The evidence is clear: health is more than health care. The events in – and reactions to – recent events in Charlottesville and other cities reveal the impact that social cohesion and social justice have on community well-being. Depending on how we develop these and the other Elements of a Healthy Community, towns, cities and states will accordingly either foster or hinder quality of life, well-being and health. The World Health Organization and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation are two leading examples of the many organizations focused on this work along with Vitalyst.

There is clearly still much to do.

As a health foundation, Vitalyst will continue to address the root causes and broader issues that affect health. Exclusion, hate and racism have no place in a healthy community, and we have no tolerance for them. Now more than ever, we remain dedicated to the work of our foundation: increasing access to care, supporting healthy community design, building community capacity and spurring innovations that trigger policy and systems change.  We feel the urgency of bringing communities together to realize a future when all Arizonans have the opportunity to be healthier and live well.