By Jazmin Orozco Rodriguez, KFF Health News
For decades, state and federal agencies have hindered tribes and tribal epidemiology centers from accessing crucial public health data. This blackout forces health workers in Native American communities to piece together information, compromising their ability to track and combat disease outbreaks.
By Summer Ballentine, AP News
The Biden administration is making strides in addressing historic discrimination against Black and minority farmers by doling out over $2 billion in direct payments. This is a positive step towards acknowledging and rectifying the injustices faced by these farmers.
By Jasmine Rangel, Smartcities Dive
The White House is making important strides in fair housing with new measures to protect renters from discriminatory screening practices. The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s new guidance addresses credit, eviction, and criminal records to ensure compliance with the Fair Housing Act, a major win for advocates nationwide. After years of setbacks, this is a crucial step forward in ensuring housing equity for all.
By: Bennito L. Kelty, Westword
Denver’s basic income pilot is changing lives! Over 800 Coloradans experiencing homelessness received direct cash payments with no strings attached. The one-year report shows a 45% increase in securing housing and reduced public service use.
By
Medical schools, doctors and professors are speaking out against claims that their DEI programs are exclusionary. In fact, they were created to address racial disparities in medicine and combat the Black maternal health crisis. Banning DEI could jeopardize this important work.
The US Preventive Services Task Force has revised their guidelines on mammograms, advising women to start screening at age 40 and continue every other year until age 74. With cancer diagnoses on the rise among young people, early detection is crucial. This is especially true for Black women, who have a higher rate of deaths from breast cancer in their 40s compared to White women.
By Rudy Miller, Lehigh Valley Live
In an interconnected world, advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has never been more critical. Storytelling holds immense potential to serve as a powerful tool for advancing the impact of DEI. By sharing personal stories and narratives, individuals can advocate for themselves and uplift others who are often marginalized or unheard.
FDA’s vow to ban menthol cigarettes is a critical step towards saving Black lives. This overdue move will protect communities from the harmful use of tobacco.
LA Times
By Emily Benton Hite and Denielle Perry
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s decision to deny permits for hydropower projects on Navajo Nation shows shift towards respecting Indigenous rights in renewable energy development.
Ensuring equitable access to farmland and healthy food is crucial for the well-being of children and families. Yet, it is often overlooked. The National Young Farmers Coalition is leading the charge for policy change to create opportunities for BIPOC farmers. Their work is shaping the future of agriculture in the US!
By Olivia Chung, Every Child Thrives W.K Kellogg Foundation