Rallying in Solidarity for Equity: Why we need health equity in South Minneapolis

Minnesota often is ranked as among the healthiest states in the country, but not for everyone. The significant disparities that Minnesota has in housing, education, and income are reflected in the disparities in our health. Minnesota has some of the greatest health disparities in the country between white people and BIPOC.
A study from the Minnesota Department of Health showed that neighborhood, income, education and race all matter in the larger picture of health outcomes. Socio-economic factors are the biggest contributors to health.
“To be healthy, people need peace, shelter, education, food, income, and social justice,” the MN Dept of Health 2020 report says. “Minnesota's significant and long-lasting health inequities cannot be explained by bio-genetic factors and personal choice. These health differences have in part resulted from structural racism, which refers to racism that is built into systems and policies, rather than individual prejudice.”
Health, as defined by the World Health Organization, is a state of complete physical, social and mental well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Ongoing research, however, also confirms that health, although typically viewed as the characteristic of a person, is actually better understood as a characteristic of communities.
While Minneapolis and Minnesota have passed legislation and policies that work to reduce structural inequities that contribute to health – paid family leave, a higher minimum wage, increasing transit systems – the rejection of rent control, attempting to advance projects that exacerbate environmental racism, and the years of disinvestment in certain neighborhoods mean that we aren’t creating a healthy community for all of our residents.
Minneapolis does have the benefit of a robust healthcare system and healthcare organizations. Many of these organizations are working to decrease health inequities and creating programs that increase access to healthcare.
Seward Neighborhood Group and Longfellow Community Council wanted to host an event to provide health information and resources as a way for our South Minneapolis community to take a step toward health equity.
Rallying in Solidarity for Equity (RISE) will take place Sunday, August 20th from 11am to 3pm at Brackett Park, 2728 S 39th Ave. This event is for everyone, but especially those who need health services and our unhoused neighbors. There will be health screenings, narcan trainings, haircuts, free food, dental screenings, and so much more.
We wanted to highlight some of that work and also bring to light the benefits, programs and services that are available to our community, especially to those who are uninsured, underinsured or in need of financial assistance. For example, we will be providing seniors in Minneapolis who are missing out on Medicare benefits and other subsidies. We partnered with Trellis who provides information and support they need to apply for them.
Housing and access to transportation are often some of the most important factors to health. Thanks to Metro Transit, we are able to provide free transit to this event. Use this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BrackettHealthFairAug20 or the qr code to take a survey and unlock free transit on August 20th. If you don’t have access to internet or can’t get to the link - call us at 612-722-4529.
But this event isn’t just about providing healthcare services or resources. We also wanted to provide services that contribute to health like a clothing giveaway, community yoga, art, music and food. Health is holistic, and while we know this event won’t solve the disparities our communities face, we hope that it can help address them.
Health is created in the community by people working together to create just economic, social and environmental conditions. Health as a community issue, not an individual one – so let’s come together as a community and invest in our health.
This event is made possible in part by a grant from Hennepin County with support from KRSM and Metro Transit.