The power of BUILD communities was on full display recently in Atlanta, Georgia. Over three days in September, we gathered in learning spaces and over shared meals, bonding and strengthening skills to carry into our collaborative work over the next three years.
At the start of each cohort, BUILD hosts a convening of awardee partners designed to support a peer network among awardees while strengthening their knowledge and strategy for racial equity practice and implementation. This was the first time the new cohort of 13 communities had gathered as a nationwide network of multi-sector partnerships between community-based organizations, public health departments, health systems, health plans, and local residents since being announced in May 2023. At BUILD: Community Connections, participants attended workshops, built skills alongside peers, and were inspired by leaders in the field.
On the morning of the first full day, BUILD alumni awardees, current awardees, Funding Collaborative members, partners, national speakers, and local Atlanta leaders filled the venue. Following an opening from BUILD’s Executive Director, we welcomed local Atlanta poet Mshairi Siyanda to set the tone for our time together. Mshairi wrote and delivered two powerful poems specifically for this audience that deeply resonated with them: “Remember,” which emphasized the importance of self-care in our work, and “Voices of the Many,” which highlighted the significance of community power.
To keep us grounded in space and place, we welcomed local health and racial equity leaders to the stage to share about their work. Arlene Parker Goldson, from the Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE), talked about engaging the rural community in Georgia and the larger American South to drive policy and institutional action to promote equity and shared prosperity. PSE encourages an understanding of determinants of health such as energy, the environment, climate justice, and economic inclusion.
Carrie Oliver, from the Atlanta Regional Collaborative for Health Improvement (ARCHI), shared how their collective impact approach in the Atlanta metro area meets community needs through resource hubs and partner networks. ARCHI practices deep listening and story collection to inform action and progress toward health equity for local residents through system-level change.
To do justice to the rich history and culture of the city of Atlanta, attendees also embarked on some local learning activities. They celebrated the legacy of Atlanta’s Black entrepreneurs at the Madame CJ Walker Museum, explored the APEX Museum to learn “Black history from a Black perspective,” and attended a Civil Rights Movement bus tour. These interactive experiences helped us get to know the city of Atlanta beyond the conference room walls and off the screens. They offered a truly hands-on experience of cultural learning alongside peers.
After spending this time together, we could not be more excited about this incredible group of new awardees bringing our national network to 68 BUILD collaboratives across the country. Learning from peers and connecting with like-minded communities across the country is one of the most powerful tools at our fingertips, and we deeply appreciate the opportunities to gather in person. We are so excited to see what our BUILD communities accomplish over the next few years and are thrilled to be a part of their journeys. Learn more about our awardees, and see here for more highlights, pictures, and takeaways from our time together.
To learn more about The BUILD Health Challenge, our model, and what we’ve learned from BUILD communities, please visit our Resources.
