Overview: United Community Corporation (UCC) Executive Director Craig Mainor and Wellpoint New Jersey President Patrick Gillespie are holding a live virtual panel titled “Bridging Health, Equity, and Partnership: How UCC and Wellpoint Are Working Together to Build Healthier Communities” on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM EST. The session explores how managed healthcare organizations and grassroots community action agencies can collaborate to solve non-medical drivers of health—including housing insecurity, food access, and emergency family assistance—across Newark and Essex County. The event streams publicly on Microsoft Teams and Instagram Live (@ucc.newark).
Craig Mainor and Patrick Gillespie sit down to discuss how grassroots action and managed care are tackling social determinants of health across New Jersey.
Achieving true public health equity requires more than clinical care—it demands active collaboration, targeted community resources, and strong cross-sector leadership. On Tuesday, September 22, 2026, Newark’s United Community Corporation (UCC) will host the next installment of its signature virtual dialogue, Serving With Purpose: A UCC Conversation Series.
This upcoming session features a candid, solutions-driven dialogue between Craig Mainor, Executive Director of United Community Corporation, and Patrick Gillespie, President of Wellpoint New Jersey, examining how grassroots service and managed healthcare organizations can unite to transform community outcomes.
Executive Summary: Bridging Health, Equity, and Partnership
The featured discussion, titled “Bridging Health, Equity, and Partnership: How UCC and Wellpoint Are Working Together to Build Healthier Communities,” will explore actionable models for addressing the social determinants of health across urban neighborhoods.
Key topics covered during the session include:
- Targeting Non-Medical Drivers of Health: Integrating food security, emergency housing, and social services directly into holistic healthcare strategies.
- Grassroots Community Impact: How local community action agencies bridge vital access gaps for vulnerable and historically underserved residents.
- Public-Private Synergies: The operational blueprint for how managed care organizations like Wellpoint collaborate with local non-profits to build lasting community resilience.
Event Details & Access Information
The virtual session will stream live across multiple digital platforms to ensure broad community accessibility:
| Detail | Information |
| Event Name | Serving With Purpose: A UCC Conversation Series |
| Topic | Bridging Health, Equity, and Partnership |
| Featured Speakers | Craig Mainor (Executive Director, UCC) & Patrick Gillespie (President, Wellpoint New Jersey) |
| Date | Tuesday, September 22, 2026 |
| Time | 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM EST |
| Platform Options | • Microsoft Teams Live Registration • Instagram Live: @ucc.newark |
| Admission | Free and open to the public |
About the Organizations
About United Community Corporation (UCC)
Founded in 1964 as Newark’s designated Community Action Agency, the United Community Corporation has served as a cornerstone of stability, advocacy, and economic empowerment for Essex County residents for over six decades. UCC operates comprehensive programs designed to move individuals and families out of poverty, including emergency food distribution, youth enrichment, housing assistance, family stabilization services, and community wellness initiatives.
About Wellpoint
Wellpoint (formerly Amerigroup) is dedicated to simplifying healthcare and addressing systemic health disparities by connecting individuals, families, and communities to compassionate, whole-person care. Operating across Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial benefit programs, Wellpoint collaborates closely with civic organizations, healthcare providers, and local leaders to improve physical, mental, and social health outcomes across New Jersey and nationwide.
#HealthEquity #ServingWithPurpose #UCCNewark
