$10 Million Investment Aims to Advance Health Equity in Boston

A broad-based community partnership is leveraging a $10 million investment from the Atrius Health Equity Foundation (AHEF) to help Boston residents live longer and healthier lives by advancing health equity.

At a press conference in July, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) announced details of the long-term mission and explained its necessity

“I’m thrilled that Boston is launching this first-ever public health agenda backed up by community collaboration and resources,” said Mayor Wu. “Creating opportunities so that every resident has access to healthy food, livable communities, and access to health care are important to ensuring every resident feels at home in Boston. I’m so grateful to the Boston Public Health Commission, Atrius Health Equity Foundation, and all of our partners for their commitment to improving the lives of our residents.”

The partnership includes AHEF, the City of Boston, the BPHC, and the Boston Community Health Collaborative (BCHC).

Identifying Areas of Greatest Need

The BCHC was created to bring together Boston teaching hospitals, community health centers, community-based organizations, and public health groups to collaboratively identify and address public health priorities for Boston residents. The Mass League and Boston’s federally qualified health centers hold four seats on the BCHC Steering Committee.

As an active member of the BCHC Steering Committee, the Mass League is working with the Foundation and the BPHC to design the request for proposal process — to be launched later this fall/winter — aimed at supporting the advancement of health equity by addressing economic mobility and inclusion as a critical strategy to improve health.

“The stark 23-year life expectancy difference between those who live in a part of Back Bay compared to those who live two miles away near Nubian Square in Roxbury is unacceptable,” said Mary Ellen McIntyre, interim COO of the Mass League and Co-Chair of the Boston Community Health Collaborative. “This investment is being designed to ensure it goes to organizations and coalitions that will directly improve issues raised by Boston community members who are most impacted by life expectancy disparities, and racial and ethnic disparities. The goal of this RFP is to help all residents in Boston, especially those in underserved neighborhoods, live longer and healthier lives.”

Cardiometabolic diseases, which include heart disease and diabetes, are a major focus for this RFP. These diseases are not only among the top five leading causes of death in Boston for those under age 65 but also have a disproportionate impact on communities of color. According to 2023 BPHC findings, when compared to White residents, Blacks died from heart disease at a 37% higher rate and diabetes at a 220% higher rate, and Latine residents died from diabetes at an 80% higher rate.

Social and economic factors, such as poverty, insufficient housing, and food insecurity, have been cited as contributors to such disparities in health care outcomes.

“Boston is a city that is rich with high-quality health care resources. Yet, we have long-standing gaps in life expectancy and other health outcomes by race, ethnicity, and neighborhood,” said Bisola Ojikutu, MD, MPH, Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission. “In order to close these gaps, we need to focus on drivers of poor health that exist outside the walls of health care institutions, like poverty and economic inequality. This will require a collaborative, whole-of-society, multi-sector approach.” Visit the City of Boston’s website to learn more about the Live Long and Well agenda.