A statewide health-justice nonprofit will soon have another New Havener at the helm.
In a Thursday afternoon email press release, the Universal Health Care Foundation of CT announced that Caprice Taylor Mendez will be its next president, beginning March 1.
Taylor Mendez, a veteran local nonprofit leader and the host of a weekly radio show on La Voz Hispana, will succeed in that role Frances Padilla, who recently retired after spending nearly two decades pushing for affordable, accessible, quality health care for everyone in the state with the organization.
The foundation began with $40 million in proceeds from a negotiated settlement connected to public approval of the merger of the insurance companies Anthem and Blue Cross.
See below for the email press release in full.
Announcing Universal’s New President, Caprice Taylor Mendez!
As a graduate of Boston University and Harvard, Caprice comes to Universal with over a decade of experience as not only a leader in the non-profit sector but an organizer, coalition builder, trainer, advocate, and communicator. With her diverse experience working in various types of organizations, including non-profit, grassroots and community-based, philanthropic, municipal government, academic, and policy advocacy-based, we have no doubt that Caprice is the leader we need to build power in the community for health justice.
Caprice will be instrumental in guiding Universal’s mission in centering Black, Brown, immigrant, low-income, chronically ill, disabled, and youth-based community organizing groups and allies in the fight for racial, social, and economic justice.
At 5 years old, Caprice immigrated to Connecticut from Guatemala and is a longtime New Haven resident. She also hosts a weekly radio show on La Voz Hispana de Connecticut.
Caprice steps into the position upon the retirement of Universal’s president, Frances G. Padilla. Frances served as president for ten years after succeeding Universal’s founding president, Juan Figueroa.
Join us as we welcome Caprice as our new President, and stay tuned for more information about meet and greet with Caprice this spring!
Congrats, Caprice!