The Alliance for Health Equity

Continued from Page 35 grant to the Melton Center in West Chester in the amount of $20,000. During this time, The Alliance delivered over 10,000 healthy and culturally sensitive meals to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) to low-income families and seniors in Chester County’s four qualified lowincome census tracts in Coatesville and West Chester.”

The Alliance for Health Equity also focuses on equality and social justice issues. Another initiative, The Nonprofit Justice and Equity Institute builds the nonprofit sectors’ capacity and institutionalizes equity-focused approaches. Race has been a long-standing inequity in our country. In order for everyone to receive equitable access and services; race is an important conversation that needs to be discussed. The Nonprofit Justice and Equity Institute works to “understand the historical context of racial and social inequities as well as their impact on the community.” This initiative provides coaching to advance learning and understanding of race and justice. The Institute creates and tailors and individualized blueprint for each participating organization. Alyssa Kotzmann gave a few examples of the Blueprint strategies, including:

• Building a workforce and board with individuals from different racial backgrounds.

• Creating an environment where everyone is comfortable sharing experiences and is equipped to talk about equity and inequities.

• Integrating race equity into all aspects of the organization’s internal and external systems.

While the strands of society have been threaded together by those before us, it is up to each of us today to unravel what has been taught through the web of bias. Per Nicholas Torres, “It is important to recognize and correct current as well as past practices that unintentionally perpetuated institutional racism and injustice. Self-reflection seeks to change organizational culture by building capacity to contribute to a more inclusive, just, and socially accountable community and world. Organizational culture can be changed by building relationships with like-minded institutions and individuals; attracting and retaining diverse talent that aligns with organizational values; improving social impact; and leading with intentionality to change discriminatory practices.” Nicolas Torres stated. Partnerships, teamwork, and healthy co-existence will help all of us rise up together.

The Alliance for Healthy Equity knows that, while all of its initiatives speak for a separate cause, each of their initiatives are intertwined. Health access and social justice go hand in hand. “Historically, we know that where we live, work, and learn has a substantial role in the access we have to quality healthcare. We know that systemic racism and racial injustice have historically impacted communities of color and their ability to choose where their activities of daily living occurs, Nicholas Torres stated. According to the CDC (2021), “The average life expectancy among Black or African American people in the United States is four years lower than that of White People.’”. In March of 2021, The Alliance surveyed over 1,300 nonprofits and community residents to address the critical needs of the Coatesville area. Then, in 2022, The Alliance’s Greater Coatesville Hospital Closure Group identified the impacted demographics from the Brandywine Hospital closure. Alyssa Kotzmann said, “Between 80-90% of the following groups were identified as vulnerable to negative impact if services do not change in the Greater Coatesville Area: people with chronic health issues or disabilities who need continuing care; older adults; people with low incomes; uninsured; and BIPOC, like discrimination within healthcare.”

Healthcare is a vital component to the quality of life. “The Alliance for Health Equity values the need for community engagement and partnerships. It has fostered connections with other sectors to combat the current issues impacting the Greater Coatesville community.” Nicolas Torres said, “Equity and Justice are at the center of all our efforts to build lasting partnerships and support a strong community voice.” The Alliance will continue to build on 20 years of effort to elevate the Greater Coatesville area as they strive for community-driven change and its resounding effects.