RWJF

How do we build a world where health is a right for all, not a privilege for some? RWJF is supporting litigation, power-building, strategic comms, organizing, and advocacy to dismantle structural racism and advance health equity. "We need every tool we can secure along the way," write Avenel Joseph and Elizabeth DiLauro. "Ballot measures and race-conscious policies and programs must remain in our toolbox." Our partners across the country have been working to dismantle racist structures and RWJF is privileged to stand alongside them to create the future that our children and grandchildren deserve.

Investing in communities helps people thrive. We’re excited to announce a new $325 million allocation from RWJF to our Impact Investments team! Bringing our total allocation to $625 million, we look forward to continuing our work advancing racial equity, strengthening the community development finance system, and making program-directed investments. For more on our historic announcement, click here: https://rwjf.ws/3R0gmJd

So pleased to see RWJF's allocation to impact investments grow to $625M! Thank you to my colleagues who laid the groundwork that made this announcement possible, Zoila Jennings, Claire Morduch, Edmond Ghisu and Julie Morita. In the first "inning" of RWJF's use of impact investments, we've invested in over 25 organizations. It's a privilege to support their work to advance health and racial equity and, make capital go the last mile to the communities and people that need it most. #impactinvesting If you want to learn more about the Foundation's work, please follow Impact Investments at RWJF. 👈🏼 See you there!

Through my work at RWJF, I’m grateful to be a part of efforts to improve access to healthy foods and prevent childhood obesity through sustainable policy and systems changes. I am so excited to share an open call for proposals that we are launching today to organizations working to break down barriers to health. The funding opportunity aims to:  ➡️ Address structural racism and other systems that perpetuate health inequities ➡️ Respond to gaps in evidence or action identified by the field and leverage existing field assets ➡️ Engage with communities most impacted by childhood obesity and nutrition insecurity, as well as organizations accountable to frontline communities If your organization is working in this space—or you know someone who might be interested in this opportunity—please learn more and spread the news by sharing this with your networks! Phase one concept papers are due June 27. https://rwjf.ws/44NhMMP

RWJF’s Healthy Communities strategic portfolio is expanding its network of evaluation consultants. We are specifically looking for partners with expertise in evaluating community development. RWJF seeks to involve more experts in assessing community conditions essential for building healthy communities, including ensuring access to safe, affordable homes, clean water, and jobs that pay a living wage.     If you have experience with cultural and impactful data analysis, evaluating the impact of structural racism on community conditions, and amplifying community voices, we want to hear from you before June 10.! Learn more about the Call for Information (CFI) and how you can contribute to building healthier, more equitable communities. https://rwjf.ws/3UhcrIY  

To move the needle toward health equity, we must keep track of how the landscape of our work is changing—not just in the U.S. but globally.    RWJF worked with our partners at Dalberg and global experts to surface six major trends in health equity emerging around the world. Join us to learn more about each of the trends and for a deep dive into how growing calls for more equitable care work are being met at the next Reimagined in America webinar on June 7.  

The health equity landscape is changing, and we must adapt alongside it if we are to truly create a nation where health is not a privilege, but a right. Recognizing that good ideas have no borders, RWJF partnered with global experts to identify six emerging health equity trends around the world—each with deep implications for the U.S. From growing calls for more equitable care work to the compounding global housing crisis, the six trends—and the ways people around the world are responding to them—demonstrate how collective power and community wisdom can help transform institutions, systems, and social practices that obstruct opportunities for good health. Join me, Ben Wise of Dalberg, Zubaida Bai of Grameen Foundation, and George McGraw of DigDeep—all of whom were deeply involved in producing RWJF’s new report on these global trends—on June 7 at 12:30 pm ET for a lively discussion on the trends, and to learn how growing calls for more equitable care work are being met globally.   Don’t miss out on this episode of RWJF’s "Reimagined in America" webinar series! RSVP today: https://rwjf.ws/3V3Pt9X     #GlobalIdeas #CareWork #HealthEquity

🌟 What an incredible honor it is to be selected for the Gold House 2024 A100 list of impactful Asian Pacific leaders. I’m especially grateful to be nominated alongside my brilliant colleague at RWJF, May Ng! I’m still starstruck, and attending the awards event with first responders, social impact champions, artists, entrepreneurs, and culinary innovators was deeply moving. Their contributions have left an indelible mark on society, and being celebrated among them feels both surreal and inspiring. Growing up, there were times it was not easy being the only Asian American in a room. At the event, awardees shared stories that made me feel less alone. Their success made clear how far we have come, and their ongoing challenges demonstrated how far we still have to go. Attending with my daughter, Megan, and son, Jake, brought into sharp relief how urgent it is that we get there. Not only were they thrilled to be in close proximity to Karan Johar, Lucy Liu, Saweetie, Apollo Ohno, and Kristin Kish, they found it eye-opening to hear about the challenges these AANHPI icons have faced. On the car ride to our hotel, reveling in the energy of the evening, Megan and Jake commented what a transformative experience it would have been for my parents, who have experienced discrimination and unlawful incarceration because of their heritage, to be a part of such a glamorous and prestigious celebration of AANHPI power and impact. Let’s continue supporting each other, working in solidarity with other marginalized groups, and amplifying our collective power. We will honor those who paved the way -- and our next generation is depending on us. 🌎  #A100 #AsianLeadership #CommunityPower

To create a world where everyone has the opportunity to live their healthiest lives, people with lived experience in a community, such as having grown up there or having close relationships with residents, must be placed at the head of the decisionmaking table. Proximate leaders—changemakers who are close to their work, with firsthand knowledge of their communities and a deep understanding of their unique needs and strengths—are best positioned to take that role. But too often, these leaders don’t receive the funding they need to drive change in their organizations and communities. To support a cohort of community development organizations with proximate leadership, our Impact Investments at RWJF team has provided flexible funding that aims to give them the space they need to implement their visions and drive widespread change in the community development finance ecosystem. Zoila Jennings provides her perspective and personal ties to this work.👇🏽 https://rwjf.ws/3K9eMAZ

"Tomorrow's world is yours to build." Civil rights activist Yuri Kochiyama believed education allows people to understand the interconnected histories that shape our everyday lives and empowers us to fight for future change. As we celebrate the achievements of the graduating Class of 2024, we hope they are inspired not only by Yuri Kochiyama, but by you. Share a quote in the comments that can motivate this graduating class as they look toward their future.