Standing Up for the Bay Area: Wisdom from Lisa Tealer, Executive Director of the Community Health Advisory Council

Hailing from the Bay, Lisa Tealer exemplifies dedication and commitment. After three decades in biotechnology, she now serves as the executive director of the Bay Area Community Health Advisory Council (BACHAC) in San Mateo County, an organization committed to enhancing health within the African American community. Growing up between Bayview Hunters Point and Haight-Ashbury, she reflects on her parents' unique backgrounds—her father from Double Rock and her mother from the Western Addition. They united at a community dance, embodying the migration spirit of many Southern African Americans seeking opportunity in California. Both educators, her parents instilled a strong sense of community service in Tealer. Despite her successful biotech career, she has always actively contributed to community initiatives, drawn to BACHAC by its impactful programs. Tealer emphasizes the importance of self-care as a Black woman in leadership and encourages community members to cherish family moments while advocating for better healthcare. BACHAC’s efforts continue to resonate profoundly in the Bay Area.