Black Hawk County Public Health began work on its Health Equity Roadmap in 2019 as a response to the 24/7 Wall Street publication labeling the Waterloo-Cedar Falls community as the worst place for Black Americans to live.
The news sparked an approach that captured the experiences of community members and mapped how the stories connect. The map was clear – unfair practices and unjust conditions, even if rooted in the past, are still causing harm to many of our community members.
This was a catalyst for conversation and engagement about how we collectively transform systems to create communities where everyone has a fair and just opportunity to achieve optimal health and well-being.
The project, initially funded by the Kresge Foundation with additional funding from the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, has proven to be a spark for discussions breaking down barriers to equity and has led to the creation of Advancing Equity in the Cedar Valley, a collaboration focused on convening leaders, nonprofit organizations, and businesses to develop community solutions.
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“Knowing our past gives us hope that we can work together to create a Black Hawk County where people want to live – and a place where they will thrive,” said Lisa Sesterhenn, public health planner with Black Hawk County Public Health.
“Already, hundreds of community members have come together to capture the many bright spots in our community and develop pathways to transformation. This is gaining positive momentum with Advancing Equity in the Cedar Valley serving as an important impetus for a more equitable Cedar Valley.”
Advancing Equity in the Cedar Valley is an initiative of Black Hawk County Public Health, the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, and Grow Cedar Valley. The initiative is intended to build on the information and insights gained from the Health Equity Roadmap, to celebrate existing equity efforts and to generate community conversations that lead to more actions for equity.
The first session in September 2022 attracted over 110 individuals representing more than 65 Cedar Valley organizations, engaging them in discussions on current equity efforts and strategic conversations for actions to reduce social, health and economic disparities.
A second session was incorporated into Grow Cedar Valley’s Cedar Valley Economic Diversity and Inclusion Summit. The input and data extrapolated from these gatherings led to an immediate focus on removing barriers to hiring and retention for employers in the Cedar Valley.
On April 25, 2023, over 100 individuals attended another collaborative session, led by Top RANK, an equity consulting firm, providing space to listen to businesses, nonprofits, and employees to better understand the root issues creating inequities in the workplace that lead to hiring and retention barriers with a focus on systemic racism as a core of all barriers.
Specific community areas of attention were identified and included communication, childcare, education, transportation, organizational policy making and legislative policy. The event was sponsored by Veridian Credit Union and the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa.
“People in our community want to find solutions to overcome barriers to equity and the presence of so many people at these events shows there is momentum and a desire to dig in and do the work,” said Joy Briscoe, executive director of ONE Cedar Valley and managing partner with Top RANK.
“We can see people are already working in this space and having success, and we have people who are standing up to take leadership in creating equitable places to work, making our community more attractive to both employers and employees.”
The organizers’ plans include additional large-group sessions throughout the year to support equity efforts and to continue development of community-wide solutions and plans for continued conversations with small groups focused on identified areas of attention.
The three core collaborating organizations also acknowledge the complexity and length of the equity journey and are committed to creating a sustainable movement.
“There is a momentum and urgency to ending inequity, and the Cedar Valley is making progress, but ending the root causes and systemic barriers requires a sustainability plan built by the community for the community,” said Kaye Englin, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa.
“The Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa and our partners are invested in equity because it is the heart of creating a place where everyone can thrive. The entire Cedar Valley benefits when there are equitable opportunities and people feel a true sense of belonging in our community.”
If you are interested in joining a small group conversation or if your organization is interested in being part of the initiative planning committee, contact Kaye Englin at 319-243-1350 or kenglin@cfneia.org.
To view the Black Hawk County Health Equity Roadmap, visit the Black Hawk County Public Health website at www.bhcpublichealth.org. More information on the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa’s equity efforts can also be found at www.cfneia.org/racialequity.