Health equity is an important part of a healthy, thriving community. Health inequities, also known as health disparities, are strongly related to issues such as unemployment, poverty, underfunded schools, and a lack of affortable housing. Because people in low-income communities are more likely to be affected by health disparties, they unfairly experience higher rates of obesity and chronic disease.

To address this, the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency is working with community-based organizations (CBOs), city staff and residents to build healthier communities through a project called Healthy Cities, Healthy Residents. The Healthy Cities, Healthy Residents project promotes relationship building, cross-sector partnerships and community engagement to make sustainable changes in city planning, policies and neighborhood environments.

In partnership with community-based organizations, community-driven local coalitions and cities, Healthy Cities, Healthy Residents project staff work to help plan and develop policies that support active transportation, healthy food environments and community spaces. Specifically, Healthy Cities, Healthy Residents staff and partners work to:

• Expand the coalition's membership in all participating cities to include more residents and community stakeholders who will champion policy and environmental change.
• Train residents using the Resident Leadership Academy curriculum or similar leadership model.
• Conduct scans of their city’s local policies and environmental assessments of their community.
• Work with their cities to develop community-driven policies on healthy food systems and active transportation/active living.
• Encourage decision makers to adopt the policies and implement environmental changes.