Educator, Social Entrepreneur
Eddie Gonzalez-Novoa’s career began in ministry and the arts, providing a strong ethical and creative foundation. With more than 35 years dedicated to the well-being of marginalized communities, his work spans early childhood and HIV prevention, addressing issues like stigma, racism, mental health and access to housing and employment. In 2013, Gonzalez-Novoa left his role as an executive director of Public Allies New York to help his nephew, a cancer survivor, launch the Survivor Games, supporting teens with cancer through video games. This led to consulting with med tech startups in pediatrics, cardiology and aging care, and in 2019 he co-founded SXSW’s Health Equity Innovation Summit, uniting partners from health, tech and social sectors to support marginalized communities. In his current role at Liberation Health Strategies, Gonzalez-Novoa focuses on equity, diversity and inclusion in violence prevention and emergency response planning, coordinating healing, education and advocacy initiatives for various clients, including the New York City Department of Health and the American Medical Association. He is a recipient of the Echoing Green Social Entrepreneur Fellowship, the National Urban Fellows America’s Leaders of Change Fellowship and the 2019 Top 40 Health Transformers Award.