Equitable Advocacy
Whether advocating for public health authority, the rights of priority populations, or policy matters, equity ought to be at the forefront. Centering the individuals and communities most impacted by issues can bring about policy solutions while aligning and building community. Equitable advocacy ensures that their voices and needs are prioritized.
Using an equity lens can transform public health advocacy.
Centering lived experiences: Equitable advocacy prioritizes and amplifies the voices of communities that are disproportionately burdened by health disparities. Centering lived experiences deepens our collective understanding of the issues and potential solutions, and strengthens advocacy efforts and policy solutions.
Addressing root causes: Structural and systems challenges, like poverty, unequal access to healthcare, limited education, stigma, and racism, result in health disparities. Equitable advocacy seeks to address these root causes, not only their downstream impacts.
Building community power: Advocacy is a powerful activity that can mobilize and unite communities, build civic muscle, and engender belonging. Empowering and supporting the advocacy efforts of marginalized communities creates a more just and sustainable approach to improving the public health’s health.
Inclusive solutions: Equitable advocacy does not impose a one-size-fits-all approach. Rather, it recognizes the unique needs of different populations and develops culturally competent solutions.
Get Inspired
Read the story of Rolando Trejos, a dedicated advocate who discovered the need for advocacy through his own lived experiences. Rolando’s journey serves as a powerful example of how individuals can make a lasting impact on their communities by advocating for public health issues.
Approximately a 6 minute read.
Practicing Equity as a Central Part of Advocacy
As stewards of Public Health, we are committed to improving equity and creating communities where all people can thrive. The 5 W’s of Practicing Equity as a Central Part of Advocacygives us a framework by which to design and implement equitable advocacy. It helps us to examine who is impacted by an issue, what the impacts are, and why the impacts are occurring. It has us critically assess the involvement of community members in the advocacy efforts and design of policy solutions. The best solutions come from those closest to the issues.
The 5 W’s of Practicing Equity as a Central Part of Advocacy
1. WHO
Who are the communities and individuals that are the most impacted by the issue?
2. WHAT
What are directly impacted communities experiencing and what are they doing about it?
3. WHY
Why are the directly impacted communities bearing the brunt of the health consequences?
4. WHERE
Where are directly and disparately impacted community members in the advocacy structure–are they leading the advocacy efforts?
5. WHEN
When developing strategies to challenge the social and disparate health issues, are individuals that are directly and disparately impacted present and assisting in developing policy solutions?
The 5 W’s were developed by Equipped Solutions Consulting Services