Embedded Files
Cindy Chavez, Mackenzie Conlon, Sarah Stortz
Cindy Chavez, Mackenzie Conlon, Sarah Stortz
Social Justice As It Relates to Public Health
Social Justice As It Relates to Public Health
Social justice is justice in terms of the distribution of rights, resources, privileges, opportunities, and wealth within a society. This includes the right to good health. Public health is a complex and multifaceted issue, focusing on the wellbeing of the entire individual or community. It has many different applications, ranging from education equity, food security, access to healthcare, and much more. Our Hawkeye Service Team got to see some of these missions in action in Dallas- learn more below!
Boys and Girls Club
Boys and Girls Club
Mission: "To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens."
Vision: "Provide a world-class Club experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who enters our doors, with all members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle."
On our first day, we had the pleasure to visit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas where we were able to tiddy up, lead a germination activity, role played using a CDC zombie preparedness activit, and play fun games outside!
Boys and Girls Clubs Greater Dallas began in November 1965, but added the "Girls" title in 1990 to serve both girls and boys. Today, the Clubs serve more than 6,000 youth annually, providing programs based on physical, emotional, cultural and social needs, and the interests of boys and girls.
According to Point2Home, 331,591 (34.25%) of children living in Dallas have some high school education. While the high school graduation rate of Dallas, Texas was 75.90% in 2017. To put it into perspective, 1 out of 6 students fails to graduate from high school on time.
The Clubs focus on Academic Success, Good Character & Citizenship and Healthy Lifestyles to break the barriers of food insecurity, poor physicial health, and health-risk behaviors, so children feel safe to succeed in school. The Club offers programs to enhance the character and self-esteem of children, so they reach their maximum potential through educational and fun activities!
According to the 2017 National Outcomes Report,
- "73% of low-income Club members ages 12 to 17 who attend the Club regularly report receiving mostly As and Bs, compared to 69% of their peers nationally."
- "12th-grade Club members are more than twice as likely to express an interest in a STEM career as 12th graders nationally (56% of 12th-grade Club members vs. 25% of 12th graders nationally)."
Interested in how you can promote social justice? Find a local Club near you by visiting: here!
Divine Kinship
Divine Kinship
"Our Mission is to fight for social justice and the elimination of poverty through our community projects and campaigns. We also promote sustainability to help improve the health and well being of the community at large."
Our second day of service-learning led us to a sprawling urban garden. Divine Kinship began after one couple noticed the lack of fresh produce available to their community and the increasing threat of large food deserts.
Over 17% of the population in Dallas County is considered to be food insecure. A person is defined as being food insecure if he or she lives in a household having difficulty meeting basic food needs, as defined by the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey.
Divine Kinship is fighting that statistic by providing fresh produce to anyone who needs it "no questions asked." Without barriers such as monthly limits, social security number tracking, or proof of income, the garden is able to better serve its community.
As a fundamental human right, food security is a huge part of the wellbeing of an individual and a community. Divine Kinship's urban garden is an exemplar of social justice which ensures that all individuals have access to a source of food with adequate quantity and quality.
Many public health initiatives have focused on food security in communities. Are you interested in learning more about this or getting involved with similar initiatives? The University of Iowa has a food pantry of our own located in the IMU, available to students and staff in the university. Check it out here!
Aids Interfaith Network
Aids Interfaith Network
Mission: "AIN works to prevent the spread of HIV and serves persons living with HIV/AIDS and other vulnerable populations."
Vision: "Our vision is to offer HOPE and to HELP create a world without HIV/AIDS."
On our third day of volunteering, we visited the Aids Interfaith Network. The nonprofit began back in 1986 as a way to educate the community about AIDS/HIV and increase compassion towards those suffering from the disease.
While we were there, we sat down with a few of the clients who frequently visit AIN. We were able to build relationships through conversations and playing games together. One of the staff members noted that several of their clients live in poverty or homeless.
HIV has a strong relationship with poverty, being detected in 2.4 percent of those who live under the poverty line.
Poverty remains a persistent issue in Dallas, having the highest number of people living 185 percent below the poverty line of any American city.
While meeting with the clients, there was a notable race disparity, with most of them being black. AIDS is a disease that frequently targets minority groups, particularly people who are black, latino, or LGBT.
According to estimates from statistics for Disease Control and Prevention, black and latino men were disportionately affected by the disease compared to white men.
Did you know 1 in 7 who have HIV are unaware they have the disease? As physicians are developing methods to combat HIV/AIDS, the most important step we can take to fight the disease is to educate ourselves. The University of Iowa has it's annual IC Red Week where various student organizations create events to promote awareness and minimize stigmatization.
"The health of a society is truly measured by the quality of its concern and care for the health of its members. We believe that health is a fundamental human right which has as its prerequisites social justice and equality and that it should be equally available and accessible to all."
"The health of a society is truly measured by the quality of its concern and care for the health of its members. We believe that health is a fundamental human right which has as its prerequisites social justice and equality and that it should be equally available and accessible to all."
Google Sites
Report abuse