Mobilizing Diverse Coalitions to Advance Health Equity

Despite what you may have heard about the “divisive” nature of health equity efforts and other efforts to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion, the majority of Americans (as of late January 2025) still have favorable views of such efforts; fewer than one-third report unfavorable views. It seems that, after living through a pandemic that made salient just how separate and unequal the United States remains in modern life, Americans are now supportive of the idea that we ought to change the status quo—that we should pursue efforts to improve equity and justice in health and other aspects of society. How can those favorable attitudes be harnessed and turned into actions and policies that can actually improve health equity? That question has guided much of our research over the past several years. In this talk, Dr. Lewis will share findings from that research, which has found effective strategies for mobilizing Americans across racial, ethnic, and partisan lines to engage in the individual and collective actions required to advance health equity.