RWJF

The 2025-2026 RWJF Health Policy Fellows program is accepting applications through November 5. The program connects mid-career professionals interested in working at the intersection of health and public policy with leaders across the federal government. Learn more about gaining hands-on health policy experience in Washington, D.C. through the RWJF Health Policy Fellows program.

We’ve talked a lot about homeownership being the best pathway for families to build financial security, but homeownership is about 70% higher among White households than Black households in the U.S. This staggering difference did not come about by chance: it is the result of harmful policies and practices, historical and present, that place uneven barriers to homeownership in front of families of color. Since owning a home can lead to positive health outcomes and improve overall wellbeing, breaking down barriers to homeownership is crucial for advancing health equity. To help families purchase their own homes, the Dearfield Fund For Black Wealth, an RWJF-investee, provides no-interest loans of up to $40,000 for prospective Black homebuyers in Colorado. This unique model helps families build financial security, generates financial returns, and creates meaningful social impact.  The Dearfield Fund aims to support 500 first-time homebuyers, generating $50M in cumulative new wealth over 10 years. And they’re already well on their way to reaching this goal. Curious to learn more about how this works? Head to this link: https://rwjf.ws/3WVZEhA  

🗳️Don’t miss your chance to cast your vote for SXSW 2025!    In true “democratizing the imagination of the future” fashion (which you can learn about at one of my proposed panels, detailed below), the people have a say in whether my future-oriented panels will be on the agenda for SXSW’s March 2025 conference. Community input is a major deciding factor for the conference producers, so whether you’re planning to attend the conference or not, please take a few moments to vote for my panels! You can express interest in as many sessions as you’d like before August 18th.    🟣Boldly Reimagining the Future of Health:  https://lnkd.in/eWV3P5tg Futures thinking is for everyone! At RWJF my team and I have been supporting and working with some amazing futurists from a wide range of backgrounds. They are using unique tools and experiences to create the time, space, and expertise for everyone to imagine healthier, more equitable futures. In this panel, we’ll talk about what the Foundation has learned about democratizing the imagination of the future, why it’s important, and how YOU can try this in your own work.     🟣Share your Hunch to Change the World:  https://lnkd.in/eBPB5NJs    Hosting hunch jams—where I bring folks from any and all backgrounds together to share their hunches about the future—is one of my favorite parts of my job. In this session, I hope to hunch alongside SXSW participants, who may just have a unique idea on how we can transform health within our lifetime. Let’s share our hunches together!   #SXSW #PanelPicker

Thanks to our summer interns for their hard work, contributions, and commitment to RWJF’s mission. Your participation has made real and lasting impacts on the Foundation. We wish you the best of luck as you continue to pursue your goals. #Internship #FutureLeaders #SummerInternship #Philanthropy

Join us on September 4 for a conversation about the critical role of data in advancing internal and external health equity efforts. Leaders in advocacy and healthcare will discuss how to identify, analyze, and use data to improve health equity outcomes for all.  After the conversation, attendees will have the opportunity to join small group discussions to share insights, talk about what’s working, and offer suggestions. All are welcome: consumer and justice advocates, healthcare providers, public health experts, and you.

RWJF is hiring! Join a team committed to partnering with others to achieve health equity—faster and together. -Managing Director, Healthy Communities -Impact Investment Officer Head to our website to apply or share with your network to help us recruit qualified candidates! #CareerOpportunities #HiringNow #Career #Philanthropy

When we make assumptions about what children and families need, we risk creating ineffective solutions. At RWJF, we are advancing our approach to how we support children and families thanks to the Family Advisory Committee (FAC). This group of 11 caregivers and parents from across the country is helping advance economic inclusion for all families and address structural racism.    Through their lived experiences, FAC members share what our world could look like if families were prioritized in the design of our systems. Their stories of triumph and joy in the face of systemic barriers are powerful reminders of why we must work with families to create better, more equitable policies and systems. https://lnkd.in/evMRdwiT   J. Michael White shares how the committee is helping us transform our strategies and the importance of incorporating family voice into philanthropic work. https://rwjf.ws/3WqRgGQ  Learn more about RWJF is working to achieve its generational goals and evolving its strategies to support children and families. https://rwjf.ws/48WuL0e #Caregiving #Childcare #EconomicInclusion 

The data we collect and the way we communicate it holds immense power to shape the way we understand our world, and the actions we take to improve it. In the public health space, I feel strongly that we must move toward an asset-framing approach to data. Pointing out disparities is no longer enough, we must keep our focus on the progress we hope to achieve and a future where we can ALL live our healthiest lives.    I recently had a great conversation with my colleague Alonzo Plough Ph.D, MPH of RWJF about why narrative change is important and how it can be done. Give it a read!   https://lnkd.in/eRCi83SJ 

Growing up as one of a set of triplets with Cerebral Palsy, I relied heavily on Medicaid home and community-based services for the care I needed—services that were critical for my wellbeing and dignity. I know how crucial it is for people with disabilities to understand the laws that govern us so we can advocate for ourselves—for investment in home and community-based services, Medicaid expansion, and all the supports and services we need as disabled people to thrive. But dense language in pending legislation can be a big barrier to doing this. I’ve needed to read bills fifteen times or so to fully grasp their content, and I do this work for a living. At New Disabled South, we decided to break this barrier down by developing the Plain Language Policy Dashboard. It translates pending legislation in the 14 Southern states into plain language that's easy to understand and accessible to people with disabilities and everyone. Since launching last November, our dashboard has attracted thousands of active users. It not only creates a baseline of knowledge within a state but also helps inform advocates about regional trends so they can effectively drive change. I'm excited to witness the attention it's attracting and how it's being recognized as a model for advancing equity and inclusion. Thank you to RWJF for the opportunity to highlight our dashboard! #DisabilityInclusion #DisabilityPrideMonth

As attacks on race equity have put critical initiatives in legal limbo, including the Abundant Birth Project and Medicare’s incentive program for anti-racism plans, we must stay the course to protect race-conscious policies and programs. These policies and programs are critical for advancing health equity. Dariely Rodriguez, Deputy Chief Counsel at Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law has seen firsthand how race-conscious policies can shape opportunity and is working to protect these policies and programs so everyone can reach their full potential.