While many of us looked to systems we thought could guide us through COVID-19, we discovered that there were no systems where we expected to find them. What we are calling “system failure” is really system “expectation” failure.  Advocates often work to shift systems to have the greatest impact on the most people, but we must consider whether there is a system to change in the first place and whether a system can create the change we’re seeking. Here are questions we should be asking.

In this Des Moines Register op-ed, HealthConnect Fellow Aubrey Alvarez talks about the role we all play in bridging the gap between the food we have available in our community and those who need it.

In this Des Moines Register op-ed, HealthConnect Fellow Lina Tucker Reinders talks about how COVID-19 is a perfect storm of inequities and what we need to consider as we respond.

As many of us settle into the realization that we must remain isolated for several more weeks to stop the spread of COVID-19, we can start to put structure around this new normal. HealthConnect Fellow Daniel Hoffman-Zinnel has worked with his team at Proteus, Inc. to establish practices that prioritize well-being and maintain energy while working from home.

The food we eat today and the products we use in our home were made, in part, by farmworkers who travel across the country doing difficult, risky work so we have what we need. As we celebrate National Farmworker Awareness Week from March 25-March 31, we encourage you to think about those who are working hard for us and how we, in turn, can support them.

Weight stigma and bias are so common in our society that we often don’t know when we’re exposed to it. Yet, weight stigma can actually perpetuate and worsen health conditions for the children and adults we know and work with in our community. Here’s what you need to know in order to promote a healthier, supportive community.