2024 National Findings Report - Creating Thriving Communities Through Civic Participation

People who encounter barriers to health and have ideas to improve health have the right to raise the issue, engage with their community and expect action to be taken. [...] Civic health begins with places such as libraries, parks and schools and access to information our local communities and is the cornerstone of our democracy, needed for individual and group decision-making. [...] Redlining, disinvestment in rural economies and legal actions to terminate tribal culture and land rights are examples of long-standing discrimination that have created structural barriers to social and economic opportunity, civic participation and the potential to live long and well in these communities today (see map at right). [...] This is due in part The quality and accessibility of the information environment to disinvestment in rural economies and digital redlining, as matters because it is tied to our health and is crucial infrastructure described below. [...] Take voting and union membership, for example: Examples of structural barriers to civic health l Almost 67% of the voting-eligible population participated in include gerrymandered districts, laws and the 2020 presidential election, the highest since 1900.7 In 2023, practices that create obstacles to voting and in response to increased participation, 14 states enacted laws disinvestment in civic in.