The conditions in which we live, work, learn, and play significantly impact our health and economic well-being. In turn, our economic stability is a social determinant of health, and our health influences our financial bottom line. The reality is that much of what makes us healthy and financially secure is rooted in our community conditions, and not individual behaviors, and the conditions across communities are not equitable. The socioeconomic and racial disparities in infection and fatality rates during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis have dramatically exposed the racialized connection between wealth and health and offers a unique moment for bold ideas to become reality.
There is broad-based support for radical change – to reimagine systems, policies, programs, and care that promote health and financial resilience for all. Now is the time for philanthropy to invest in innovative pilots, research, advocacy, and organizing to create living conditions that support the health and economic well-being for all of us, as outlined in the latest installment of our health-wealth series.
On September 29th, AFN hosted a webinar to release the paper with featured speakers:
Dr. Annie Harper, Ph.D., Program for Recovery and Community Health, Yale School of Medicine
Joelle-Jude Fontaine, Sr. Program Officer, Human Services, The Kresge Foundation
Dedrick Asante-Muhammad, Chief of Race, Wealth, and Community, National Community Reinvestment Coalition
