Alma C. Stewart Allen

Alma C. Stewart Allen, RN, MS, CCHC is the founder and president of the Louisiana Center for Health Equity (LCHE), a statewide nonpartisan, nonprofit organization.  Established in 2010, LCHE works to eliminate health and healthcare disparities attributable to structural, institutional or social disadvantages. Mrs. Stewart Allen 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. 

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Mrs. Stewart Allen’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 her recognition on national, state and local stages. Notably, in 2018 Mrs. 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. In Summer 2022, she was awarded the 2022 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Equity Award presented by the National Civic League (RWJF -NCL) for individuals dedicated to improving the health within their communities’ using a system change approach. Among 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.  Additionally, in 2021, she organized the efforts of LCHE and the Campaign to Establish Louisiana Office on Women’s Health.  Legislation passed in 2022 to create the office. Currently, Mrs. 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. 

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Mrs. Stewart Allen earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Northwestern State University, a Master of Arts in Human Relations and Supervision from Louisiana Tech University, a Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling from Southern University of Baton Rouge, and a Certificate of Organization Development from Georgetown University. Lastly, Mrs. Stewart Allen is married to Pastor Anthony Allen, Sr. Together they have 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.