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Health Equity Blog

Our blog features perspectives from Health Equity Initiative's team and members, as well as guest authors. We cover cross-sectoral efforts, narratives, news, and stories of hope, healing, community engagement, and partnerships to advance health equity. ​

Fostering Civic Literacy  – an overlooked pathway to achieving health and racial equity

11/15/2020

2 Comments

 
by Alka Mansukhani , Lisa Goren and  Renata Schiavo
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Civic-minded adults begin as engaged students: Many of us may remember studying civics in school, but in fact, in recent years, it has been eliminated from many school curricula throughout the United States. Yet, a basic understanding of how governmental processes work, as well as the rights and obligations of citizenship and governing bodies, from the local to the global level, is essential to make sure that citizens are enabled to contribute to their community (1). Civic literacy is the very bedrock of engagement, and an engaged adult begins with the child.
Sadly, many students are not provided with an opportunity to learn about how their government works and may feel powerless about their ability to make an impact. Some may feel cynical and disconnected from public institutions and from centers of power. Educating students about local government, and modeling how to engage with those in authority would give them access and agency—both in local matters and in decisions affecting their lives. Most importantly, it would provide them with the skills they need to assess the impact of policies throughout their lives.

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‘It’s About Love and Solidarity’: Mutual Aid Unites NYC Neighbors Facing COVID

8/7/2020

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posted by Health Equity Initiative
We are pleased to share this story on the importance of mutual aid during COVID-19 by Kaiser Health News, which was originally posted by our friends and colleagues at The Solutions Journalism Exchange. The story aligns with Health Equity Initiative's focus and advocacy efforts in support of community engagement and mobilization as a key strategy to advance health equity by raising the influence of community voices on intervention design and policy solutions. Mutual aid during the ongoing pandemic has emerged as a key action area to spread solidarity, build community, and help provide important services in our neighborhoods and cities that neither governments nor other organizations would be able to provide to the same extent without the input of community-specific groups and leaders. Enjoy and please share your own thoughts and experience on mutual aid during COVID-19 and beyond! Stay safe! 
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‘It’s About Love and Solidarity’: Mutual Aid Unites NYC Neighbors Facing COVID
By Elizabeth Lawrence, Kaiser Health News, July 27, 2020

NEW YORK CITY — Nancy Perez, a 45-year-old resident of the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant, contracted COVID-19 in March. She stayed quarantined in her room for a month to isolate from her two sons and grandson.

A few days before she got the virus, she’d met a volunteer with Bed-Stuy Strong — one of the many mutual aid groups around the country that have rallied to provide help in the face of the pandemic. Bed-Stuy Strong assembled an army of volunteers to help vulnerable neighbors with food deliveries and basic supplies. While Perez was in isolation, volunteers regularly delivered cooked food for her sons, ages 17 and 20, and her 4-year-old grandson.


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In Solidarity

6/1/2020

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Posted by Renata Schiavo, PhD, MA, CCL on behalf of all of us at Health Equity Initiative
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All our hearts are broken by the pervasive racism and social discrimination that affect too many actions and policies in our society. We wish we had words that could provide meaningful comfort to the mix of outrage, pain, exhaustion, fear, or weariness many in our community are feeling in the wake of recent anti-black violence.
 
We are not sure such words exist, but this we know for sure: We denounce the violence against the black community and stand in solidarity with all the families that have been affected by such violence. As an organization dedicated to advancing health equity and social justice, we cannot be silent as silence means complicity and directly contributes to trauma and to worsening health and social outcomes for black people. Our community stands together and is strengthened in its commitment to advancing health equity and racial equity. 
 
We have a difficult journey ahead of us…but we know that empathy, compassion and active anti-racism should inspire our commitment to justice and to promoting racial healing. As members of our community, we look forward to your ideas, so please share any suggestions we should take into account as we develop our action plan. We are committed to listen and to contribute to our collective work to address racism and social discrimination and transform our future.
 
Please engage because #RacismIsAHealthEquityIssue and #BlackLivesMatter!
 
Take good care everyone and stay safe. 
 
