We are dedicated community members, elected officials, grassroots organizers, businesses, and non-profits working together to develop local solutions.
Olympic Peninsula Healthy Community Coalition (OPHCC) began in a grassroots project in 2015 between the Olympic Community View Foundation (OCVF) and the Sequim Food Bank to evaluate the Food Bank’s effectiveness. The OCVF funded a grant request by the Food Bank to survey its users, and also meet with community stakeholders to determine whether there was energy to convene to work on communal concerns and share resources.
Community leaders were interested in sharing with others, and our first meeting was held in April, 2015 with a handful of community representatives. The group was eager to work together, and began to develop project ideas to integrate their missions and resources while helping the Sequim-Dungeness Valley become a healthier place to live.
As a step toward future policy and environmental change in our community supporting healthy eating and active lifestyles, the 5210 initiative was launched as our first big step in helping the community. Partnership in the Coalition continues to grow as we build energy, ideas and commitment to change.
Over the last several years, our Coalition has grown to more than 50 partner organizations throughout Clallam County.
Please consider joining with us! Our monthly meetings are at 1:00 PM on the third Wednesday of every month. Learn more about our meetings here.
Our Mission:
Forming partnerships and networks that establish healthy choices as the standard in our community.
The Olympic Peninsula has a higher than usual rate of premature death and chronic disease that can often be better managed or prevented through lifestyle changes such as healthy diet and exercise. The Olympic Peninsula Healthy Community Coalition works to make our community a healthier place to live, learn, work and play.
CONNECT. PARTNER. INSPIRE.
Meet Our Board
MONICA DIXON, PH.D., R.D.
OPHCC FOUNDER AND BOARD DIRECTOR
Monica is a health psychologist, registered dietitian, international author and national motivational speaker with over 30 years in the health promotion arena at the national, state, and local levels.
Dr. Dixon’s expertise in policy and program development, coalition building and communications won her the Center for Disease Control’s “Creative Leadership by Example Award” for building the first-ever statewide obesity prevention coalition here in Washington State.
She is the Founder of the Olympic Peninsula Healthy Communities Coalition and has a seat on Governor Inslee’s Prevention Alliance helping set legislative health priorities for our state.
MARK OZIAS
OPHCC BOARD PRESIDENT & POLICY ADVISOR
Commissioner, Clallam County, District One – Commissioner Ozias is honored to serve as the Clallam County Commissioner representing District One, which is the east end of the county that includes Sequim.
Community health and nutrition are among his primary interests and he is pleased to be a part of the Olympic Peninsula Healthy Community Coalition which is providing essential and visionary leadership in these arenas. Mark’s favorite place to be when not working or cooking is on the Olympic Discovery Trail, walking the dogs and enjoying this amazing place we call home.
REBEKAH MILLER
OPHCC BOARD SECRETARY
Development Coordinator, Peninsula Behavioral Health – Rebekah was recruited by Peninsula Behavioral Health to establish their Development Office in 2012. Her professional background includes working at two Fortune 500 companies in California honing management, finance and corporate training skills, but she always knew that she’d be back in Washington someday.
When presented the opportunity to return to the Olympic Peninsula, she jumped at the chance and feels privileged to be in a position to serve our residents through meaningful nonprofit work. Rebekah earned a degree in English at Washington State University.
ANDRA SMITH
OPHCC BOARD TREASURER
Executive Director, Sequim Food Bank – Since 2016, Andra has been in the director position, but has been active at the Sequim Food Bank for many years, helping with food drives and fundraising as well as bookkeeping. She feels that when living in a rural and somewhat isolated area such as ours, helping each other is essential for success.
As active partners in the Peninsula Food Coalition and the Olympic Peninsula Healthy Community Coalition, Andra and fellow partners are creating a unique network – working together, collaborating, and creating relationships to increasing access of fresh food and creating a healthy community.
DONNA PACHECO
OPHCC BOARD DIRECTOR & MARKETING LIAISON
Senior Marketing Coordinator, Olympic Medical Center – Donna began her career as a typesetter and then desktop production manager at a national and regional magazine publishing company in Colorado.
Now as marketing coordinator at Olympic Medical Center, Donna assists with advertising and marketing efforts, event planning, internal communications and wellness activities. She enjoys supporting the OPHCC in promoting healthy habits.
PATRICIA LEBOWITZ
OPHCC BOARD DIRECTOR
Development Chair Sequim Free Clinic (DVHWC) , Vice President / Secretary Sequim Food Bank – In 2002 Patty moved to Sequim from mid-coast Maine with her husband and daughter. Her first community volunteer experience was with the Sequim VFW assisting with fundraising for the newly started Lloyd Strand Veterans Relief Fund. There she was recruited to join the Sequim Food Bank Board of Directors. In 2012, Patty joined the Board of the Dungeness Valley Health & Wellness Clinic now known as the Sequim Free Clinic.
The Olympic Peninsula Healthy Community Coalition was created from the realization that the Sequim Free Clinic and the Sequim Food Bank share some of the same clientele. Our hope is that by offering healthier choices at the food bank, we can support better health for those in need of our services. This idea has opened up the conversation to others that serve these demographics and how through partnerships and conversations we can support a healthier population.
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