Guest blog by PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center and American Heart Association-Philadelphia
February is a month of reflection and bold actions championing health equity. It is a month where we recognize the legacy of Black Americans who laid the foundation for the activists, health care professionals, social entrepreneurs, and everyday heroes who worked hard to address injustice in our world. It is also American Heart Month, a time when the nation spotlights understanding, preventing, and treating heart disease. Heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death in the nation. In 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared February as Environmental Justice Month, which is a grassroots movement that advocates for economic and racial justice and environmental stewardship in decision-making.
The American Heart Association (AHA) has committed itself to 10 bold actions that address barriers to health equity- because all people deserve to enjoy healthy lives. Powered by our millions of volunteers and supporters, AHA will fulfill these commitments by 2024. To fulfill these commitments, we have developed powerful partnerships with diverse non-traditional public health partners through listening and collaboration. In Philadelphia, faith-based leaders, environmental justice activists, and public health advocates have joined together to understand how we can work together to address the social determinants of health.
Earlier this month, PennEnvironment Policy and Research, PennPIRG Educational Fund, and The Black Church Center for Justice and Equality were joined by the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) and Philadelphia City Councilmember Derek Green to unveil their troubling report that showed 98% of the schools in Philadelphia tested positive for lead contamination in the water. As Rev. Willie Francois of The Black Church Center for Justice and Equality said, “We have an obligation to guarantee that children in this city will drink water that will not harm their health.”
The PennEnvironment Research & and Policy Center believes Pennsylvanians from all walks of life want and need clean water to drink and clean air to breathe; healthy rivers and streams that are safe for swimming and fishing; preserved open spaces and protection for Pennsylvania's great outdoors; clean sources of energy that don't pollute and never run out—all this should be the heritage we leave to future generations.
At the American Heart Association, we too are committed to healthy equitable schools. Locally, we have partnered with local and national organizations to leverage our science and research in support of policies that promote healthier food options, improved school nutrition standards, and increased access to quality physical activity options. We also know how important clean accessible water is for our children since it plays such an important role in maintaining a child’s overall health.
Together, we are proud to be supportive of efforts led by environmental justice advocates and faith-based leaders for legislation that would establish an accelerated timeline that transitions schools to lead-free filtration stations in Philadelphia’s schools and the funding needed to achieve this for our children.
With 23% of people living in Philadelphia experiencing poverty, the city ranks as the poorest major metropolitan area in the nation. On average, Philadelphians die two decades sooner than their neighbors living in nearby suburbs. If we want to address the social determinants of health, then we can achieve that through greater collaboration and partnership. That is why this Black History, American Heart, and Environmental Justice Month, we are proud to recognize the collaboration of organizations and advocates in Philadelphia that will hopefully lead to improved health for our children.
Learn more about PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center at http://www.pennenvironmentcenter.org/