Alma Stewart Allen

Alma C. Stewart Allen, RN, MS, CCHC is the founder and president of the Louisiana Center for Health Equity, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization.  Established in 2010, LCHE works to eliminate health and healthcare disparities attributable to structural, institutional or social disadvantages. Ms. Stewart is a registered nurse, former career state civil servant, entrepreneur, and an avid public health advocate. Throughout her decades long career, she has testified during countless legislative hearings, spearheaded numerous advocacy campaigns and addressed social and political determinants of health in a manner that boldly places the needs of disparate populations at the forefront of Louisiana's political and social agenda. 

Alma's strong convictions as a woman of faith coupled with her tireless civic engagement and uncanny ability to engage community stakeholders at the grassroots level have earned recognition on national, state and local stages. Notably, in 2018 Ms. Stewart Allen was recognized nationally as the recipient of the NAACP Montague A. Cobb Award for her outstanding efforts to advance health policy, health advocacy, and social justice in the State of Louisiana. Shortly thereafter, she was selected by the Annie E. Casey foundation to join public health leaders from across the country as a member of the Children's Health Leadership Network. She is an LSU Women’s Services 2020 Esprit de Femme honoree.

As leader of LCHE, one of her most noteworthy accomplishments to date was organizing and leading a broad coalition, the Campaign for Healthcare for Everyone – Louisiana, to advocate for access to healthcare coverage through Medicaid expansion. After a three-year battle for this policy, in January 2016, Louisiana became the first state in the Deep South to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act closing the coverage gap for over 500,000 adults who now have health insurance.

Currently, Ms. Stewart Allen is championing the LCHE Bold Vision LA40by2030 to improve the health outcomes and quality of life for Louisiana children and families as she passionately advocates especially for women and children. She is also the host of Today's Health Topics, a weekly radio show on WTQT 106.1 FM, Facebook Live and the worldwide web far-reaching local, national and international audiences. 

Ms. Stewart Allen is married to Pastor Anthony Allen, Sr. She is a proud mother of five sons, Bruce and Jerald Stewart, Hakeem, Justin and Anthony Allen, a grand and great grandmother and enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends.