Culture is the set of attitudes, values, conventions, goals, social practices, and beliefs of a racial, religious or social group, and their social forms and material traits. In other words, culture is our way of life. When it comes to health, culture shapes our health behaviors, our beliefs and norms about health, and how we organize to advance health and well-being. Further, practicing our own culture is vital to community health and well-being. Centering and celebrating culture in health is the theme of National Public Health Week 2023. We invite you to explore the below resources as you prepare for National Public Health Week.

National Public Health Week is Coming Up!

For over twenty-five years, the American Public Health Association has organized National Public Health Week. Taking place during the first full week of April every year, National Public Health Week is an occasion to recognize the contributions of public health and highlight issues that are important to improving the nation’s health. This year’s focus on centering and celebrating cultures in health is an opportunity for those in the public health community to deepen our knowledge about the connection between culture and health, center stories from different cultural groups, and take action to promote culture and health.

National Public Health Week is April 3 – 9, 2023

Objectives

1. Deepen our shared knowledge

about the connection between culture and health. This NPHW, we challenge you to learn more about culture, health, cultural competence, and humility.

Being able to practice and celebrate our culture is the foundation to Belonging and Civic Muscle, a vital community condition. Learn more about Belonging and Civic Muscle and the Vital Conditions for Health and Well-Being on Community Commons.

2. Center stories

from different cultural groups. This NPHW, we invite you to listen and learn from each others’ stories with humility and openness.

Priority populations represent diverse groups, communities, demographics, identities, statuses, and lived experiences. They connect users directly with populations of interest, lift up important underserved populations, and help root our work in equity and justice. Find resources on various cultural groups and other priority populations through the Priority Populations Channel on Community Commons.

3. Reflect

on culture and how it intersects with race, ethnicity, language, health literacy, and other factors to produce health and well-being. Invite others into the conversation and think together about how to promote cultural well-being.

We believe in the power of dialogue to engender authentic and meaningful dialogue, which can strengthen our sense of belonging and connection by building relationships. Browse resources on Community Commons, such as this short presentation that acts as a guide on how to hold an open dialogue about race and racism and organize a dialogue on culture.

4. Take action

to promote culture and health. We hope that by deepening our collective knowledge, centering story, and reflecting and dialoguing together we have set the stage to take action to protect cultural diversity, improve cultural competence, and promote culture as a multisolver for health and well-being.

Indigenous knowledge offers solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues, from environmental crises and declining biodiversity, to equity, justice, and holistic health systems. Navigate over 300 recently-curated resources, tools, and stories that advance cultural renewal, intergenerational healing, health equity, and holistic well-being for Indigenous peoples through the Indigenous Knowledge Library on Community Commons.