Last week, community members, public health advocates, and organizations focused on improving health equity came together at the Maternity Care Coalition’s Kensington office for the second community advocacy forum with the Collaboration for Equitable Health in Philadelphia. The Collaboration for Equitable Health is a health equity initiative powered by Bank of America, in collaboration with the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association®, the American Cancer Society, and the University of Michigan School of Public Health to advance health outcomes for Black, Hispanic-Latino, Asian American, Native American individual, and communities. This initiative addresses the top five leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, stroke, and diabetes.
This forum was the second in an ongoing series to discuss advocacy opportunities and initiatives to build resilient and healthier neighborhoods. Opening remarks were offered by Maternity Care Coalition CEO Marianne Fray, who discussed the importance of amplifying community voice to drive policy change, the work being achieved by the CFEH, and the local advocacy and community impact of the Maternity Care Coalition.
Community members then joined in small working groups to discuss power-mapping to achieve improved health outcomes. This discussion included conversations about who has the most influence over specific policies, the key stakeholders, and who is missing from our current collaborative efforts and partnerships to drive positive policy change that improves health equity. This power-mapping exercise and conversation will help to inform the Collaboration’s advocate pillar work.
At the first community advocacy forum held in October 2023, community members at North 10 identified four key areas of focus for the collaboration’s advocate pillar: addressing nutrition insecurity, improving maternal health outcomes, increasing access to care, and targeting neighborhood investments. The Collaboration for Equitable Health will be hosting its third community advocacy forum this spring and will be working with partners and community members on additional training and advocacy opportunities.
The forum was only one of the first steps in the Philadelphia Collaboration for Equitable Health’s plan to leverage advocacy to improve health outcomes. If your organization would like to participate in next steps and discussions, please contact Jada Dove at [email protected].
About Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 69 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,900 retail financial centers, approximately 15,000 ATMs (automated teller machines) and award-winning digital banking with approximately 57 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and more than 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BAC).
About the American Heart Association®
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
About the American Cancer Society®
At the American Cancer Society, we have a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. We’re improving the lives of cancer patients and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.
About the American Diabetes Association®
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization fighting to bend the curve on the diabetes epidemic and help people living with diabetes thrive. For 83 years the ADA has driven discovery and research to treat, manage, and prevent diabetes while working relentlessly for a cure. Through advocacy, program development, and education we aim to improve the quality of life for over 133 million Americans living with diabetes or prediabetes. Diabetes has brought us together. What we do next will make us Connected for Life. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383). Join the fight with us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Spanish Facebook (Asociación Americana de la Diabetes), LinkedIn (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn), and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).