FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Kate Lehmann, President & Chair

Rainbow Health Initiative

Tel: (612) 206-3180

Fax: (612) 206-3183

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www.rainbowhealth.org

JOANN USHER NAMED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF RAINBOW HEALTH INITIATIVE (RHI)

Minneapolis, MN, January 4, 2012 — Rainbow Health Initiative has named long time non-profit professional Joann Usher as Executive Director. The announcement concludes a search process that commenced in early October, 2011. Usher will begin her duties at RHI on February 1, 2012.

Usher brings over 30 years of experience in the non-profit world and is perhaps best known in the local lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) community for her highly successful tenure as the first Executive Director of the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus. In addition to the TCGMC, Usher has worked in several senior management and development positions and has been an active member of the Twin Cities community. She has served on a number of non-profit boards and will assume her volunteer role as president of the GALA Choruses Board in January.

“RHI is fortunate to have found a leader of Joann’s experience and maturity to help achieve the next stage of organizational development,” said Board Chair Kate Lehmann. “She brings a strong fundraising track record as well as the kind of management experience that RHI needs. The Search Committee and the Board feel that she can step right in and head up the exceptional programming and operational staff that is already in place.”

Usher looks forward to returning to a leadership role in the LGBTQ community.   “My years of non-profit work have helped me understand my commitment to social change especially within the LGBTQ community. I look forward to this new opportunity to renew my connections in the LGBTQ community and to help RHI fulfill its mission of helping advance the health and wellness of these communities through research, education and advocacy. This is the work that feeds my soul.”

Rainbow Health Initiative was founded in 2001 and is unique in the nation in its health data collection efforts and programs designed to improve health in the LGBTQ community. The search for an Executive Director was conducted by a committee composed of board members and community stakeholders. Board members included Kate Lehmann, Dr. Eric Meininger, and Ruth Baires Raihle. Community members included Greg Grinley, Barbara Satin, Barry Lau, Gilbert Achay, and Sarah Senseman.   A public welcome event for Joann Usher will be held in early February. For further information, contact RHI at (612) 206-3180.

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