Partnership for Public Health NH celebrates community heroes, launches new podcast at annual meeting

LACONIA — Partnership for Public Health hosted its annual meeting, bringing together community partners, board members, sponsors, and advocates for an afternoon of recognition, reflection, and forward momentum. This year's event — themed around the power of partnership — celebrated the individuals and organizations working to build safer, healthier communities across the Lakes Region and beyond.

Community Health Champion: Laura Milliken & NH Hunger Solutions

PPH presented its annual Community Health Champion Award to Laura Milliken and the team at NH Hunger Solutions, recognizing their extraordinary leadership in addressing food insecurity across New Hampshire. Milliken was cited for her rapid, strategic response to this year's federal and state-level disruptions to hunger and SNAP programs, her work coordinating school meal initiatives across districts, and her tireless advocacy on behalf of vulnerable families.

Volunteer of the Year: Maggie Lohman

PPH honored Maggie Lohman, a school nurse and community partner, as its Volunteer of the Year. Lohman was recognized for her contributions to the Lakes Region Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Medical Reserve Corps, including teaching splinting skills to students at Teen CERT Summer Camp, coordinating critical community resources, and providing calm, skilled support during an emergency displacement at a local assisted living facility.

Podcast Launch: Better Together

The annual meeting also marked the official launch of “Better Together,” PPH's new podcast. Hosted by Jonathan Lile-Sexton, the show features conversations with partners, advocates, and community voices on the issues shaping public health in the Lakes Region.

“Public health has a trust problem right now. We all know it," said Lile-Sexton. “‘Better Together’ is our answer to that — one conversation at a time, one community voice at a Time.”

The debut season includes three episodes: a pilot introducing PPH; Going Upstream, on what public health actually does, featuring Former Gilford Fire Chief John Beland; and Not In My Backyard, on recovery housing, featuring Adam Moulton, founder of Reverence House in Laconia. Episodes are available now wherever you listen to podcasts.

Panel discussion

The afternoon concluded with a moderated panel discussion led by Andy DeMeo, creator and host of Granite Goodness — a Substack-based publication focused on solutions-oriented stories from across New England. DeMeo facilitated a conversation among area nonprofit leaders and state officials on the challenges and opportunities facing the region's public health ecosystem. As well as how community service organizations can become one collective voice regarding their heroic value to communities they serve.