The relationship between race, health and economics is the subject on this week’s PolicyWise (Episode 16), as hosts Demetria Wack and Michael Wiafe welcome the Sierra Health Foundation’s Kindra Montgomery-Block.
Montgomery-Block discusses her work with the Black Child Legacy Campaign to address preventable deaths of African American children. “Why is it that black kids are dying at almost a 40% rate in these seven (Sacramento) neighborhoods and we’re only 11% of the population?,” she asked. Her goal is to work across multiple systems (health care, faith-based, school, etc.) to lower the rates of preventable deaths.
She also talked about the importance of building allyship in the fight for racial justice. And, as a former project director at the Youth Leadership Institute, Montgomery-Block continues to advocate for youth voices. “Policy people, listen to young people, put the right people around the table to make sure the world that you want to see is around the table. If not, you’re on the wrong side.”
The PolicyWise podcast is a partnership between Youth Leadership Institute and CA FWD and can be heard on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Breaker Audio, RadioPublic, Pocket Casts and Overcast.
