{"id":8351,"date":"2023-07-07T18:26:19","date_gmt":"2023-07-07T18:26:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hria.org\/?p=8351"},"modified":"2024-03-28T15:15:49","modified_gmt":"2024-03-28T15:15:49","slug":"building-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hria.org\/2023\/07\/07\/building-power\/","title":{"rendered":"Building Power to Achieve Healthier and More Just Communities"},"content":{"rendered":"
Power lies at the heart of health and racial justice, shaping our society’s structures.<\/strong> It determines access to resources, who makes decisions, who thrives, and who is left behind. Those who hold formal power within a system, such as elected or appointed officials, can leverage, shift, or build power. Historically, those \u201coutside\u201d of a governmental system, such as community residents, advocates, and community-based organizations, have less access to the formal power needed to create impact. Acknowledging these power imbalances is the first step toward transformative change.<\/p>\n Advocacy serves as a catalyst for building power within communities, challenging oppressive systems, and advancing equity. Significant amounts of federal, private, and philanthropic dollars are available to invest in the resources that address systemic disparities, support community-led initiatives, and enable community-led decision-making. Shifting power to those impacted leads to healthier and more equitable communities.<\/p>\n This post introduces the concept of power, the importance of building sustained power within communities, and the example of using federal funding to support community transformation efforts.<\/p>\n