Be the change you want to see. That may sound vague, but you can have impact. Philadelphia has been evolving but the resolution is constantly combating the evolution. In Philly there are non-profit organizations like United Way, Hope Works, Big Picture Alliance and We Love Philly, that address the economic decline affecting primarily Black and Brown people due to the public health crisis and racial demographics.
America is the land of the free, providing equal opportunity to all, right? WRONG! America’s systematic oppression has been obvious and profound. This country is built on the backs of Black and Brown people. But somehow, they are always the ones greatly affected? How so?
Simply because the system is broken and typically cares for the looks of America and not the hearts of the people in America. Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love; drugs, guns, and environmental change has greatly affected Philadelphia far beyond compare. Compared to the national impact of poverty, crisis, homelessness, gun violence, and the list goes on and on. Did you know that poverty plays a major role in shaping health outcomes, especially when it’s connected to race and ethnicity?
People living in poverty often face higher unemployment and usually don’t have reliable health insurance, which means many health issues go untreated. In the U.S. those living below the poverty line often reside in communities with poor housing conditions, increased exposure to pollution, and limited access to nutritious food. These factors contribute to the development and worsening of chronic illnesses, because poverty and race are closely related, health disparities show up across different racial and ethnic groups.
Health of the City
In Philadelphia, Latinx and Hispanic communities face some of the highest rates of chronic health issues like asthma and childhood obesity. They also have some of the lowest rates of health insurance coverage. The situation is similar for the city’s Black population. According to the latest “Health of the City” report, “Black residents in Philadelphia experience some of the worst health outcomes, including high rates of hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, asthma in children, and obesity in adults.”
There’s a growing body of research showing that long-term poverty often goes hand-in-hand with long-term health problems. Naming the problem is only one part of addressing a problem. We Love Philly, United Way, Big Picture Aliiance, and Hope Work,are organizations that see the problem at hand and are working to fix them. They are leading the charge to break the cycle and be the change through workforce development to better equip the youth in Philadelphia. Believing that every individual deserves the right to be successful and have somebody believe in them. This is not a burden that has been put on you but more of a request to look internally on being the change you want to see.
