Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness, a Wisconsin-based nonprofit committed to advancing Black women’s health and reducing racial health and birth disparities, has appointed Gabe Doyle as its first director of community health initiatives, the organization announced on Thursday morning.
“I am thrilled by this opportunity to get back to my community health roots and program development with a well-respected leader in advancing health and well-being,” Doyle said in a statement. “The Foundation is a shining pillar in our community today and will continue to lead the way for Black women’s wellness for years to come.”
In Doyle’s new role, he will lead key health equity change efforts, including a growing footprint of Black maternal and child health work. Doyle will also launch the organization’s recently funded Community Health Worker pilot program. As a licensed professional counselor, Doyle brings a valuable and timely focus on individual, family, and community mental health and wellness, according to a press release from the Foundation, that will benefit the mission of the organization and the Black women it serves.
Doyle joins the Foundation after serving four years as United Way of Dane County’s Director of Community Impact for Health. According to a press release from FBWW, he brings a wealth of experience growing and sustaining community-informed health initiatives to his new role, beginning his career at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin as a youth intervention specialist where he counseled victims of violence and designed programs for families. He also developed and led a new team of Community Health Workers at Children’s, experiencing firsthand the barriers that prevent individuals and families from having the chance at a higher quality of life.
In his work at United Way of Dane County, Doyle redesigned the health investment process to prioritize funding to center the experiences of Black, Indigenous, Southeast Asian, Latinx/Hispanic and other marginalized communities. As a member of the Dane County Health Council, he worked closely with the Foundation for Black Women’s Wellness as co-chair of the Black Maternal and Child Health care coordination initiative and the Saving our Babies Project. The effort secured $2 million in grants from local and national funders.
Lisa Peyton-Caire, CEO and president of the Foundation, says adding Doyle to the leadership team positions the organization to have a greater impact on addressing the deep public health challenges that affect Black women and communities of color disproportionately.
“Gabe will be a major asset to the Foundation as we continue to address the deep needs of our community and to disrupt the persistent and stagnant racial health disparities we’re working to eliminate,” Peyton-Caire said in a statement. “He has the right set of experiences to help us make strong steps forward — from working at the ground level to making change at the systems level. We are excited!”
