Maria Anderson is off and running in her new position as director of national community programs for Highmark Health. The New Pittsburgh Courier was able to catch up with Anderson, an Allderdice High School and Duquesne University graduate, in between her hectic schedule, for a “Courier Q & A…”
NPC: Please discuss some of the skills or people you met at Allderdice that helped propel you to your future success?
ANDERSON: First, let me say that I grew up in a four-generation household, so my family provided me with role models which influenced my success. Growing up in a diverse neighborhood like Point Breeze influenced my interest in community, advocacy, philanthropy and volunteerism. Family and neighbors instilled in me a sense of purpose and planted the seed to do better than the previous generation.
During my time at Allderdice, Principal William A.G. Fisher comes immediately to mind as he was a mentor and cheerleader throughout my academic career. He demonstrated true diplomacy during a time when desegregation in schools was at its peak. He also was my counselor as I navigated through the college application and scholarship process.
There were others at Allderdice who guided me within their areas of expertise: Mrs. Emilene Hayes, an accounting instructor (and mother of Lynne Hayes Freeland of KDKA-TV) who had a wry sense of humor; Mrs. Janet Slifkin, an English teacher who was a stickler for the use of the English language. She is probably the reason why I did so well on the English portion of my SATs…And Mr. Robert Kengor, my homeroom and Algebra teacher who eased my fear of numbers.
NPC: What are some of the accomplishments or projects you’ve done over the first few months of your new position at Highmark Health?
ANDERSON: I’ve launched VolunteerMatch, an online volunteer system that helps employees identify volunteer opportunities by location, causes and skills, to Highmark Health employees… I’ve facilitated the Jefferson Awards Foundation, where Highmark Health annually distinguishes and honors outstanding employee volunteers through the Jefferson Awards for Public Service. In 2017, Highmark Health honored 12 employees for their outstanding volunteer work by presenting them with Jefferson Awards for Public Service and a monetary contribution for the nonprofit organization of their choice. I facilitated the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community this year, which raised a record-breaking $1.46 million for 214 local nonprofit organizations across Pennsylvania and Delaware. Highmark Health has provided in-kind donations of computers, furniture and office supplies to schools throughout the communities Highmark serves in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. I’ve also volunteered my time with a number of organizations and causes.
NPC: What is an initiative or project that Highmark Health does that greatly impacts the region’s African American community in a positive manner?
ANDERSON: One important and wonderful effort that comes to mind is our work with faith-based churches. Working with faith-based churches in a collaborative role presented Highmark the opportunity to work with local church health ministry programs to better serve and educate their congregation members of different ages, gender, and health status. As a way to reduce health disparities in the African American community, in 2012 Highmark sought input from churches serving African Americans in the Greater Pittsburgh area. Churches wanted health promotional information on subjects such as diabetes, nutrition, healthy cooking, high blood pressure and depression. They wanted to build a relationship with Highmark and if we held the meetings, they would come. This became a wonderful opportunity for Highmark to partner with churches to increase the awareness and promote health and wellness. We know that where we live, work, play and worship can greatly influence health. Over the past few years, we wanted to better understand the myriad of health issues that have been identified in communities, where the gaps are and the tools or resources Highmark could bring to the table to help faith-based organizations remain successful in meeting the health needs of their congregations and communities. In 2016, we conducted a survey with faith-based organizations and found that churches unequivocally responded, “yes that it is their role,” to promote health and wellness. The top five areas of concern included overweight and obesity, with chronic disease management a close second; and that when asked, “what they wanted to gain from being a part of the collaborative,” answers included; incorporating different health care ideas in my church, helping others to understand the importance of good health, more knowledge and training to encourage healthier lifestyles and behavior choices, networking to share helpful information, and working collectively with other churches. The faith-based health collaborative consists of 38 different churches, representing 18 zip codes.
NPC: As an African American woman from Pittsburgh, what advice would you give to young women looking to succeed in this thing called life?
ANDERSON: Always maintain an open mind and positive attitude. You never know who is watching you or willing to assist you in your growth and development. Many of my career moves have involved someone watching me from a distance and knowing that I’m always upbeat, professional and about getting the work accomplished for the success of a project.
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