The Scan (#1)

The health we all deserve

Hi! Welcome to The Scan, a newsletter containing insights from organizers and practitioners who are defining health and healing on their own terms. Twice a month, you’ll get access to the following updates, organized as such:

1. Pulse — highlights and news from the fields of health justice, healing justice, health organizing, health equity, social determinants of health and [insert other relevant ecosystems here].

2. Histories — a new or old story of an experience with our healthcare industry: some mine, some from others, some (eventually) from you the readers. Each story is unique, but the frustrations they surface typically aren’t.

3. Education Continued — recommended books, audio, and other content that can help us figure out how we ended up where we are today (+ some reflection questions to chew on as you’re taking a look).

This newsletter is designed as grab and go; over time, you can expect other tidbits under the Salve umbrella: audio reflections with thoughtful health agitators, some art, spaces to chat. Anything else you’d like to see? Send me a DM here in Substack — we’re just getting started, so I’m excited to see how this evolves.

Here we go!

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The Scan (#1)

PULSE:

• This is a great primer re: some of the concepts we’ll be covering in this newsletter! A super helpful snapshot of the interplay of health, community power, and the private/public institutions that shape our existing health systems.

• Real life examples of these concepts in play: check out this Rx Foundation-hosted conversation with The Center for Health Progress, People’s Action, and El Centro in Kansas City, all of whom are leading campaigns to increase healthcare institutions' accountability to the people.

• Also exciting: a grassroots coalition in Baltimore is organizing to create a resident-governed, community wealth-building fund that would be funded via higher PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) contributions from hospitals and universities in the city.

• Narrative is an important component of power. Narratives for Health, an initiative of County Health Rankings & Roadmaps and Human Impact Partners, has many wonderful resources (and a train-the-facilitator training) available to those exploring how narrative power can transform health.

• If you’re interested in the intersection of participatory governance, impact investing, and well-being, check out Proximate’s newsletter on participatory investing (which I got to curate!) for relevant updates.

HISTORIES:

I’m a newbie to the wild world of Reddit, but recently I’ve found myself returning repeatedly to the r/Endometriosis and r/Endo channel. The patterns are clear: the dismissal of pain, the decade or more it can take to get a diagnosis, the invasive nature of that diagnosis and possible treatments, the relief upon finally being taken seriously by a community of fellow sufferers.

I think of the times that I’ve gone to the doctor with a clear-eyed conviction, a deep knowing of what I’ve been experiencing in my body. My professional career has always consisted of pushing back on existing healthcare norms in some way. I come armed with a list of questions; I respect doctors and medical knowledge. I am a woman with health insurance; a brown person with various privileges. And yet when my pain is questioned — when I’m told what I’m feeling is just normal, or not that big of a deal, or not something anyone can do anything about — the only reaction I’m able to muster in the space of a moment is usually an “oh.” I nod along. It’s not until I leave the exam room that the confusion, shock, and anger bubbles up.

Have you experienced this tangle with authority and autonomy in your own health journey? If so, reach out! I’d love to hear your stories.

EDUCATION CONTINUED:

• The term healing justice gets thrown around a lot, but for a comprehensive history and definition, as well as insights into the origins and movement behind the term, I highly recommend Healing Justice Lineages by Cara Page and Erica Woodland. If you’re interested in hearing more insights from the authors, check out this interview I conducted with them for The Nonprofit Quarterly.

  • Question(s) for the day: What aspect of your own healing (well-being, thriving) comes from a lineage you belong to? How have you made it your own?