National Collaborative for Health Equity

10/19/2026

When access to the ballot becomes harder, our democracy is at stake.

After losing on-campus early voting sites, more than 100 students from North Carolina A&T, Bennett College and UNC Greensboro marched to the polls to make their voices heard. Their walk highlights how decisions that move polling places farther away can create barriers to voting and raise concerns about voter suppression.

Every eligible voter deserves a fair opportunity to participate in our democracy.

Make your voice count! Check your registration, find an early voting location, and make a plan to vote.

Read More: https://ow.ly/zgb950ZYZL1

More than 100 NC A&T and UNCG students marched to the polls Thursday to mark the start of early voting. The demonstration came after election officials rejected requests to reopen on-campus voting sites.

10/15/2026

Affordable housing is essential to health, stability, and opportunity.

The HOPE Initiative sets an ambitious goal: 87% of households living in affordable housing, compared with the 2024 national rate of 65%. That means approximately 18 million more households would need affordable housing to reach the goal.

The data also reveal significant racial inequities. While 70% of White households spend no more than 30% of their income on housing, the rates are 54% for Black households and 55% for Hispanic households.

When housing costs consume too much of a family’s income, it can threaten financial security, increase health risks, and contribute to housing instability.

📊 Explore the HOPE Initiative’s Affordable Housing indicator to examine the data, understand disparities, and identify opportunities to advance housing equity: www.hopeinitiative.org/indicator/affordable-housing

10/13/2026

A meaningful step toward Indigenous sovereignty and environmental stewardship!

The Penobscot Nation in Maine is celebrating the return of 11,000 acres of ancestral homeland along the Penobscot River. This is the first phase of a larger effort to return nearly 30,000 acres, restoring access to culturally significant lands and supporting the Nation’s leadership in conservation, habitat restoration, and natural resource stewardship.

Land return is about more than ownership—it helps restore Indigenous communities’ autonomy and ability to care for lands and waters that have sustained their people for generations.

Learn More: https://ow.ly/xsPY50ZXfrE

For more stories on Indigenous rights, equity, and community-led change, check out the NCHE Bulletin on our website: www.nationalcollaborative.org/weekly-bulletin

In what is the first phase of a land return project between the Penobscot Nation and the Trust for Public Land, the tribe has taken back a large swath of land just south of the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.

10/09/2026

As Medicaid cuts loom, cities are testing guaranteed-income programs that provide pregnant women and new mothers with direct cash payments to help cover essentials like food, housing, and transportation. Early findings show reduced financial stress and promising improvements in birth outcomes.

Explore how guaranteed income programs could support healthier mothers and babies:
https://ow.ly/Xc6P50ZWlOv

Guaranteed income pilot projects have bet on cash support for new mothers. With maternal health on the ballot the issue can’t be ignored.

10/08/2026

The National Collaborative for Health Equity (NCHE) congratulates Trust for America's Health on its 25th anniversary. Please see the report, Bridging Evidence and Action: 25 Years of Trust for America’s Health, which highlights the strides made together in translating evidence into collaborative policy action to advance bold solutions for a healthier, more resilient America.

In addition to reflecting on the first 25 years, this report provides a glimpse into how TFAH and partners can strengthen public health over the next 25 years.

In honor of its 25th Anniversary, Trust for America’s Health launched a special report titled Bridging Evidence and Action: 25 Years of Trust for America’s Health. The report highlights TFAH’s important contributions to public health and features a timeline of key milestones, quotes from some ...

10/07/2026

When a rural hospital closes, healthcare doesn’t just get farther away—it can become harder to access when people need it most.

Hundreds of rural hospitals are at risk, threatening access to emergency care, maternity services, routine care, and other essential health services for rural communities.

Rising costs, coverage losses, staffing shortages, and financial pressures are deepening the crisis.

Learn more: https://ow.ly/QOzr50ZVvBt

Hundreds of rural hospitals nationwide face closure as Medicaid cuts and ACA premium hikes leave more Americans uninsured.

10/05/2026

The 2026 Heart of America Survey reveals significant support for the contributions immigrants make to the country:

-78% say immigrants contribute positively to American society.
-81% say immigrants contribute to the U.S. economy.
-80% say immigrants enrich America’s diversity.
-85% say immigration is an important part of American history and culture.
-67% believe all immigrants, regardless of legal status, should receive due process.

These findings come at a time when immigration policy and enforcement remain at the center of national debate. The Supreme Court's new term includes major cases involving immigration detention and deportation policies, while communities across the country continue to navigate the effects of intensified enforcement.

The survey offers an important reminder: Americans' views on immigration are complex, but there is meaningful common ground around immigrants' contributions, opportunity, and due process.

Read the full Heart of America Survey: America at 250 to explore what Americans say about immigration, democracy, belonging, and the country's future: https://ow.ly/s0rE50ZUC7c

09/30/2026

Black America still has hope—but young people have questions.

In a new Word In Black article, Dr. Gail Christopher explores what NCHE’s Heart of America Survey reveals about hope, belonging, equity, and America’s future.

The findings reveal a complex picture: pride and hope alongside concerns about racism, inequality, voting rights, and whether the American Dream remains within reach.

For young Black Americans, questions about history, equity, and whether America is living up to its ideals are especially pronounced.

Read the full article and explore what the data tells us about hope, resilience, and the future of America:

A new survey finds younger Black adults increasingly skeptical that hard work, government and American institutions deliver equality.

09/29/2026

❤️ Every person deserves the opportunity to live a long, healthy life.

The HOPE Initiative’s Premature Mortality indicator looks at annual deaths among adults ages 25–64 and helps reveal where communities are facing preventable gaps in health and opportunity.

The national rate is 446 deaths per 100,000 adults, compared with a HOPE Goal of 241 deaths per 100,000. The data also show significant racial inequities, underscoring how social, economic, environmental, and healthcare conditions shape health outcomes.

📊 Explore the HOPE Initiative’s Premature Mortality data to see where communities are making progress and where there is still opportunity to advance health equity.

www.hopeinitiative.org/indicator/premature-mortality

09/28/2026

💙 Reducing medical debt is a step toward health equity.

New Jersey is eliminating $90 million in medical debt for nearly 20,000 residents in the final round of its medical debt relief program. Since 2023, the state has retired more than $1.6 billion in medical debt for nearly 900,000 afford care.

Read the full story: https://ow.ly/q39J50ZSkSV?

Visit the NCHE Bulletin on our website for more stories highlighting efforts to advance health equity and healthier communities. www.nationalcollaborative.org/