In solidarity from all of us at Health Equity Initiative.


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Looking at how the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified existing health inequities

5/26/2020

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by Upal Basu Roy, PhD, MPH
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It has been literally just about two months since I developed that fateful cough and slight breathlessness barely a month since COVID-19 had entered public health vocabulary. COVID-19 (short for Coronavirus disease-19) is caused by SARS-CoV-2, a type of virus that belongs to the same family of viruses that cause SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome). The World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on March 11, 2020,  reinforcing the contagiousness of this viral disease (1). As public health practitioners, we understand the severity of a viral pandemic that can have devastating consequences on the population. As of today, COVID-19 cases have been detected in all continents except Antarctica. 

​I live in New York City, one of the first epicenters of the disease in the United States. One may automatically assume that NYC is adequately equipped to handle a pandemic the magnitude of COVID-19. I was incredibly lucky to have recuperated from COVID-19 without the need for hospitalization. But that does not stop me from reflecting on the glaring health disparities that COVID-19 has exposed in our community. While this is nothing new to public health practitioners such as myself, let us not underestimate the fact that COVID-19 has only amplified the many health inequities that already plague marginalized racial and ethnic communities in the United States. In other words, these inequities already existed!  The pandemic merely exposed them.


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Communicating about Health Equity: Why Is There So Much Hesitancy among Communication Professionals?

4/28/2020

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by Chelsea Dade
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​“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place,” said George Bernard.
 
I’ve been thinking about the phrase that is circumventing our society, “stay safe at home.” While it’s used as advice to the general public, this term means different things to different people.
​
What if you lack a home? What if you are in an abusive relationship? What if you cannot afford basic amenities to live?
 
As communication professionals, we have to acknowledge that one common message cannot always translate, in words or in actions, for everyone. Just because a message is received, doesn't mean everyone can act upon that message.
 
I’m a Health Communication Specialist who believes in the power of communication to improve health equity. But I’ve found that there is a great deal of hesitation when it comes to health communication professionals communicating about health equity. I’ve broken my hypothesis into three probable reasons. 


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Paid Sick Leave Policy and the Impact on Health Equity

4/20/2020

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by Bree Bode and Friso van Reesema
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​Policy change has the ability to impact health and social outcomes during pandemics such as this unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak. As we know, the COVID-19 pandemic does not discriminate on the basis of geography or whether or not someone has a home where they can shelter-in-place. Rates of infection have been concerning both across urban and rural areas, including New York City and its suburbs, and rural areas in Louisiana, as well as international settings such as Lombardy, Italy. Reducing exposure to COVID-19 is critical to limit infections. As recommended by public health and medical experts, exposure to the virus can be reduced by closing schools, limiting operations of or closing non-essential services, staying home (if you have one) and practicing social distancing. In addition, fair public policies are essential for managing hospitals, COVID-19 testing, and the utilization of ventilators for patients in Intensive Care Units (ICUs).
 
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) includes an Employee Paid Sick Leave Rights provision. Yet, due to the economic disruption COVID-19 has caused, such a provision is insufficient to address ongoing financial insecurities faced by employees—whether they qualify or not for FFCRA benefits. In fact, the FFCRA and the related Paid Sick Leave legislation further expose a variety of health and social inequities that are concerning. Namely, FFCRA does not meet the needs of people who are historically and disproportionately impacted by poverty, which often goes hand in hand with low or no health insurance coverage (1,2). People who don’t qualify for FFCRA benefits and are also disproportionately impacted by poverty are likely to feel challenged by any potential decision of staying home, and reducing exposure, and instead may feel they should go to work, where unfortunately, their risk for contracting COVID-19 would increase.


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COVID-19 is a health equity issue

3/18/2020

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by Renata Schiavo, PhD, MA, CCL
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If you are reading this post, you are likely dealing both as an individual, an organization, and a member of your community with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Us too!

At Health Equity Initiative, we are deeply concerned about the potential impact of this outbreak on vulnerable and marginalized populations both in the United States and globally. These communities are likely to be the most affected by the outbreak as they face many barriers to recommended COVID-19 mitigation measures.

