From the Global to the Local: Public Health, Poverty Alleviation, Gender Equality and Social Justice

On Feb. 8, IIGH Director Sofia Gruskin welcomed Dr. Helene Gayle, President and CEO of the Chicago Community Trust, for a discussion about Dr. Gayle’s work in Chicago and around the world addressing some of the most significant challenges to the health of vulnerable communities, particularly during the pandemic. With a particular focus on racial equality and economic mobility, Dr. Gayle shared about the initiatives she’s led most recently in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including encouraging vaccine uptake in hard-to-reach and hesitant communities and catalyzing neighborhood investment to revitalize disinvested communities. Dr. Gayle also emphasized the importance of contextualizing healthcare to the fit the needs, accessibility, and understanding of the people it is meant to serve.