Que English: Turning Empathy into Action

In this episode, Rev. Dr. Que English, Director of the Center for Faith-Based & Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, joins us for a fearless, in-depth conversation about her work tackling some of the most pressing social issues of our time. 

 Listen in as she reflects on her upbringing in Spanish Harlem, and how her personal exposure to things like addiction, HIV AIDS, and mental health struggles prepared her to be an “outward-facing pastor” in the Bronx, which she now calls her “mission field.” You’ll also hear the origin story of Not On My Watch, a New York City-based, survivor-led non-profit she founded to combat human trafficking; and the People’s Police Academy, a coalition she built to help bridge the gap between community and law enforcement. 

 All of which led her to her current position at the Department of Health and Human Services, where daily she tackles complex issues ranging from men’s health, to maternal mortality, to infant formula shortages and youth suicide. 

 Before joining HHS, Dr. English served as the former Deputy Director of Faith-Based Initiatives for the Governor’s Office of the State of New York, where she brought together interfaith coalitions to create and implement strategic plans to tackle the state’s most problematic issues. In addition to the non-profit coalitions she’s founded, her background also includes decades working with the criminal justice system, substance abuse issues, health and mental health, human trafficking, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, civil rights, and more.