ChangeLab Solutions has a long history of partnering with rural communities to advance health equity by addressing the structural drivers of inequity that shape economic, social, and health outcomes. Their Toward Better Rural Futures initiative, part of the Aspen Institute’s Thrive Rural framework, highlights how inclusive policymaking and community capacity-building can dismantle structural racism and expand opportunity in rural places. By centering the lived experiences of BIPOC rural residents, ChangeLab helps local governments and organizations co-create solutions that strengthen resilience, from statewide efforts like Oklahoma’s Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust to local health equity projects in places like Sunflower County, Mississippi. These efforts underscore the importance of aligning national, state, and local policy strategies with grassroots leadership—a principle that resonates with Aspen CSG’s broader commitment to equipping rural leaders with knowledge, resources, and tools to build more equitable, thriving communities.
PROMOTING HEALTH EQUITY IN RURAL COMMUNITIES
