Oregonians speak out – a series of conversations about creating an environment where everyone in our community can be healthy.

Sharing Solutions for Good Health

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Care for children

There are too many kids in our state who are struggling because of health issues. They can’t see the chalkboard or hear their teacher well enough. They aren’t eating healthy meals. Their teeth hurt so much they can’t concentrate. This situation is preventable when we partner with local leaders and voters to realize solutions.

Over the past few years, our Salem chapter has rolled up their sleeves and worked to get public funding for dental education and free dental treatment to kids who need it. The results have been amazing – which shows that when children are healthy, they learn better and lead happier, more productive lives.

Jonah Edelman, Executive Director, Stand for Children

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Concern for culture

We need to work with our leaders to reduce barriers to everyday health care. In Oregon, one of the biggest challenges is finding culturally appropriate care. This goes beyond finding a doctor who speaks the right language. It’s about supporting a system that respects a community’s unique beliefs, practices and needs. Giving a person access to community health programs that fit with their culture is one way to create an increased level of trust. And, when we work to support policies that recognize cultural differences, we can help our neighbors feel supported with opportunities that meet their needs.

Shelley Hanson, Director, Spirit Mountain Community Fund

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Call for change

Health and education are the basic rungs of our ladder of opportunity – a ladder that allows individuals to make use of their talents and energy. When these rungs are strong, we prosper. But there are danger signs that our nation’s ladder is in need of repair.

What can we do? To strengthen the health of our communities, we need to become much more sophisticated in how we blend science, politics and activism to shape our future. And we need to make sure that the policy decisions we make today leave the next generation with expanding opportunity – not increasing liability.

Larry Wallack, Dean, Portland State University College of Urban and Public Affairs

To help our leaders create policies that encourage a strong public health system, it’s important that we listen to the wants, needs and solutions that come from our communities.

— Nathalie Johnson,
M.D., Legacy Medical Director of Cancer Services and Northwest Health Foundation Board Member


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