‘Prayers answered’ for BNHC staff in loan program

Group shot at Mass. RePay event 8-21-2023.

BNHC recipients of the state’s loan repayment program celebrate with special guests. From left are recipient BNHC’s Linda Alvarez, Deputy CEO Maria Celli, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kate Walsh, recipient Schneida Faustin, Mass League CEO Mike Curry, Sen. Stephen Lynch, recipient Kara Powell, CEO Sue Joss, recipient Mike McDonald, Mayor Bob Sullivan, and recipients Marleny DePina, Brian Kapfunde and Catherine Sugrue.

BNHC’s Kara Powell, RN, shares her story at the Mass. RePay event on Aug. 21, 2023.

Mike McDonald and Linda Alvarez at Mass. RePay event.

Loan repayment recipients Mike McDonald and Linda Alvarez of BNHC react at co-worker Kara Powell shares her story.

CEO Sue Joss addresses the gathering as Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and BNHC recipients Kara Powell, Mike McDonald and Linda Alvarez look on.

U.S. Rep. Steve Lynch at Mass. RePay event.

U.S. Rep. Steve Lynch thanks BNHC’s Mike McDonald, LICSW, after speaking.

U.S. Sen. Steve Lynch speaks at Mass. RePay event.

U.S. Rep. Steve Lynch addresses the audience at BNHC’s conference room.

BNHC recipients with Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll at Mass. RePay event.

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, second from left, with BNHC’s Linda Alvarez, Kara Powell and Mike McDonald after the three spoke at the event.

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll at Mass. RePay event.

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll address the gathering and media.

Linda Alvarez speaking at Mass. RePay event 8-21-2023.

BNHC’s Linda Alvarez shares her story.

Wadezah McCullough and Mike McDonald at Mass. RePay event 8-21-2023.

BNHC’s Wadezah McCullough congratulates Mike McDonald after he spoke at the MA RePay event held Aug. 21, 2023, at BNHC.

Mike McDonald speaks at Mass. RePay event 8-21-2023.

Mike McDonald shares his story at the event.

Mayor Bob Sullivan speaks at Mass. RePay event 8-21-2023.

Brockton Mayor Bob Sullivan addresses the audience as BNHC CEO Sue Joss and Mass. League President Michael Curry listen.

Recipients Marleny DePina and Mike McDonald at Mass. RePay event 8-21-2023.

Loan repayment recipients Marleny DePina and Mike McDonald share a laugh after the event.

Kara Powell, RN, tears up at Mass. RePay event 8-21-2023.

Kara Powell, RN, tells what the loan repayment program means to her.

Mass. League President Mike Curry and BNHC's Mike McDonald at Mass. RePay event 8-21-2023.

Mass. League of Community Health Centers President Michael Curry meets with BNHC’s Mike McDonald.

BNHC recipients Brian Kapfunde and Steve Coulombe at Mass. RePay event 8-21-2023.

MA Repay recipients Brian Kapfunde and Steve Coulombe react as BNHC’s Mike McDonald speaks.

Kara Powell and Mike McDonald with Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll at Mass. RePay event 8-21-2023.

Kara Powell, center, reacts as Mass. League President Michael Curry announces her.

From The Enterprise: Growing up, Kara Powell played organ at Central United Methodist. After earning her associate’s degree in nursing from Massasoit Community College, she worked with the homeless, who rely on services offered at the church.

On Aug. 21, Powell faced a roomful of politicians and TV cameras at BNHC’s conference room as she sketched the challenges she had to overcome to become a registered nurse with her hometown Brockton Neighborhood Health Center, including chronic disease and having to leave her job to care for family members.

But thanks to a state health-care loan repayment program, she and others like her won’t have to any longer.

Read the full article at The Enterprise: State repays student loans for community health care workers, including Brockton’s own