Health Equity and Social Justice

An important role that philanthropy can play is as a voice and an advocate for the most vulnerable and marginalized populations, including the LGBT population. In states like Missouri, providing this voice is not always easy or popular. Grantmakers must talk about what is required to remove barriers, increase awareness, and improve outcomes.

Latinos are the nation’s largest ethnic minority, comprising 15 percent of the U.S. population. This Views from the Field article discusses how philanthropy can develop effective grantmaking strategies and leverage community partnerships to meet the needs and leverage the assets of the Latino population.

Research over the decades has indicated that factors, such as education, income, occupation, housing, neighborhood environment, race, and ethnicity, have a powerful influence on health and are often referred to as the “root cause” of poor health.