How Corporations Can Be Place-Based Change Agents
Whether companies have regional, national, or global operations, they have the opportunity to be at the forefront of driving…
Six elements of effective, community-led models, and lessons from Detroit and Western Massachusetts
Communities across the country are implementing practical, place-based solutions to respiratory health that are ready to be scaled.
While climate change intensifies threats to Americans’ respiratory health, local organizations are working to strengthen the systems that have been strained by worsening ozone, wildfire smoke, and extreme heat. Nearly 150 million Americans, or 44% of the population, now live in places with unhealthy air, and the heaviest burden falls on communities already facing high rates of asthma and chronic lung disease. These local organizations carry the response, but they are often underfunded and working in isolation.
What does it take to build place-based models for community respiratory health that communities can sustain? FSG examined practical solutions already underway and interviewed the community leaders, funders, and policy advocates working to implement them.
The findings are organized around four areas:
- The converging pressures facing community respiratory health
- Six elements of effective place-based models
- Case studies from Detroit and Western Massachusetts
- Opportunities for action for funders, policymakers, and practitioners
This brief’s findings draw on secondary research and interviews with leaders from community-based organizations, global NGOs with U.S. place-based programs, philanthropy, and policy advocacy organizations. A full list of references and contributors appears at the end.
This brief was sponsored by Sanofi, and FSG retained full editorial control over the research findings and recommendations.
