Joel Clark, Tisha Kenny and Lawrence Williams met at Antioch University West San Francisco, where Joel was Regional Director of the University, Tisha was Director of the Health Administration Master’s Program and Founder/Coordinator of the undergraduate Holistic Health Program, and Larry was a student pursuing his Master's degree in Health Administration. Together, they provided a blend of education, health care skills and knowledge, and focused on creating and strengthening community-based programs and organizations. They understood that larger issues, such as racism, violence, and substance abuse, were critical public health (and not just personal health) problems. All three saw there was a need to support community-driven programs, with the belief in the power of the community to heal itself from these wounds. In 1984 The Health & Human Resource Education Center was founded on this belief.
Joel Clark, Tisha Kenny and Lawrence Williams (L to R)
For the first few years a curriculum was developed and marketed to Bay Area community based organizations to develop/enhance the skills of their employees
HISTORY
to more effectively provide their services. Many of these organizations had grown out of the commitment of individuals to their communities, and those individuals and their staff needed training as their ideas then grew into organizations. Due to unexpected personal circumstances, including Tisha’s third bout of breast cancer, HHREC went on temporary hold. While Joel and Larry were deep in their community work, Larry kept the non-profit incorporation papers up to date, and in 1989, after nearly being crushed under the collapse of the Cypress Freeway during the Loma Prieta earthquake, Tisha stepped forward with her ground-breaking prevention program Health Through Art and re-activated HHREC.
This re-activation included re-assembling the founding Board of Directors: Leroy Looper, Grace Ricco- Pena and Arnold Perkins to continue guiding the agency along with Joel Clark and Larry Williams. Tisha became the agency's first Executive Director.
Since then HHREC has been home to dozens of projects, engaged tens of thousands of local East Bay residents, and been a beacon for the community-voice, creativity, and wellness in Alameda County.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
2013 - Barbara Majak Mental Health Provider of the Year - for HHREC from the Pool of Consumer Champions
2012 - Unsung Hero Award - in recognition of dedicated service and outstanding accomplishments in the field of community based public health, from the National Community-Based Organization Network
2012 - Official Commendation from Alameda County Board of Supervisors - in recognition of receipt of the Unsung Hero Award, from the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, Nate Miley President
2009 - Certificate of Appreciation - on Health Through Art's 20th Anniversary, from ACBHCS, Dr. Marye Thomas Director
2007 - Outstanding Achievement in Prevention - presented to founding-Executive Director Tisha Kenny for being a "Pillar of Prevention" in Alameda County, from the County Alcohol and Drug Administrators Association of California
2003 - First Place, Blair Sadler International Healing Arts Competition - a recognition of excellence for Health Through Art from the Society for the Arts in Healthcare
2003 - Official Commendation from Alameda County Board of Supervisors - in recognition of Health Through Art's 5th Call for Art, from the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, Gail Steele President
2000 - Community Based Organization Award - for HHREC from the Alameda County Tobacco Control Coalition
1996 - Alameda County Public Health Partners Award - for Health Through Art
1994 - Recognition by the International Healthy Cities Foundation - for Health Through Art
1992 - Outstanding Achievement Award - for Health Through Art, by the Association of County Drug & Alcohol Program Administrators of California
1992 - Public Service Advertising Award - for Health Through Art, by the Northern California ADDY