National Collaborative for Health Equity

06/05/2026

In our latest episode of the 'Hope in Action' podcast, we delve into the transformative stories of leaders and advocates who are making strides in health equity. Discover how authentic narratives can drive policy change and foster community resilience.

Listen now: https://ow.ly/1NU250Z88Iv

06/03/2026

📊 Every child deserves the opportunity to grow up healthy and thrive.

The HOPE Initiative's Child Health Status indicator tracks the percentage of children whose parents report they are in very good or excellent health—an important measure of children's overall well-being and ability to flourish. According to the latest data, 87% of U.S. children are reported to be in very good or excellent health, but significant disparities remain based on family income and opportunity.

The data show that children in higher-income households are more likely to be in very good or excellent health than children living in poverty, highlighting how economic conditions and access to resources shape health outcomes.

Explore the HOPE Initiative's interactive data tool to learn how health, opportunity, and equity are connected—and what it will take to ensure every child has the chance to reach their full potential. https://ow.ly/kxoK50Z7fuZ

06/02/2026

What does it take to build a food system that nourishes everyone?

In a recent article for Grantmakers In Health, Genoveva Islas, a leader in NCHE's Leveraging HOPE Community of Practice, explores how cultivating shared prosperity through street food and community-centered economic development can help create a healthier, more equitable food economy.

The article connects the dots between economic opportunity, cultural traditions, community wealth, and health—highlighting what we need to create a food system that not only feeds people well, but also supports thriving communities and livelihoods.

Read Genoveva's insightful piece and learn how investing in local food economies can advance health, equity, and shared prosperity for all.

🔗 Read the article: https://ow.ly/NpU350Z6ESx

A native of Fresno, I was raised in California’s Central Valley where I have now worked for a few decades. As a first-generation college student, my lived experience is very common for the children of farmworkers. My extended Mexican family was big, poor, uninsured, and suffered many losses from v...

06/01/2026

🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈 As we celebrate Pride Month this June, it's important to recognize the communities, histories, and movements that continue to shape a more equitable future.

Earlier this year, San Antonio became one of the first cities in the nation to officially recognize Trans History Week, honoring the history, contributions, and resilience of transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse people. City leaders and advocates emphasized the importance of preserving trans history, combating erasure, and ensuring that future generations know they belong.

Pride is not only a celebration—it's also a commitment to visibility, dignity, and justice for LGBTQIA+ communities. Read More: https://www.tpr.org/news/2026-05-04/san-antonio-issues-proclamation-recognizing-first-week-of-may-as-trans-history-week

Check out the NCHE Bulletin for more stories on equity, democracy, health justice, and LGBTQIA+ communities working to create change: www.nationalcollaborative.org/weekly-bulletin/

05/29/2026

Have you checked out Episode 3, Part 2 of the HOPE in Action Podcast: Healing Through History & Culture?

In this thoughtful discussion, Von Gordon reflects on maintaining faith in the face of systemic challenges and the vital importance of dignity in equity work. Through stories of healing, resilience, and community, the episode reminds us why hope and humanity must remain at the center of justice work.

Tune in to Episode 3, Part 2 today and join the conversation on healing, courage, and collective action: https://ow.ly/XW1v50Z5GW3

05/28/2026

90% of U.S. employers now use AI to screen job applicants. Stanford just studied 4 million of those applications and what they found should concern every job seeker.

26% of Black applicants and 15% of Asian applicants applied to positions where the AI discriminated against their racial group.

If the AI had treated them the same as the most-favored group, 40,000 more applications would have advanced.

Job markets are far worse then they are admitting. AI is holding the economy above water but for how long?

Read the study:

05/27/2026

What does it take for communities to thrive?

The Health Opportunity and Equity (HOPE) Initiative’s Adult Health Status data tool highlights how race, ethnicity, and systemic inequities shape health outcomes across the country. The interactive tool tracks the percentage of adults who report being in very good or excellent health while examining the conditions that influence well-being and opportunity.

Updated in 2024, the HOPE Initiative helps move the conversation beyond measuring disparities and toward action for health equity by identifying:
🔹 where opportunity gaps exist,
🔹 what equity goals can look like,
🔹 and how states and communities can improve outcomes for all residents.

📈Explore the Adult Health Status data and learn how policy, systems, and opportunity impact health in communities nationwide. https://ow.ly/Sfor50Z4tSy

05/26/2026

Explore mobility justice in action with Equiticity and Transport Chicago at The North Lawndale Ride: Exploring Equiticity’s Neighborhood Mobility Models.

This immersive community ride through Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood highlights how transportation, racial equity, environmental justice, and community healing are deeply connected. Participants will explore Equiticity’s innovative Community Mobility Rituals and neighborhood-based mobility models designed to increase access, connection, and opportunity.

The event centers community, socialization, racialized healing, and reclaiming shared public space while imagining more equitable futures for Black and Brown communities.

📍 Saturday, May 30, 2026
📍 Green Tomato Cafe — Chicago, IL

Learn more and register here: https://ow.ly/lnQX50Z4ief

05/21/2026

New Episode Alert! Dive into Part 2 of Episode 3 of the HOPE in Action Podcast: Healing Through History & Culture.

Join guests Von Gordon and Ariel Jimenez as they explore the transformative power of vulnerability and courage in advocacy work.

In this inspiring conversation, they discuss:
✨Navigating systemic challenges with faith and resilience
✨The vital importance of dignity in equity work
✨Building community bridges and passing the baton of hope to future generations

Tune in to hear a powerful call to action about doing what we can, where we are. Let’s honor our histories and embrace the strength of our communities!

🔗 Listen now: https://ow.ly/6QOU50Z2MH1

05/20/2026

Data can help drive change. 📊

The 2024 update of the Health Opportunity and Equity (HOPE) Initiative data tool is here — helping states and communities move beyond measuring disparities and toward action for health equity.

The interactive HOPE tool tracks social determinants of health and health outcomes by race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, offering a deeper look at where opportunities exist and where inequities persist. Organized into five domains, the updated indicators help illuminate the systems and conditions that shape health, longevity, and well-being.

Using an opportunity framework, HOPE helps leaders, advocates, and communities understand:
🔹 where gaps in opportunity exist
🔹 what equity goals can look like
🔹 how far we need to move the dial to make those goals a reality

The HOPE Initiative is designed to support policies and practices that create healthier futures for all — especially communities most impacted by systemic racism and inequity.

Explore the updated HOPE data tool today and see how data can inspire action toward equity and opportunity: www.hopeinitiative.org