At their core, the nation’s infrastructure projects have either reflected values of equity or the lack thereof. In this context, health equity is defined as the removal of “obstacles to health, such as poverty, discrimination, and their consequences, including powerlessness and lack of access to good jobs with fair pay, quality education and housing, safe environments, and health care.” Historically, health equity has not been at the center of decisions to build infrastructure in the US, exacerbating or creating social, economic, and political disparities, which can be observed in urban, suburban, and rural communities in every corner of the nation.
Fortunately, with the newest iteration of federal infrastructure funding—the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) passed in November 2021—we have an opportunity to chart a new course and begin centering health equity where we build and restore infrastructure.
The power to forge a more equitable future for all communities through infrastructure is largely in the hands of local, city, state, and tribal officials. But it also lies in the hands of community-based organizations, nonprofits, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) who are stewards of the communities that IIJA funding is intended to serve. (abbreviated author introduction)
#P4HEwebinarMay2023