Conversations in Equity Posts

Conversations in Equity is a collection of blogs dedicated to increasing the awareness of health inequities. We share stories on how partnerships help address health disparities to ultimately achieve our vision of ensuring all people have an opportunity to live as healthy as possible.

Addressing Disparities in Alzheimer’s Disease

African American senior couple reading a document at home.

Did you know that Black and Latino adults are at much higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) than White adults? And this disparity is expected to grow: CDC projects that cases of ADRD will increase seven-fold among Latino adults and four-fold among Black adults by 2060. In addition, Black and Latino adults Read More >

Posted on by Karen Hacker, MD, MPH and Tisamarie Sherry, MD, Ph.D.2 Comments
Categories Health Equity, Healthy Aging
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Stories from the Field: Conversations on COVID-19 Prevention with 3 Exemplary Charter Schools

CDC has ongoing relationships with charter schools (tuition-free schools of choice that are publicly funded but independently run) across the United States. These relationships allow charter schools to share insights on COVID-19 prevention strategies and health disparities facing students and CDC to offer information on how schools can address health barriers. Ongoing conversations strengthen CDC’s awareness Read More >

Posted on by Jasmine Gaillard, MPH, Osizwe Raena Harwell, MS.ED, Ph.D., Hailey Reid, MA, MPH, Sarah Neale, MPH, CHES1 Comment
Categories Health Equity
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Stories from the Field: PODER en SALUD

“The virus has taken a toll on our mental and emotional health,” says Perla Fernandez, a Kansas City community member who lost several friends and family members suddenly to COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected many Hispanic or Latino communities.[1] Hispanic or Latino people have experienced higher rates of COVID-19 hospitalization, death, and cost Read More >

Posted on by Farah M. Chowdhury, MD, MPH; Matthew Penn, JD, MLIS; Sheila Walier, MS; Bria Harris-Sharpe, MPH; Hawa Kone, MSLeave a comment
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Stories From The Field: REACHing Multnomah County

Joy could be felt in the air after the success of the first REACHing US COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic in Multnomah County, Oregon. Friends were excited to greet each other once again, choosing high fives instead of hugs, and to share familiar foods, like sweet potato pie. Multnomah County, a diverse community of 800,000 people, includes Read More >

Posted on by Julia Henry, Anya Kushwaha, and Averie Lico2 Comments
Categories Health Equity
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Give Your Community a Boost!

Communities play an integral role in many aspects of our lives. The COVID-19 pandemic has served as a case study for how resilient we can be and our determination to stay connected to our communities even during these challenging times. In April, we acknowledge National Minority Health Month (NMHM) to bring awareness to health disparities Read More >

Posted on by Eman Jibrel, MPH and Jennifer (Jenna) Seymour, PhD2 Comments
Categories Health Equity
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Stories from the Field: The White Earth Nation

“We dreamed of saving lives, and we worked to make that dream come true.” These are the words Dr. Carson Gardner, White Earth Tribal Health Department Medical Director, shared during an interview with CDC about the remarkable success the White Earth Public Health team experienced with vaccinating their fellow community members – The White Earth Read More >

Posted on by Julia Henry, Anya Kushwaha, and Averie Lico5 Comments
Categories Health Equity
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Looking Forward: Key Milestones in Health Equity!

Group of people celebrating end of year.

The year is coming to an end and many of us are looking ahead to what 2022 holds. Here, in the United States, many of us are vaccinated and safely reuniting with our loved ones. Holiday traditions are commencing in person once again and the new year is quickly approaching. Before writing those new year’s Read More >

Posted on by Eman Jibrel, MPH6 Comments
Categories Health Equity, Inclusion
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National Minority Health Month: Promoting Fair Access to Health

“Recognizing that health is the key to progress and equity in all other things,” said Tuskegee Institute founder Booker T. Washington, who proposed the observance of “National Negro Health Week” in 1915. Washington called on local health departments, schools, churches, businesses, professional associations, and the most influential organizations in the African American community to “pull Read More >

Posted on by Eman Jibrel, MPH, Tiffany Brunson, PhD, JD, and Yvonne Garcia BA6 Comments
Categories Health Equity, Preventive Care
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Promoting and Protecting the Health of Women: Saving Lives by Preventing Drug Overdoses

“Here’s your script”, the doctor said to me [Karin], as he handed me a refill for an opioid medication at a post-surgical follow-up visit. This action caught me off guard. I was fortunate that my pain had been short-lived and easily controlled, and I hadn’t finished the initial round of medications I was given. Thankfully, Read More >

Posted on by Karin A. Mack, PhD and Natasha Underwood, PhDLeave a comment
Categories Preventive Care, Substance Abuse Prevention, Women's Health

Physical Inactivity is More Common among Racial and Ethnic Minorities in Most States

Join Active People, Healthy NationSM to help more people become physically active. Too many adults are inactive, and inactivity levels differ notably by race and ethnicity. These facts make me all the more committed to the success of Active People, Healthy NationSM, CDC’s new initiative to make it easier for people to be physically active Read More >

Posted on by Janet E. Fulton, PhD, Chief of CDC’s Physical Activity and Health Branch in the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity2 Comments
Categories Health Equity, Healthy Weight, Preventive Care