Community Catalyst

24/08/2026

Pastor Jackman may call it a “Band-Aid” solution on a gushing wound, but for the 1,631 members of his church’s community for whom their medical debt was bought and forgiven, this act of charity has been life changing.

Real, long-term change means ending medical debt for all… for good. And that requires advocating for systemic changes to how our country treats its people — even before an unexpected hospital visit puts someone in debt.

Now, Pastor Jackman is hoping others will join his congregation’s movement to contact their elected officials and demand change. We couldn’t agree more.

21/08/2026

Just a few days left to cast your vote!

We've made it to the voting stage for SXSW 2027, and now we need your help to bring health justice to the main stage.

Our proposed panel, “Stories as Power: Advocacy in the AI & Digital Age,” will explore how advocates can responsibly use technology to amplify community voices, build public trust, and drive meaningful policy change — without losing sight of the people at the center of every story.

Vote here before polls close THIS Sunday: https://pulse.ly/r4bgwfl38o

Already voted? Please leave a comment on the proposal sharing what you’re most excited to learn, and share the proposal with your network.

Every vote helps show there’s an audience for conversations about health justice, lived experience, storytelling and responsible innovation. 👏

20/08/2026

Tribal sovereignty and oral health access were front and center at the National Tribal Health Conference.

Community Catalyst’s Senior Project Manager for Dental Therapy Laura Brannon joined colleagues from the California Rural Indian Health Board, Roseville CA for a session on dental therapy.

Dental therapists are credentialed providers who deliver preventive and basic restorative care as part of the dental team. Alaska Native communities brought the model to the U.S. in 2004, and Tribes have been integral to its spread in the Lower 48.

That leadership has opened doors beyond Indian Country with dental therapists now authorized to work in 14 states and counting. Tribal and non-Tribal communities often face overlapping barriers: too few providers, too far to travel, care that’s inaccessible or unaffordable. In California and across the country, Tribes and their partners are organizing side by side for policies that improve oral health for all.

Learn more and get involved at www.dentaltherapy.org.

20/08/2026

When your salary and health insurance can’t keep up with the rising costs of medications, something is wrong with the system.

Maria works full-time, budgets carefully, and receives private insurance. But it isn’t enough. She and her husband both rely on Medicaid to fill the gaps and despite doing everything "right" — they still got shut-off notices when their prescription costs outpaced their paychecks.

"No family should have to choose between keeping the lights on, having running water, or accessing healthcare," says Maria.

And she’s right.

Meet a working family squeezed in every direction, and learn what changes can help.

Maria and her husband Shawn live in Davenport, Iowa. She works full-time and receives health insurance through her employer. But because of the cost of her medical needs and prescriptions, Medicaid has become an important secondary source of coverage that helps fill in the gaps. Maria and Shawn curr...

19/08/2026

Imagine juggling three different insurance plans to get your child the care she needs. Now imagine, even with all this coverage, still having to wait three years for a single coverage dispute to get resolved.

That's Lauren's life. Her daughter Stephanie lives with several life-threatening conditions and autism. After a kidney transplant, the family arranged overnight nursing care — approved, scheduled, confirmed — only to have their private insurer refuse to pay. It took three years to sort out.

Families going through medical crises shouldn't also have to become full-time insurance coordinators.

"If all of these things were in place, families wouldn't face bankruptcies due to medical debt," Lauren tell us.

But there are solutions. Learn more>>

Lauren is a New Jersey mom whose daughter, Stephanie, lives with five life-threatening conditions and autism. Stephanie has private insurance as her primary coverage and Medicaid as secondary — and for a three-year stretch, she also had Medicare, thus navigating three, overlapping health coverage ...

14/08/2026

Medicaid is a lifeline people can turn to when life changes — and, when fully funded, it can be there again when they need it most.

That’s especially important during pregnancy and early parenthood. Even people with private insurance can face gaps in coverage and costs for prenatal care, childbirth and postpartum care that they simply can’t afford.

Fourteen years ago, Bria was pregnant and struggling to make ends meet. Medicaid helped ensure that she and her baby could get the medical and preventive care they needed.

She hasn’t needed Medicaid for years. But when she did need it, it was there.

Have you relied on Medicaid during your maternal health or reproductive health journey? Share your story and help show why access to care matters: https://pulse.ly/v4nm0jfhdi

13/08/2026

Pregnant with her baby boy, Kayla quickly realized her insurance coverage wasn’t enough for her necessary prenatal care.

That’s when she learned she and her son qualified for Medicaid, so she applied, and she got coverage.

We talked to Kayla after the birth of her son Tru. It turns out the coverage Medicaid provided didn’t just offer peace of mind — it saved their lives when complications arose.

Catch up with Kayla and read her story about why Medicaid matters, especially for Black women’s reproductive and maternal health. Link in bio 🔗

10/08/2026

We have exciting news: Community Catalyst has been selected as a candidate for SXSW 2027!

Now, we’re asking our community to help us earn a spot on the official program by voting for our proposed panel:

"Stories as Power: Advocacy in the AI & Digital Age"

At a time when AI, digital platforms, and misinformation are changing how people find, share, and trust information, storytelling is an increasingly powerful tool for advocacy.

Our panel will explore how lived experience and storytelling can help advocates build community power — and how AI and digital technologies can responsibly amplify those stories, build public trust, and drive meaningful policy change.

You can help bring health justice to the mainstage before August 23:

1. Create a free SXSW account
2. Vote for our panel
3. Leave a comment about why this conversation matters
4. Share the proposal with your friends, colleagues and networks

Vote here: https://pulse.ly/ycquzvokac
Every vote counts!

07/08/2026

“I’m in this because I lost the love of my life,” Terry told us. “I feel her spirit with me everyday and I know she wants me to stay in this fight.

“And I will.”

Even after his wife succumbed to the cancer that they sought treatment for — even after the debt collectors harassed them for medical debt — and even after he experienced the horrible treatment once more when he was later diagnosed with prostate cancer…

Terry fought back.

And in 2024, after sharing his story with Community Catalyst and The North Carolina Justice Center, the media noticed. His story was picked up by national and local media and within months, Atrium Health announced it would forgive Terry’s debt.

This is why our stories matter. And true to his word and his wife’s memory, Terry is staying in the fight to end medical debt. 🤍

Read his story: https://communitycatalyst.org/stories/channeling-grief-into-power-terrys-story/

06/08/2026

Kinda chic to want healthcare for all ✨