Donate
News, Press Release

La Colaborativa Selected for Federal Health Innovation Network

La Colaborativa
January 14, 2026

La Colaborativa Joins a Nationwide Network Working to Accelerate Transformative Health Solutions through ARPA-H

Chelsea, MA — La Colaborativa, a preeminent nonprofit organization committed to enhancing the welfare of Chelsea and the Metro North Region, has been designated as a Spoke for the prestigious  Investor Catalyst Hub, a nationwide health innovation network launched by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). The designation is emblematic of the unique, community-driven solutions La Colaborativa undertakes to holistically address health disparities through its triage model. 

“From racing door-to-door to safeguard residents from COVID-19 to providing healthcare to all, regardless of income,, La Colaborativa is committed to uplifting the wellbeing of our community,” announced Gladys Vega, President of La Colaborativa. “After spearheading efforts to have the ARPA-H Hub established in Cambridge, I’m thrilled that we’ve been designated to work in partnership with the Investor Catalyst Hub.” 

“Addressing the most daunting challenges of healthcare affecting our community requires a thoughtful, holistic approach that leverages  housing, nutrition, and economic mobility to promote positive health outcomes,”  stated Dinanyili Paulino, Executive Vice President. “We look forward to elevating our community through this partnership.” 

Through this endeavor, La Colaborativa gains access to potential funding and flexible contracting for faster award execution compared to traditional government contracts. Spoke membership also offers opportunities to provide input on ARPA-H challenge areas and priorities, along with access to valuable networking opportunities and a robust resource library.

“Harnessing our varied experience, this partnership will enable La Colaborativa to pioneer the design, piloting, and creation of new solutions that tackle healthcare access, nutrition, economic security, and the built environment, with the goal of fundamentally reshaping the healthcare system to the benefit of our community,” announced Alex Train, COO, La Colaborativa. 

Based in the Greater Boston area and managed by VentureWell, the ARPA-H Investor Catalyst Hub seeks to accelerate the commercialization of groundbreaking and accessible biomedical solutions. It utilizes an innovative hub-and-spoke model designed to reach a wide range of organizations, with the ultimate aim of delivering scalable healthcare outcomes for all Americans. 

La Colaborativa joins a dynamic nationwide network of organizations aligned to ARPA-H’s overarching mission to improve health outcomes through the following research focus areas: health science futures, proactive health, scalable solutions, and resilient systems. Investor Catalyst Hub spokes represent a broad spectrum of expertise, geographic diversity, and community perspectives. 

“Our vibrant spoke network reflects a robust range of experts with a shared commitment to closing gaps in innovation,” said Chelsea Schiller, Director of the Investor Catalyst Hub. “By building connections between our network and ARPA-H programs, we can help speed up the transition of innovative ideas into sustainable health solutions for all.” 

The spoke network will continue to grow as the Investor Catalyst Hub expands its efforts, with applications being selected on a rolling basis. Interested organizations can visit https://investorcatalysthub.org/ to learn more or submit a membership application. 

Related Posts

Land Acknowledgment

At La Colaborativa, we believe that building a more just, equitable, and healthy future begins with recognizing the histories of the land and the communities that came before us, while confronting the systemic inequities that continue to shape our society today.

We acknowledge that La Colaborativa is located in Winnisimmet, now known as Chelsea, Massachusetts, on the ancestral and unceded homeland of the Massachusett People, whose deep connections to this land, culture, and community endure today.

We honor the Indigenous peoples who have stewarded this land for generations and recognize the lasting consequences of colonization, forced displacement, dispossession, and systemic injustice. These histories are not simply part of the past. Their legacies continue to influence access to land, housing, healthcare, education, economic opportunity, and the resources that allow individuals, families, and communities to thrive.

At La Colaborativa, we understand that health equity cannot be achieved without addressing the social determinants of health, the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age.

Structural racism, poverty, housing instability, food insecurity, and barriers to education, employment, and healthcare disproportionately affect immigrant, Indigenous, and historically marginalized communities, perpetuating cycles of inequality across generations.

This understanding is at the heart of La Colaborativa's holistic, community-driven model. Our work recognizes that the challenges facing our communities are deeply interconnected and cannot be addressed in isolation. By integrating housing stability, food access, healthcare, workforce development, education, economic mobility, and community advocacy, we work to address the root causes of inequity, strengthen community resilience, and create pathways toward lasting social and economic opportunity.

Rooted in our mission of Levantando al Pueblo, we believe that meaningful change begins by centering the voices, experiences, cultural identities, and leadership of the communities most affected by systemic injustice. Just as we honor the resilience and enduring presence of Indigenous peoples, we recognize the strength of immigrant families and historically marginalized communities who continue to shape our collective future.

For us, a land acknowledgment is more than a statement of respect. It is a reminder of our responsibility to turn recognition into meaningful action, challenge the systems that perpetuate inequality, and advance a model of community well-being grounded in dignity, belonging, self-determination, and justice.

We offer this acknowledgment with respect and gratitude to the Massachusett People, their ancestors, elders, and present-day communities, and with a continued commitment to learning, solidarity, and building a future where every community has the resources, opportunities, and power to thrive.