Who We Are

We are fighting to build a health system that is accountable to people, especially systemically excluded communities, including Asian, Black, Indigenous, Latinx*, and Pacific Islander communities, LGBTQ+ people, people with low incomes, women, immigrants, people with disabilities, and older adults. We know that those most harmed by the current health system are historically-excluded people and communities, and we strongly believe that their active engagement and leadership is essential to a strong movement. Overall, we seek to enhance the impact — and support the power-building — of state and local leaders engaged in health advocacy, particularly those that represent the people most hurt by our health system today.

We seize opportunities at every level to achieve a more accountable health system. We see the need for progressive steps forward that contribute to power-building and help set the stage for fundamental system change. We believe that to reach our vision for equity and justice, we need to reach higher, even if it is out of step with what others may be doing. We use strong strategic analysis to ensure the choices we make represent forward progress for people and set the stage for something bigger and bolder.

We believe in partnership. We deeply respect the creativity and innovation of community leaders, especially community leaders from systemically excluded communities, and we approach all partnerships with an emphasis on listening and learning. With the acknowledgment that we have much to learn, we share information and resources. In working with local and state partner organizations, we seek to understand how and where we can use our strengths to be most helpful to our collective cause. Often our role is providing our partners with extra tools and support they request to make the strategic and tactical decisions necessary to achieve their goals.

The ability to work effectively to advance race equity and health justice requires innovation, creativity, and the willingness to embrace new ideas and to change accordingly. We are willing to question the “common wisdom” and to challenge assumptions — our own and our colleagues’ — as we develop and re-work solutions. We focus on continually building a work environment that supports and facilitates this kind of learning and adaptation. Transparency and integrity matter to us — and we strive to make sure our internal practices match how we communicate and show up in the world, with openness and honesty. We are mindful about how we use our influence, while also being clear about what we don’t know or can’t do.

It matters to us that our internal practices match what we communicate and how we show up in the world. We strive for a culture of transparency both internally and externally, where we share information and communicate openly and honestly. We are mindful about how we use our influence, while also being clear about what we don’t know or can’t do.