Mission
To build a healthy and resilient Rhode Island by investing in communities and their capacity to affect change, honoring the expertise of those who live and work in those communities, and challenging the systems and structures that perpetuate health inequities.
Rhode Island's Health Equity Zones: 10 Years of Impact
For more than 10 years, Rhode Island's Health Equity Zones have been building healthier, more resilient communities. Learn how this internationally recognized model brings residents, community organizations, healthcare systems, and public agencies together to deliver data-informed solutions across housing, food access, workforce development, and more.
A Community-Led Housing Solution
West Warwick HEZ’s award-winning plan to expand permanent supportive housing is underway. This community-driven, cross-sector solution will ensure long-term stability for residents, helping them thrive in their communities for years to come.
Resident Leads Neighborhood Bicycle Program for Kids
Central Providence resident Chester DeWitt has won the Dorothy Richardson Award for his work on the Nine Neighborhood Fund Participatory Budgeting process and for leading its winning bicycle program. Chester and members of the Chad Brown Alumni Association distributed over 75 bikes and bike repair training to young people in 02908 and 02909. Check out the full story!
Warren HEZ Teens Are Tending Their Communities
EastBayRI recently featured Warren HEZ and its inaugural summer youth internship program, where 2 high school student interns, both Warren residents, learned how to care for and tend to trees and green spaces in their neighborhoods. The program is supported by an Urban Forestry and Community grant, which supports statewide projects like tree planting and other green space-enhancing initiatives that help reduce heat, store water, and clean air. Read the EastBayRI article to learn more about the program.
Statewide Evaluation: The HEZ model is working!
Emerging evidence from a statewide evaluation demonstrates that HEZs reduce social vulnerability, chronic disease, and healthcare costs. By investing in proactive solutions, HEZs ensure long-term healthcare savings and improve the health and economic well-being of Rhode Islanders.
Communities Decide How to Spend Over $1 Million
Rhode Island residents are enjoying the results of the 2022-23 Together We Can Participatory Budgeting (PB) process, where they voted on how to spend over $1 million to improve their communities. Read the 2024 Participatory Budgeting Report (English) (Spanish) to learn more.
Zoning for Equity: Newport's North End
On May 11, 2022, a resident-led effort earned the unanimous support of the Newport City Council for amendments to a zoning ordinance for the city’s Innovation District, a mixed-use 50+ acre technology hub in the city’s North End neighborhood. With the support of the Newport Health Equity Zone, the Local Advisory Group (LAG) proposed... more
HEZ Highlights
- Rhode Island's Health Equity Zones: 10 Years of Impact
- A Community-Led Housing Solution from West Warwick’s HEZ
- HEZs Statewide Evaluation Shows Impact and Success
- Rhode Island’s Health Equity Zones A Model for Building Healthy, Resilient
What Are Rhode Island’s Health Equity Zones?
- Rhode Island’s Health Equity Zones (HEZs) are local collaboratives across the state using resident-driven decision-making to improve community well-being and health outcomes.
- Each HEZ collaborative represents a region, municipality, or neighborhood with a population of at least 5,000 and has lower health outcomes than other areas throughout the state.
- HEZs bring residents, community organizations, healthcare systems, and public agencies together to deliver data-informed solutions across housing, education, food access, workforce development, and other social and environmental factors that shape people’s lives.
- HEZs work to meet the unique needs and priorities of their residents.
- HEZs connect local priorities to broader statewide public health objectives.
- Altogether, HEZs engage more than 1.3k partners and reach 72% of Rhode Islanders.
- HEZs help ensure that all Rhode Islanders have the opportunity to be as healthy as possible, no matter who they are or where they live.
How Do Rhode Island's Health Equity Zones Work?
Through a collective, community-led process, each HEZ
- Conducts a needs assessment,
- Identifies priorities, and
- Implements a data-driven action plan to address barriers to health and well-being.
Rhode Island's Learning Communities
The Rhode Island Learning Community is a living network of people from across sectors working together to transform how institutions show up for communities. Learning Community events bring government, nonprofits, and residents together to learn from one another and take action on social and environmental issues impacting Rhode Islanders' health and well-being. Rhode Island's Learning Community events serve as:
- A collaborative learning lab where participants explore how to move beyond traditional community outreach.
- A path toward true partnership where communities and institutions become co-learners and co-creators of solutions rather than passive audiences receiving instruction or authoritative sources delivering it.
- Action-oriented networks in continuous practice tackling local issues, led by community voices.
Have an idea for a workshop, series, or Community of Practice?
Complete the Learning Community Brainstorm Worksheet.
Interested in tabling at the next Learning Community?
Complete the Exhibitor (Tabling) Application.
Become a sponsor: TTAP Sponsorship Guide
To learn more, please contact Deb Golding at deb.golding@health.ri.gov
Get Involved
Find a HEZ near you and learn more about the work it’s doing in your community.