Promoting Health Equity

Advancing Health Equity Through Civic Engagement

The National Civic League believes that to achieve health equity we must understand the challenges, aspirations, barriers and realities of the community. To share the example of innovative approaches to equity and shine a light on leaders across this country, the League has partnered with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Together with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the National Civic League is recognizing, celebrating and rewarding individuals who are making health equity a reality in their community. The League’s Health Equity Award recognizes individuals who are leveraging engagement to improve health outcomes for those most impacted by health disparities.

In addition to national recognition at the National Civic League’s annual All-American City Award and an invitation to participate in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s yearly Health Equity Award annual learning and recognition event; the winner receives a $3,000 prize.

If you or someone you know are engaging residents to build a culture of health we want to know about it. To learn more about the award and apply, read on.

About the Award

The RWJF-National Civic League Health Equity Award award recognizes and honors individuals that have successfully implemented a systems change approach within the past two years to improve health outcomes for those most impacted by health disparities

In addition to national recognition at the National Civic League’s annual All-America City Award and an invitation to participate in Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s yearly Health Equity Award annual learning and recognition the winner will receive a $3,000.00 prize. To be considered for the 2021 RWJF-National Civic League Award applicants – or those nominating others – must complete the application and submit it via email to: keivah@ncl.org by no later than 11:59pm PST May 11, 2021. The winner(s) will be contacted by the National Civic League on or before May 24, 2021.

Eligibility

The RWJF-National Civic League Award seeks to recognize individuals or teams of individuals (no more than two individuals) who have successfully implemented a systems change approach to reduce health disparities within the past two years related to one or more of the following areas: access to quality care, education, employment, income, community environment, housing, and public safety.

Click here for the complete rules and details, including additional eligibility requirements

Applying for the Health Equity Award

Applications should demonstrate alignment with the following criteria:

• Efforts that advance Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s vision for building a Culture of Health and achieving health equity
• Demonstrated success in changing systems that impact health outcomes in one or more of the following areas: access to quality care, education, employment, income, community environment, housing, and public safety
• Targeted efforts that improve outcomes for groups most affected by health disparities
• Successful implementation of a systems change approach to reduce health disparities within the past two years
• Ongoing, and authentic community engagement.

Learn more about what National Civic League means by engagement

Resources for Applicants

• Download an application by completing the interest form on this page
• Review the complete rules

Learn about previous winners

• 2016 Winners – Thelma Craig and Dr. Terri Richardson (Colorado Black Health Collaborative)
• 2017 Winners – Elizabeth Bustos and Rev. Gerald Brown
• 2018 Winners – Angela Bannerman Ankoma and Sharon Conard Wells (Sankofa Community Initiative)
• 2019 Winner – Dr. Shreya Kangovi (Penn Center for Community Health Workers)
• 2020 Winner – Dr. Tsu-Yin Wu (Eastern Michigan University Center for Health Disparities Innovation and Studies)

Please contact NCL’s Civic Engagement Program Director, Keiva Hummel, at healthequity@ncl.org to learn more about applying for the award.