Priority Area: Health Equity

Advancing health equity is core to the mission of the Guilds Center for Community Health and in our commitment to this work, we have identified it as a strategic priority for our work.

According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, health equity means that everyone has a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. This requires removing 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.

Social determinants of health, especially poverty and racism, are primary drivers of health inequities and have prevented communities of color, in particular, to achieve fair opportunities for economic, physical and emotional health. We are committed to working with our families and community based organizations in our region to address health disparities in the communities we serve.