JIREH Providers Samantha Williams Receives Social Justice Leadership Award

April 30, 2026

Samantha Williams, co-founder of JIREH Providers and a nurse practitioner with over 25 years of experience, has been selected as one of two recipients of the Nancy Jamison Fund for Social Justice Award from among nearly 200 applicants, earning a $50,000 unrestricted grant. Her work focuses on addressing healthcare inequities for African American and Hispanic communities in Southeast San Diego through community-based, culturally responsive care models. Motivated by her own traumatic childbirth experience at age 16, Williams founded JIREH Providers in 2020 to deliver dignified, accessible healthcare that addresses both medical and social determinants of health.

Who is affected

Samantha Williams (award recipient)
African American and Hispanic communities in Southeast San Diego
Uninsured individuals
Unhoused individuals
People hesitant to engage with traditional healthcare systems
Families facing multiple barriers to healthcare access
San Diego Black Nurses Association
JIREH Providers organization
Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties (award presenter)

What action is being taken

Williams is leading JIREH Providers' community-based health model that meets people where they are
JIREH's Test-to-Treat model is bringing testing, treatment, and follow-up care directly into communities
The program is providing holistic support including food, medication delivery, and wellness resources
Williams is challenging traditional power structures in healthcare and redefining equitable care

Why it matters

Williams' work addresses critical, long-standing gaps in healthcare access, trust, and outcomes for communities that have been systematically underserved by traditional medical systems. Her community-led, culturally responsive model demonstrates that sustainable health equity is achieved through partnership with communities rather than top-down interventions. By centering lived experience, listening, and trust-building, she is transforming how healthcare can be delivered to populations facing multiple intersecting barriers, proving that when care is delivered by people who understand the community, health outcomes significantly improve. Her approach challenges existing power structures and offers a blueprint for reimagining healthcare systems to be more just and effective.

What's next

Williams states: "Our current phase of reimagination is only the beginning. This is about transforming systems, shifting power, and building something that will outlive us." However, no explicit next steps stated in the article.

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint