Joining Forces for Community Power and Health Equity
Updated: Aug 22, 2023
We are thrilled to announce that our organization, Allies in Caring, has been selected to join an inspiring new initiative - the Community Power Global Learning Exchange program! This collaborative effort aims to foster connections and share innovative approaches among groups working to build community power and advance health equity in the US and worldwide.
What is the Community Power Global Learning Exchange?
The Community Power Global Learning Exchange is an exciting new program launched by Root Change with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The goal is to enable participating organizations to learn from each other, build relationships, and explore creative solutions to persistent community health challenges.
After an extensive selection, Root Change chose seven remarkable groups doing groundbreaking work to promote inclusion, racial justice, community voice, and equity. Our organization is honored to be among this cohort of change makers! The other inspiring participants are:
Yanawana Herbolarios - San Antonio, TX
Co-op Dayton - Dayton, OH
Esperanza Peace and Justice Center - San Antonio, TX
St. Louis Regional Health Commission - St. Louis, MO
University of New Mexico - Health Sciences Center: Office for Community Health - Community Health Worker Initiatives - Albuquerque, NM
The Harriet Tubman Effect - Brooklyn, NY
Together, we aim to tackle a crucial question: "How can we identify and adapt innovative ideas from beyond our borders to advance health equity in the United States?" Exciting stuff!
Why This Exchange Matters
As our CEO Ivette Guillermo-McGahee says, "At Allies in Caring, we are interested in exploring innovative approaches to achieving impact in our efforts to build community power. We are thrilled to join this program and exchange ideas with creative, daring individuals worldwide."
Too often, organizations get stuck in silos, focusing only on the immediate needs of their communities. This program enables us to zoom out and explore the bigger-picture questions:
How can we build the kind of communities we want to live in?
What possibilities could we discover if we push past our comfort zones?
How might sharing resources more equitably allow everyone to unlock their inner power?
Join Us for the Journey!
On July 17th, we attended the Community Power Global Learning Exchange kickoff in San Antonio. It was an incredible gathering of courageous leaders from diverse backgrounds. The energy in the room was palpable!
In the months ahead, we'll be collaborating with our partner organizations to:
Share challenges and success stories
Brainstorm bold new approaches
Reflect on what we learn through the exchange
We don't have all the answers yet - that's the point! This initiative embraces curiosity, camaraderie, and a commitment to health equity that crosses borders.
We hope you join us on this journey. Share your insights in the comments - we'd love to keep the conversation going!