Katharine McLaughlin Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Clean drinking water; safe food and milk; seatbelts and safer road design; smoke-free indoor air; the peace of mind not having to worry about smallpox or polio – these are just a few of the ways that public health makes us all safer. Each year during the first full week of April, the American Public Health Association (APHA) leads a nationwide celebration that shines a spotlight on the issues that matter most to our collective well-being. National Public Health Week is a chance to honor the public health workers who show up for us every day and to advocate for policies and practices that promote good health for all. Below are photos and comments from our partners that show how they contribute to public health in their respective communities around the country. Ubuntu Village: In order for public health efforts to succeed, the humanity of each individual must be recognized and uplifted. We are all deeply interconnected, and our well-being as individuals is directly tied to our well-being as a community. Cultiva La Salud: Every week, our team shows up to ensure that seniors who cannot access groceries do not go hungry. POWERED: Spending time in nature has taught us that building a healthier life starts with the courage to face the unknown, a lesson that extends far beyond any single challenge and into how we show up for my community. Ubuntu Village: Our neighbor attends a Heal the Block event, where their joy is cultivated and prioritized. RYSE: Everyone deserves a space where they can be themselves. It can really change someone's life for the better. APIAHF: Investing in community-led solutions and culturally responsive care to advance health equity. Public Health – Seattle & King County: Public health is more than health messaging or meetings. It is about being in community - celebrating the diversity of culture and beliefs. Community-based health and safety partners from Detroit, New Orleans, Memphis, Fresno, and Richmond, CA, cultivated a community of kinship, deep care, and deep diligence in public health strategies. Cultiva La Salud: Our work supporting vendors through the permitting process removes real barriers to economic opportunity and is a core part of how we advance health equity through food justice. Health in Partnership: To truly center relationships is to put the human first, in both personal and professional life – by honoring not just the head, but also the heart, listening beyond words, and prioritizing connection over transaction. DLIVE: A discussion about the Birwood Wall touches on the legacy of redlining and racially-based restrictive covenants that contributed to the racial wealth gaps and divested communities. DLIVE: A community member in their new home after a long journey of being unhoused and having housing insecurity. Stable, safe housing is foundational to health - and a pathway to improved mental health and economic mobility. Minneapolis Health Department: Public health is meeting people where they are at. Physical activity and social connection are essential for good health. George Washington Univ. Funders Forum on Accountable Health: We contribute to public health by coordinating efforts that advance equity-focused systems that strengthen our collective efforts and creates opportunities to achieve health and well-being. Build Healthy Places: We prioritize nourishing the community & strengthening the local economy. National Council of Urban Indian Health: By bringing policy analysis grounded in Urban Indian Organization experience directly into federal decision-making spaces, NCUIH demonstrates an approach to public health that focuses on structural change rather than individual programs alone.
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