Please find Katrina's bio, recent writings news from CityHealth, downloadable files, and media contacts below.
Katrina Forrest, JD
Co-Executive Director of CityHealth
Complete Biography:
Katrina Forrest serves as the Co-Executive Director of the CityHealth initiative, working to help cities thrive through a set of proven, equity-centered policies that improve people’s day-to-day quality of life, well-being, and health. Before joining CityHealth, Katrina served as both Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for At-Large D.C. Councilmember David Grosso. In that role, she co-managed a team of 10 and drafted more than 50 pieces of original legislation. She was responsible for leveraging community and Council relationships to drive the Councilmember’s legislative agenda and policy priorities, as well as representing the Councilmember before government agencies, community partners, advocates, and other key stakeholders.
Before her work in local and state government, Katrina served as a Compliance Manager with the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) working to advance fair housing and fair lending practices. Through educational training, building partnerships, and bringing private enforcement actions, Katrina served NCRC’s members in urban, suburban, and rural neighborhoods to promote economic justice and mobility for low-wealth individuals and communities.
Katrina earned her bachelor’s degree in administration of justice from George Mason University and her law degree from the University of Illinois-Chicago John Marshall Law School.
About CityHealth:
CityHealth, an initiative of the de Beaumont Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, works to advance a package of tried and tested policy solutions that ensure all people in our largest cities have access to healthy choices. Together with visionary city leaders, CityHealth helps cities adopt policies that can make their communities healthy and resolve critical health disparities — now and decades down the road. Learn more at cityhealth.org.
Recent Media Interviews:
What's the Best Way to Judge How Well a City's Housing Policies Improve Health? SHELTERFORCE
Recent Writings:
6 Lessons We’ve Learned from Our First Year of Co-Leadership; CityHealth Blog
5 Areas Where Cities Will Lead Residents to Better Health in 2021; CityHealth Blog
Shifting From Problem Identification To Problem Solving: CityHealth As An Accountability And Solution-Driving Tool For Governmental Entities; Temple Law Review
The Elephant in the Room: Racism, Public Health, and a Call to Action; CityHealth Blog
How Can Localities Build Strong Earned Sick Leave Laws? National League of Cities Blog
Recent Webinars:
Coming Back Better: Building Healthy, Sustainable, and Resilient Cities post-COVID-19; Boston University Initiative on Cities
Alcohol, Violence and COVID-19: How Cities Can Prevent Violence with Safer Alcohol Sales; American Public Health Association
Recent Podcasts:
Health in Concrete with Katrina Forrest & Chrissie Juliano; America Dissected