How we can begin to find peace in 2021

As we enter 2021, many of us are wishing for peace in the new year. Wishing isn’t enough. To achieve peace, the noun, we need peace to be a verb. The Black Lives Matter movement tells us how to do this: No justice, no peace; know justice, know peace.

The new year provides a fresh opportunity to ask why we have pervasive inequities and how can we best align our resources to promote communities that thrive both in health and economically. Here are three places to start our journey toward peace:

1. Consider why we have disparities and the impact those disparities have on our community.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to demonstrate how our individual health is connected to the well-being of the community and our economy. Collective responsibility and care for our neighbors undoubtedly make our communities thrive. Yet, 2020 highlighted the disparities that too many live with daily. Black men and women, people with disabilities and chronic conditions, and those who are incarcerated, for example, don’t just suffer the disproportionate physical effects of COVID by chance. They suffer because of chronic underinvestment in our communities, education systems, jobs training, and restorative justice programs.

The COVID long-haulers will be more than those with lingering physical concerns. They will include those who have suffered unemployment, overdue rent and mortgages, food insecurity, widened education gaps, and more. These conditions disproportionately affect people of color, single parents, and those with physical and mental disabilities and will cause generational impacts to our workforce and the vitality of our communities. Because these disparities are rooted in policy decisions and funding priorities, we cannot expect equity in recovery without policies and decisions that are intentionally designed to protect and advantage the groups of people that have been historically marginalized.

By better understanding the root causes of these disparities, we can begin to create changes needed to improve the health of all Iowans.

2. Ask how we can better align our resources to address these disparities.

When making a decision, we must pause to ask the questions: “Who does this decision benefit?” “Who does it harm?” “Who was not considered or consulted?” and “How can it be improved?”

Health Equity Impact Assessments are policy-making tools that use data to answer these questions before final decisions and financial allocations are made. Decision makers should work closely with Iowa’s public health experts to ensure that we amplify the positive, mitigate the negative, and maximize the investment of Iowa taxpayers in systems that will create prosperous communities that benefit everyone.

2020 has given us the opportunity to recognize and act on the root causes of disparate health and economic achievement we see across Iowa, such as poverty, racial inequality, education gaps, food insecurity, and lack of access to health care. Undoubtedly, there are both immediate needs and systemic injustices that must be addressed. It’s easier and feels more heroic to address the immediate needs. But if we don’t fix the systems that contributed to the need, we will have wasted the lessons of 2020 and missed this unique opportunity to strengthen employment, reduce poverty, and expand prosperity for all Iowans.

3. Invest in public health.

Iowa's public health professionals have the skills, relationships, and the passion to help lead the effort toward equity. What they don't have is sustainable, predictable, and flexible funding. Local public health departments serve as Chief Health Strategists within their community. In this role, they build the cross-sector partnerships needed to address Iowa's pressing health equity issues, including mental health, obesity, access to care, and more. Pervasive problems require persistent action. Investments in our public health system allow for the action necessary to create a healthy and equitable Iowa.

Now is the time to act

Ultimately, we have a choice. We can act on the injustices that have become all too visible OR we can “return to normal.” We cannot do both. By simply returning to normal, we will know neither justice nor peace.

Join us in advocating for justice. Learn more about Iowa Public Health’s advocacy priorities here.

Photo caption: Lina Tucker Reinders and family marching for equity in Des Moines, summer 2020

Related Issues & Ideas

Report

The Economic Realities of Communities of Color in Iowa

View The Economic Realities of Communities of Color in Iowa
Report

Economic Burden of Health Inequities in the U.S.

View Economic Burden of Health Inequities in the U.S.
Report

2023 County Health Rankings National Findings Report

View 2023 County Health Rankings National Findings Report
Article

Graphic on Equality vs. Equity

View Graphic on Equality vs. Equity
Article

Q&A: REED partners share the power in holding space for rest, healing, collective learning

View Q&A: REED partners share the power in holding space for rest, healing, collective learning
Report

2021 Community Health Needs Assessment

View 2021 Community Health Needs Assessment
White Paper

The Link Between Stillbirth & Maternal Mortality and Morbidity: Firsthand Accounts from American Women

View The Link Between Stillbirth & Maternal Mortality and Morbidity: Firsthand Accounts from American Women
White Paper

Strengths of Latinx Immigrants Despite Legal Violence

View Strengths of Latinx Immigrants Despite Legal Violence
Article

Why building community power is vital for philanthropy

View Why building community power is vital for philanthropy
Report

A Caring, Connected Community: How Greater Des Moines nonprofits met our needs during the pandemic

View A Caring, Connected Community: How Greater Des Moines nonprofits met our needs during the pandemic
Report

The Intersection of Racial Injustice and Youth Health in Central Iowa

View The Intersection of Racial Injustice and Youth Health in Central Iowa
Website

The United States Prosperity Index 2021

View The United States Prosperity Index 2021
Website

Make It Okay messaging in multiple languages

View Make It Okay messaging in multiple languages
Article

8 Ways People of Color are Tokenized in Nonprofits

View 8 Ways People of Color are Tokenized in Nonprofits
Article

Building a Trust-Based Philanthropy to Shift Power Back to Communities

View Building a Trust-Based Philanthropy to Shift Power Back to Communities
Website

Frameworks Institute: Changing the conversation on social issues

View Frameworks Institute: Changing the conversation on social issues
Website

Framing best practices with Topos Partnership

View Framing best practices with Topos Partnership

Bridging Gaps: The Crucial Role of Training Medical Students in Culturally Responsive Care

Des Moines University expands current educational offerings related to providing culturally and socially responsive care.

