Strengthening New Jersey’s Health Equity Network: Alliance VP Marissa Davis Co-MC’d RWJF Statewide Grantee Convening - October 2025 Newsletter

On September 11, about 200 leaders from across New Jersey gathered in Princeton for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s (RWJF) statewide grantee convening. This one-day meeting was designed to strengthen the network of people and organizations working to advance health and racial equity across our state. Together, participants engaged in co-learning, coordinated strategies to build and sustain community power, and took time to recharge in the face of ongoing challenges.

The New Jersey YMCA State Alliance was proud that our own Marissa Davis, Vice President of Community Impact, served as co-MC of the convening. In this role, Marissa helped set the tone for a day grounded in connection, collaboration, and shared purpose. Her leadership reflected the YMCA’s ongoing commitment to youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility — all key threads in New Jersey’s broader equity agenda.

As New Jersey’s largest private health philanthropy, RWJF played a unique role as both funder and convener. Their commitment to health equity is rooted in a vision that every resident — regardless of race, income, or ZIP code — has the opportunity to live their healthiest life possible. The Foundation’s statewide investments span maternal and infant health, housing, public health infrastructure, and long-term community partnerships. Beyond grantmaking, RWJF brought people together across sectors to identify synergies, share learning, and accelerate impact.

The NJ YMCA State Alliance celebrated Marissa’s leadership on this statewide stage and looks forward to continuing to bring lessons from the convening back to strengthen our own collective impact. By showing up as learners, collaborators, and partners, we join RWJF in carrying forward the vision of a healthier, more equitable New Jersey.