For example, while for many it's a privilege to work from home in these trying times, many Americans are part of the gig economy and/or don't have access to paid leave, so they sadly have to choose between putting food on the table and protecting themselves. Some people may even lose their jobs as restaurants and other facilities are closing worldwide. Across the world, elderly people increasingly live in isolation and lack the kind of community and social support to shop safely for food or make sure they don't run out of life-saving medications for chronic conditions that may affect them. Homeless people and people who live in jails in the United States, or rural communities in many parts of the world may not have the resources (yes, I am talking about soap and water) for complying with something as simple as washing one's hands. Many college students may not have a "home" to go back to because of poverty, marginalization, broken homes, and other socially-determined factors. For people who live in overcrowded homes or shelters, it may not be easy to practice "social distancing." Access to affordable and quality care varies for millions of people. Many immigrants may fear seeking help because of increasing xenophobia and doubts on whether to trust there won't be any legal consequences. And finally, the millions of children who live in poverty in the United States had to wait or are still waiting for new approaches to get the meals they need being delivered outside of schools.


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True Community engagement in neighborhood development

3/15/2020

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by Alka Mansukhani, PhD, MS ​
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We don’t often associate the built environment of our cities as having a major role in health outcomes but as the world’s populations become increasingly city dwelling, the impact of where people live work and play on their overall health is coming sharply into focus. Besides access to affordable health care, access to affordable housing and healthy food markets, and proximity to safe playgrounds, parks, sports fields and community spaces all play a role in contributing to people’s sense of well-being and their health outcomes. In other words, your zip code is more important than your genetic code in determining health outcomes!1,2 
 
All around New York City there is an up-zoning and building frenzy in older neighborhoods, which is creating a mushrooming of highrise luxury towers without enough attention paid to community needs, particularly truly affordable housing. Older residents are being displaced, income inequality and segregation are exacerbated as neighborhood’s communities fragment and infrastructure is strained.  Yes- new development is good, but how can it be made to be more forward-thinking? How can we develop strategies to make it more comprehensive, sustainable and resilient to climate change while addressing the communities’ needs?


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Welcome to our blog

3/1/2020

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We are excited to launch our blog on March 15, 2020. Stay tuned!
by Radhika Ramesh

In the meanwhile, here is a bit of history from our archives. 
Back in 2012, Dr. Renata Schiavo, Health Equity Initiative's Founder and Board President, wrote an inaugural website post on why we need a social movement for health equity. ​​Eight years later, many of the actions suggested in the post are still timely. Read to learn about 5 simple steps to help advance health equity!

​January 6, 2012 at 2:02 am  
We Need A Social Movement for Health Equity! Here Are 5 Easy Ways You Can Help in 2012!
​
by Renata Schiavo
Happy New Year from all of us at Health Equity Initiative! May 2012 bring better chances for better health among vulnerable and underserved populations! Yet, this may not be possible without first building a social movement around health equity issues.

Ask yourself: how often do people in your community, family, organization, and/or professional networks speak about health equity or are even aware that the health experience of vulnerable or underserved populations may differ from the experience of other more privileged groups? How many people know that the place where they live or work, or their ability to access not only healthcare services, but also transportation, adequate housing, education, health information, jobs, social support, or others may affect their opportunity to stay healthy or effectively cope with disease? Not only is good health a fundamental human right, but it is also a necessary pre-condition to secure and maintain jobs or succeed on one’s studies and/or many other small and big endeavors of everyday life. Advancing health equity is key to making sure that people can be happy, self-sustaining and productive in their everyday lives.

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  • Join
    • Become a Member
    • Member Benefits
    • Who should join
    • Member-only Center
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    • Community Building
    • Partnerships
    • Education and Advocacy
    • Training and Capacity-building
    • Racism is a Health Equity Issue Pledge
    • Community Leaders Forums
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events >
      • Summits
      • Socials
      • Webinars
      • Global Health Networking Events
      • Events Series
  • Resources
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    • COVID-19 and Health Equity Resources
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