Laurinda Dodgen is the Associate Vice President, Community Engagement for Molina Healthcare of Illinois. She previously worked for AARP as a community strategist where her efforts were focused on political and community based changes that improve the lives of individuals 50 plus and their families. She has extensive experience working collaboratively with community, governmental and business partners to address public health needs. She led the AARP state office in engaging communities of color and lobbied to pass the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program (SB2758) that was endorsed by the Black and Hispanic caucuses. Laurinda co-founded the International Sports Exchange Program, a youth sports based exchange program between the US and Turkey. She also co-created a national college tour program for high school teens that has served over 500 students since inception in 2015. She serves is the Vice Chair on the Board of Directors for Chicago Housing Authority’s (CHA) non-profit Springboard to Success and is a 2018 fellow in Crain’s Leadership Academy and Executive Leadership Council. Laurinda received her BA in Kinesiology and a Masters of Public Health Administration from Northern Illinois University. She also holds a Masters of Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University. Laurinda recently completed her Bachelors of Nursing at Methodist College in Peoria, IL and is a registered nurse.