Group Tackling Newport's Health Equity Gap Gets Second Round of Funding

NEWPORT, RI—A program implemented in Newport last year to address health inequality, with a focus on the Broadway and North End neighborhoods, has received a new round of funding to continue for a second year.

The Newport Health Equity Zone was awarded $400,000 to "continue their mission of improving the health of Newport citizens," according to a Tuesday news release.

The zone is one of several Health Equity Zones in Rhode Island, funded by the Department of Health.

Over the past year, Newport HEZ "spent much of their time in the North End and Broadway communities asking citizens questions about how they think their neighborhoods could be improved," the release stated.

The results of that outreach, which included other methods, led to a presentation event, the Envision Newport Creativity Lab. There, Newporters had a chance to look at the data and suggest ways to knock down "the many barriers to leading a healthy life such as transportation and food access."

In the second year, the HEZ project will focus on creating "wellness hubs," launching a diabetes prevention program, hosting family events and more. Much of what is planned is based on the feedback collected in the first year.

"In Year Two of the HEZ project we are moving from an assessment phase to an implementation phase,” said Olivia Kachingwe, Health Equity Zone Project Coordinator. “We are looking forward to establishing two Wellness Hubs, increasing the use of farmers markets, bringing more Diabetes Prevention courses to the island, and taking strides towards a more walkable and bikeable Newport."

Newport is a community with extreme gaps. While the world knows the city as the City-by-the-Sea and a place of Gilded Age mansions and billionaires’ yachts, local residents know that there are deep pockets of poverty woven through its fabric.

The HEZ project continues with regular events and meetings. The best way to keep up to date is by visiting their website.

The Women's Resource Center originally applied for the HEZ grant last year.

“We often think of health as determined primarily by genetics and personal choices. When I fact social and environmental factors play a key role in determining individual health,” said Jessica Walsh, director of prevention for the Women’s Resource Center, last year. “This project is exciting for Newport because it challenges us to work in partnership with residents to talk about these broader influences on health, to identify areas for improvement in our own community, and to determine the best strategies to make long term, positive change.”

In their submission for the grant WRC presented a collaboration of Newport organizations who would focus on the 6 areas of impact: health, transportation, arts and culture, open space, physical and emotional health, education innovation and economic opportunities, and food access. The organizations involved are: Bike Newport, Boys and Girls Club of Newport County, Arts and Cultural Alliance, Fab Newport, MLK Center, Aquidneck Land Trust. In addition to these six core organizations, support agencies and residents, the Newport-HEZ project is also supported by Worldways Social Marketing, the Alliance for a Liveable Newport, the RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence and newportFILM.

“Health equity means that everyone has access to health care services, positive health outcomes and community support,” said Rhode Island Rep. Lauren Carson. “We should all be pleased that Newport has won this award to build this multi-year project. Everyone is entitled to a long and healthy life. This program will seek to close the gaps that make some population groups more vulnerable to poor health than other groups and it will aim for the highest level of care for the residents in Newport being served by the program.”