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Achieving Health Equity by Building Grassroots Power
To achieve health equity, we must not only have a clear analysis of the causes/effects of disparate health status but also create ways for residents to articulate their views of how their communities are exposed to harm - to build a powerful, cohesive voice of how to improve conditions on the ground.
Our approach:
Catalyzing action with data-driven analysis - we work with community leaders to understand, then frame social/health disparities faced by their communities.
Building Grassroots Power - with social justice partners, we offer technology, research, and strategy support for grassroots organizing with a focus on building the capacity of the movement for the long haul.
Transforming public policy and systems - by advancing just policies that help achieve health equity by providing and protecting positive opportunities; equitable access to and distribution of resources; accountability for state, corporate and foundation responsibility.
Always in partnership with community organizations and engaging community residents, we have improved access to early care and education in underserved Latino neighborhoods, used crime prevention through environmental design to design a community-driven plan to improve the utilization of community resources like parks and libraries, and worked with former gang members to turn the tide on gang violence in the hottest of hotspots in L.A.
Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health educationPlanning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Learning Objectives:
Discuss the many strategies, tactics and approaches from a spectrum of actors that must operate in concert to bring about lasting positive change.
Identify how they might include other sectors in their work to ensure health equity.
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I launched an information and action resource in 2002 that has helped develop advocacy and research initiatives on issues ranging from community health, redistricting, community engagement, education, and public finance. Many of these initiatives, under my direction, have resulted in the reallocation of tens of millions of public and private dollars to the most underserved neighborhoods and have made the needs and health of marginalized communities a priority.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.