Shandra Martinez is a veteran journalist and former reporter at MLive/The Grand Rapids Press who leads The Lakeshore WM and Rapid Growth, digital publications covering West Michigan, along with Second Wave regional series. Through her company, Legacina, Shandra channels her passion for storytelling helping families preserve their histories, teaching them to use digital tools to capture and share family stories before memories fade. Reach her at shandra@lakeshorewm.com or legacina.story@gmail.com.
Hali Householder helps recruit future dental hygienists and promotes whole-body health through a pioneering workforce initiative tackling care shortages.
Serving 24,000 patients annually, the Cincinnati Health Department dental program brings year-round care to students and community patients through an innovative public-private partnership.
Walker Career Center trains teens for dental careers, tackling workforce shortages and helping underserved students access well-paying, high-demand health care jobs.
Cherry Health’s Grand Rapids Belknap clinic offers urgent dental care in the evenings, reducing ER visits and improving access for underserved and working patients.
McMillen Health’s Brush program equips families and educators with easy-to-understand oral health tools, transforming access in underserved communities.
Jessica Rickert, DDS, the first American Indian female dentist, advocates for oral health equity and inspires Native youth through mentorship and representation.
Two Michigan veterans care advocates are tackling the critical gap in veterans’ dental care, offering free clinics through grants and sustainable community programs.
MedWish Medworks turned an unused dental chair into pop-up dentistry for youth at the Cuyahoga Juvenile Detention Center to care for long-neglected health needs.