Heather Simmons

She/her

Originally from Oklahoma, Heather Simmons has worked in the nonprofit sector since 2001. This experience includes funding development, mental health direct services, academia, and nonprofit management. Heather has a MEd in Community Counseling from The University of Oklahoma and a MA in International Human Rights and Certificate in Humanitarian Assistance from The University of Denver. Heather's graduate research focused on the experience of refugees and immigrants in the global economy, including the trafficking of people for domestic and farm work, and the influences of Tribal and dominant cultures on American Indian women's identities. Heather has always been drawn to nonprofit work, having served at a Federally Qualified Health Center, the American Red Cross, and even at The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. She has also worked with more locally based organizations, like Communities Creating Opportunity. In 2016, Heather was introduced to CHC and has remained involved because of the organization's focus on health equity, improvement and access, their approach to people-centered design principles, and their grassroots community engagement. Heather has a developed and deep understanding of the importance of creating lasting change that makes Wyandotte residents feel safer and have better accessibility to health care and other valuable resources, which are made more readily available through her fundraising efforts.