By Carolynn Mambu, Vice President, Washington Grantmakers
“Most people thought we were working on healthcare, but I had to say ‘no’. What matters most to Americans is not access to health care, it’s access to the choices people can make in their daily lives,” explained Alice Rivlin, co-chair of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America and senior fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution.
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Last month, Dr. Rivlin joined WG members for a compelling discussion of the RWJF Commission’s Beyond Health Care: New Directions to a Healthier America. Americans are not as healthy as they could be, and factors such as education level, income and where we live make an enormous difference.
Rivlin suggested that wellness and health are managed by individuals and small communities, but that local and federal policies play an important role. Progress requires personal responsibility, an understanding of nutrition and cooking, and the availability of fresh food. Community design is also important–anything that facilitates walking and getting outside, and re-introducing physical activity into the school curriculum, is a step in the right direction.
What can grantmakers do? Rivlin suggests working with grantees to build health consciousness into everything you’re working on – youth programs, education, housing – ask about the impact on the health of the people you’re working with. Always ask: how does this program promote a healthy lifestyle?
This installment of WG Thought Leaders was organized by Washington Grantmakers’ Health Working Group.
 Patricia Mathews (Northern Virginia Health Foundation, HWG Chair); Tamara Lucas Copeland (Washington Grantmakers); and Dr. Alice Rivlin |