View Story
View Story

Creating Space for Change

Advocates connect through a shared commitment to improve health outcomes.

View Story
View Story

Centering People in Community Planning

Amal Barre's research and advocacy efforts address housing instability and the sense of belonging in the community.

View Story
View Story

Launching the Basic Income Pilot with Community

How UpLift's collaboration with many partners led to greater impact

View Story
View Story

Amplifying Philanthropy’s Impact

Iowa funders are making shifts to center communities and advance equity.

View Story
View Story

Healthy Homes Redefines Community Collaboration

Working together to improve housing is leading to better health outcomes.

View Story
View Story

A Food is Medicine Approach to Health Care

An incentive program has provided a model for increasing access to nutritious foods and improving health outcomes.

View Story
View Story

Cultivating the Soil for Culturally Responsive Health Care

DMU is transforming the way health sciences education is delivered.

View Story
View Story

Zeroing in on Health Needs

A needs assessment of Oakridge Neighborhood residents is informing ways to improve health and well-being

View Story
View Story

Doula Care Becomes Essential Health Care

An Iowa Doula Project is expanding community-based health care to improve Black maternal health outcomes.

View Story
View Story

Improving Health through Community Advocacy

How AMOS engaged hundreds of advocates to push for a children's mental health crisis response system

View Story
View Story

Media's Role in Improving Health

How support to Iowa Public Radio is building awareness of factors that influence well-being

View Story
View Story

Latinx Project Tells Story of Strength and Opportunity

New report highlights central Iowa Latinos contributions and disparities and elevates Latinx leaders

View Story
View Story

Improving Health through Social Supports

MercyOne's community health worker model improves outcomes for families.

View Story
View Story

Re-Imagining How Iowa's Systems Work Together to Best Serve Families

The Vision Council has led conversations on how Iowa's families and children can be safe, secure, healthy, and well in our communities.

View Story
View Story

Champions for Change: A Collective Commitment to Children's Health

Outcomes from Mid-Iowa Health Foundation's HealthConnect Fellowship, October 2019-June 2021

View Story
View Story

Elevating the Latinx Community

How nonprofit leaders brought attention to the Latinx community and built new systems of support during the pandemic

View Story
View Story

Central Iowa Youth Drive Change for Better Health

uVoice high school students commit to learning about and addressing issues, including vaping and racial justice, in central Iowa.

View Story
View Story

The Dream Cube: Art for Social Impact

The Dream Cube, a monolithic structure constructed of pillows piled 8-feet high, popped up in downtown Des Moines late last fall. The provocative piece sparked conversations about the potential of our youth—if they have a safe place to dream.

View Story
View Story

How Youth Are Driving Community Efforts to End Homelessness

dsm Magazine features a unique collaboration that is engaging youth who’ve experienced homelessness in identifying new solutions to address this issue in central Iowa.

View Story
View Story

Creating a Culture of Inclusivity

View Post

How Community Health Workers Can Improve Heart Health

View Post

How Medical-Legal Partnerships Can Link Systems to Improve Health Outcomes

View Post

Creating a Culture of Sustainability in Helping Professions

View Post

Meet Dr. Daniel Zinnel, Incoming Mid-Iowa Health Foundation Board Member

Foundation news
Aug 2, 2023
View Post

Using Data for Systems-Level Advocacy

Advocacy
Jul 28, 2023
View Post

7 Benefits of a Statewide System Approach to Community Health Work

View Post

Why I Advocate for Heart Disease Preventive Strategies

View Post

4 Ways to Center Youth in Mental Health Conversations

View Post

Economic Burden of Health Inequities: 5 Insights to Inform Action

View Post

Disability Rights Attorney Shares What Iowans Should Know About Medicaid

View Post

Health Equity Work in Action: What Funders Should Know

Funder practices
Apr 5, 2023
View Post

Basic Income: 4 Things to Know

Partnerships
Apr 4, 2023
View Post

Prioritizing Advocacy: How a Nonprofit Created a Full-Time Role

Advocacy
Feb 1, 2023
View Post

Meet the team leading UpLift – The Central Iowa Basic Income Pilot

View Post

HealthConnect Fellows: Engaging authentically in systems change

View Post

7 insights gained through a nonprofit merger

Foundation grants
Nov 17, 2022
View Post

Six Elements to Consider with Community Conversations

View Post

Community-Based Participatory Research: What to Know

View Post

How student research informed the basic income project

Action planning
Sep 20, 2022
View Post