Addressing (and improving) life expectancies for Black Minnesotans
Black people in the Twin Cities live on average seven years less than their white counterparts, according to the Urban League Twin Cities’ “State of Black Minnesota” 2021 report.
Race & Health Equity
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Concerns rise as north Minneapolis loses key grocery, pharmacy stores
What was already a food desert, with four grocery stores for 70,000 people, has been exacerbated.
Black Minnesotans disproportionately affected by environmental pollutants
And nationally, Black people are 42% more likely than whites to have asthma and have a mortality rate from asthma 2.8 times that of white people, according to data from the American Lung Association.
How is Brooke Cunningham’s work with health equity serving her as new commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Health?
The former head of the Health Equity Bureau was appointed by Gov. Tim Walz as commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Health.
Getting people to care about sickle cell when it’s considered ‘only a Black disease’
In the U.S., sickle cell affects around 100,000 people. For Black Americans, the impact is felt disproportionately, with one out of every 365 Black people having sickle cell disease.
Behind MinnPost’s series on addressing health outcomes for Black Minnesotans
Race and health equity reporter Ava Kian takes an in-depth look at health outcomes of Black Minnesotans in this four-part series.
Filling in the gaps: Breast cancer and Black women
Unconscious bias and lack of culturally competent care are among the reasons Black women in the U.S. are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women.
Black Maternal Health Caucus pushing for change in new Minnesota legislative session
While the group passed several pieces of legislation this past session – the legislators believe there’s more to do.
New U of M research suggests race may factor into brain tumor care
The research found that when a person presents with a brain tumor, their race may influence whether doctors recommend surgery to remove the tumor — or not to.
Is the Indian Health Service doing enough to combat maternal and infant mortality?
In some regions, for example South Dakota, the maternal mortality among American Indian/Alaska Natives is seven times that of white women.
Program supporting Black mothers through pregnancy adds cultural component to maternal care
Formed in 2018 by a group of midwives wanting to improve birth and maternal outcomes for U.S.-born Black women, D.I.V.A. Moms has worked with 285 mothers to date.
For many Black women, ignored concerns during pregnancy is a familiar story
While many pregnant people say their doctors and nurses do not listen to them and their concerns are often dismissed, pregnant Black people face an even higher burden.
Looking back at my year learning about health equity in Minnesota
Through my work, I’ve learned that increasing access has no downfalls.
Calls for eviction moratorium as temps fall to dangerous lows in Minnesota
When including comorbidities, temperatures below 32°F have been found to increase unhoused peoples’ overall risk of death by 84%. That risk rises to 321% when the temperature drops below 9°F.
Research: Black, Hispanic and Asian Minnesotans under 65 more likely to be vaccinated against COVID-19 — and more likely to die of it
The findings underscore underlying inequalities that impact Minnesota’s populations of color.
The difference two years can make: New documentary explores racial inequity in autism diagnoses
A new PBS documentary, “In a Different Key,” explores the story of autism diagnosis from 1943 forward — and the challenges that remain, including inequity in the timing of autism diagnoses. It airs Tuesday at 8 p.m. on Twin Cities PBS.
Twin Cities organizations hope to reduce drowning disparities
Between 2005 and 2012, Black people ages 5 to 34 were 1.9 times more likely to die of unintentional drowning compared to white people in Minnesota. That gap widened in the years between 2012 and 2020.
Explaining the ‘cultural broker’ role and how they are helping advance health equity in Minnesota
Cultural brokers assist with various needs, like applying for SNAP benefits, rental assistance, making doctor’s appointments, making sure families have proper winter gear and referring people to food shelves.
‘This problem is real’: Youth opioid addiction puts Minnesota’s Karen community on high alert
Advocates at the Karen Organization of Minnesota say Karen parents from around the state are increasingly concerned that their children are becoming addicted to opioids.
Native filmmaker seeks to bring attention to missing and murdered Indigenous women through provocative documentary
From 2010 to 2018, 8% of all murdered girls and women in Minnesota were Indigenous, making Indigenous women seven times more likely than white women to be murdered.
