Community Activism: How You Can Help
By: Travis Howlette B.S., Jeff Wisniowski B.S., MPH and Kelsey Anilionis B.S.
Health Equality Peer Educator Training (HEPE)
SPONSORS
Student Speaker
Kelsey Anilionis, Health Science Major (2011), Northeastern University, Pre-PA
Jeff Wisniowski B.S./MPH Candidate
Travis Howlette B.S. Health Science 2011
Aim and Purpose of this Lecture Series
Take aways for this lecture
Introduction
Putting together the pieces of the other lectures
Why is this important now? High priority Affordable Care Act Budget:
Health disparities Education
Terminology
Advocacy: active support of an idea or cause
Lobbyist: a form of advocacy with the intention of influencing legislators
Legislators: any officials elected by members of your community
Show of hands…Who has… Talked with an elected official, whether a city council member, member of
your school board, legislator? Written a letter to an elected official? Picketed or demonstrated? Written a letter to the editor? Talked to a reporter? Attended or testified at a public hearing? Participated in a community forum about an issue in the community? Voted? Told a story about something that’s happened that you think should be
changed or done differently (at your school, etc)? Participated in a committee that’s trying to change systems or policies (youth
group, organization or club)
Developed by the Detroit Community-Academic Urban Research Center http://detroiturc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18#16
Community Activism/Advocacy
Advance planning What do you want to achieve? Who has the power to make those
outcomes happen? How will you make this change? When will each step of your
advocacy plan take place? Activism can be many things!
Volunteering Raising awareness Policy Change
Health Policy
“Health policy refers to decisions, plans, and actions that are undertaken to achieve specific health care goals within a society.”
Policy model:
Kingdon 3 Stream Model
Source: World Health Organization http://www.who.int/topics/health_policy/en/
Things to think about Raise awareness
Develop a strategy
Support ongoing efforts
What is your community doing?
Boston, MA CriticalMASS
Seeks to build a statewide, multicultural network to advance the elimination of racial & ethnic health disparities, develop a clearinghouse for current research and practice initiatives related to the reduction of health disparities, create a statewide, strategic planning process for the reduction of health disparities.
CCHERS integrate education, service, and research to
eliminate persistent disparities in health of racial and ethnic minorities by ensuring health access, equity, and justice
HEALTH DISPARITIES STUDENT COLLABORATIVE (HDSC) Student group under CCHERS/Critical
MASS Partnership with non-profits Mission: The Health Disparities Student
Collaborative is a collaboration of students and community members who believe that together we can achieve health equity through education, advocacy and service.
Examples of Education: Guest lecturers for student body
meetings This training for the CBPHC YC, and
other students FL, MI, CA, CT, NY, MA, WA
HDSC CONTINUED…
Examples of Advocacy:State house lobbyingPartnership with
Disparities Action Network and Health Care for All
Examples of Service: Mentoring program at
EMKHorizons for the Homeless Internship/Volunteer
Placements
YOU AND HDSC
HDSC is a group framework model Feel free to start one in
your school and we can provide help
Join us on facebook: www.facebook.com/hdscneu
Email us: [email protected]
What is your community doing?
Flint, MI YOUR Center
Guest Speaker: Terrance Campbell
Chat time!
We want to hear what you have done in your community!
Feel free to use the chat box on the right side of the screen
Determine who you need to influence
Who is interested in your issue, and who has the power to do something about it?
State senators/representatives, city council
Go to your state’s government website Most likely “the name of your state .gov”
Developed by CriticalMASS; available in toolkit: Taking Community Action on Health Disparities
Figure out what persuades them
Convince them it is both in the community’s and their best interest to put your solution into practice
Votes
Convince the community that your issue is their issue too
Need full community support
The legislator is looking for votes!
Use the media!
Community presentation- invite local newspaper or television station to cover it
Send a “press release” to the local media
Find reporters interested in your topic
Control your message
Keep your focus so your message is clear
Positivity! Advance your cause and lead people to join you
Make your legislators your allies
Voting is power
Compelling cause and votes to back it up
Be patient! There are a lot of issues and people determined
to make a difference
Policy Change Strategies Circulate a petition Organize a demonstration Conduct visits with public officials Generate letters of support Create a mass media campaign Mobilize residents to speak at a public hearing Organize a town hall meeting Identify, support, and elect local community
members to public office
Developed by the Detroit Community-Academic Urban Research Center http://detroiturc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18#16
Activity!
I am a legislator I need a volunteer
You are coming into my office with a small interest group
Try to convince me that legislation should be passed requiring kids in public schools to have physical activity everyday
Wrap up
You now have the tools to make a difference! We encourage you to find organizations and
initiatives that support the same cause you do Google search “(insert city/town) community
coalitions” Use this network via HDSC’s facebook
Questions/Comments?
Thank you!