Our Impact
We’re excited to be a part of a movement to change the field of public health to be more accountable to health equity and the social determinants of health — and especially to the social justice movements that are organizing their way towards healthier and more equitable communities.
Our research has supported community partners to win policy change and resources for low-income communities and communities of color.
- In Wisconsin, our research on treatment alternatives to prison led to a six-fold increase in funding for drug and mental health courts. Another project in Wisconsin led to the Governor calling for a review of how people are sent back to prison when they are perceived to violate technical conditions of community supervision.
- Youth organizers in San Diego used our research to convince the City and neighborhood residents to build a skatepark in their community, and to dispel myths about the sport’s safety and reputation.
- Organizing partners in Los Angeles used our research on the Farmers Field football stadium to win $15 million for a fund to build low-income housing; agreement from the developer to pay the City’s living wage for on-site jobs; and prioritizing “disadvantaged” workers from the area for many project-related jobs.
“WISDOM worked with HIP on 2 major research projects — in both cases, our campaigns for change benefited from solid, reliable information. HIP’s research helped support and explain the truth known by survivors of the criminal justice system. It helped convince skeptical decision-makers, and it gave a huge boost to the confidence of our grassroots leaders. Best of all, the both projects have resulted in real and significant policy changes.”
Our capacity-building work is leading to mindset change within health departments to advance a more transformational health equity practice.
- We’ve built an intentional learning community that positions emerging public health leaders across the country to advance a more radical health equity practice. Those leaders have impacted practices at their health departments and, more importantly, contributed to policy changes that benefit low-income communities and communities of color.
- We’ve brought targeted training and technical assistance to local health departments on how to implement strategic practices that explicitly address issues of power and oppression in their work.
“HIP’s Leadership Institute changed my trajectory both personally and professionally. Before participating in the program, I was confused about how to operationalize equity, but now I am motivated and confident to take action. I bolstered my skills and knowledge as a result of the curricula and through guidance from HIP staff and program mentors. Even 2 years later, I still maintain regular contact with many people from my cohort.”
Our advocacy and mobilizing are building a movement for health equity.
- Over 1,000 public health professionals have joined Public Health Awakened and are using their energy to protect communities against the harms being advanced at the federal level.
- Health professionals are turning out to use their power and voice in support of issues like bail reform, immigration, paid sick days, minimum wage, and wage theft.
- Organizers are using health evidence and framing in their campaigns, and greater discussion of health impacts in policy-making settings.
“Due to HIP’s efforts to galvanize health professionals during the early days after Trump was elected as the US President, a new organization now exists. Public Health Awakened offers a needed nimble venue for health professionals to mobilize quickly, create organizing and educational resources to deal with specific policies and actions by the Trump Administration, and act in solidarity, without being encumbered by whatever other institutional roles they occupy.”
