The Health Gap

Wellness Culture, Elitism, and Equity

Why do some communities have tree-lined parks, fresh grocery stores, and wellness studios on every corner, while others face food deserts, unsafe outdoor spaces, and limited access to health information? This track investigates the health gap by examining how power and place shape everyday opportunities for physical well-being. 

Fellows will explore how the presence or absence of green spaces affects physical activity, stress, and community health; why health rates differ so sharply across neighborhoods; and how access to high-quality grocery stores and fresh produce is deeply tied to policy decisions, zoning laws, and economic inequality. Fellows will dissect elitism in wellness culture, examining who wellness is marketed to, who is excluded, and how “healthy living” is often framed as a privilege rather than a right. Through case studies, data analysis, and conversations with public health experts, policy-makers, urban planners, and community advocates, Fellows will examine how health inequities are created and how they can be dismantled to build healthier communities for all.