Inequities in healthcare and unequal risk correlated with racial categories have received a lot of attention in the past year and a half. From early in the COVID-19 pandemic, it was apparent that the risks of severe disease were not borne equally. Age is clearly related to risk, with plausible biological underpinnings; we have observed independently that the behavior of our immune systems changes throughout our lives. Variation in risk is also correlated with racial categories, but here the story is complex, involving unequal exposure risks related to job type & living conditions, differing access to healthcare, and varied prevalence of preexisting conditions, along with other possible factors. If we were looking to predict risk, we might therefore consider racial categories as one predictor. But will that improve or exacerbate inequity related to racial categories in healthcare and public health?
[Read more…] about Science Corner: Formulas for Equitable Healthcare
social justice
Dove Power: Advocacy the Christian Way
“What does it mean for Christians to do social justice advocacy as if God is real and Jesus is risen?” is a significant question. Anyone have example regarding how such social justice advocacy relates to (interacts with or even been played out in) their research, field and/or higher education in general? Once again, thank-you to J. Nathan Matias (@natematias), Research Assistant, MIT Media Lab Center for Civic Media for his Urbana12 series. This post in original form (12/29/2012) can be found here. ~ Thomas B. Grosh IV, Associate Director of ESN.
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This weekend, I’m at Urbana, a gathering of Christian students interested in the work of the church worldwide. Over the last few days, I have been blogging seminars, in which a speaker gives a talk to around 50-60 participants.
What does it mean for Christians to do social justice advocacy as if God is real and Jesus is risen?
Alexia Salvatierra is a Lutheran pastor and director of justice ministries for the Southern California synod. She also works for World Vision and the Christian Community Development Association.
Alexia tells us that in the last ten years, evangelicals have come to realise that the gospel also includes calls to justice. Micah 6:8 is on everyone’s lips, “love mercy, do justice, and walk humbly with our God.” The church often gets confused about what it means to do justice. Christians often don’t do advocacy, often because typical advocacy tactics can feel wrong to Christians, she says.
Why advocate for justice? Christians should be compelled by the love of God and the compassion of Christ, feeling other people’s hopes and dreams. Like Jesus, we need to look at people to experience empathy. [Read more…] about Dove Power: Advocacy the Christian Way