Our Founder

Lindsey Azar Turco, MPH, CPH, CHES

Hi, I’m Lindsey Turco—a public health professional, mom of three, community advocate, and founder of Catalyst for Communities.

I’ve spent over a decade working at the intersection of health equity, prevention, and community engagement. My mission? To empower underserved communities with the tools, education, and resources they need to thrive—without barriers, judgment, or red tape.

With experience in tobacco control policy, grant writing, program coordination, and health education, I’ve led local initiatives that make a real difference—especially in rural communities like Citrus County, Florida, where over 75% of our youth are considered low-income.

I’ve coordinated public health programs through state and federal grants, developed health equity training tools, facilitated trauma-informed youth cessation classes, and built partnerships across schools, nonprofits, and local governments. I’ve also worked on maternal and child health, excessive alcohol use prevention, and rural health literacy.

I created Catalyst for Communities to close the gap between what communities need and what’s traditionally funded or prioritized. I believe in meeting people where they are, using real-life experience, empathy, and evidence to drive change. I’m not afraid to get creative, dig into policy, or deliver a youth class with crayons, glitter, and grit.

Whether I’m building a toolkit for schools, leading a coalition, or securing supplies for a youth group—this work is deeply personal, and it matters.

Experience & Credentials:

Citrus County 2024 Forty Under 40 Honoree
Bachelors in Nutrition
Masters in Public Health
Certified Health Education Specialist
Board Certified in Public Health
Certified N-O-T (Not on Tobacco) Facilitator
Board Member for Citrus County Rural Health
Licensed 4x4 Youth Soccer Coach
Member of American Public Health Association and Florida Public Health Association
Member of Learning Disabilities Association of America