What is Health Equity? And Why are there Disparities?
The Heart of West Lakes Wellness Center
Where you live has a dramatic effect on your health and life expectancy. People living in your neighboring ZIP Codes, even on surrounding blocks, can have a decade's difference in life expectancy. The truth is that not everyone has the same chance to live a long and healthy life in our country.
Lift Orlando believes that everyone should have a fair chance to be healthy in all areas of life. This idea is called "health equity." When people do not have a fair chance at being as healthy as can be, especially if it's because of where they live or other demographic factors, it is called "health inequity."
Lift Orlando's commitment to health equity is why one of our pillars is Health and Wellness.
This blog will give you an overview of what health equity is, where health disparities come from, and how we can work together to close the gaps and unleash cycles of health prosperity instead.
Why is There Health Inequity? A Look at West Lakes
History gives us insight into why different people have different life expectancies and health outcomes. Lift Orlando is located in The Communities of West Lakes in Orlando, Florida's 32805 ZIP Code. In these neighborhoods, life expectancy was dangerously below Orange County averages in 2013 – the year Lift Orlando was born.
Decades of disinvestment and unfair policies and practices played a huge role in this disparity. The Communities of West Lakes, just west of downtown Orlando, were once home to the city's largest Black community. Despite segregation, redlining, and other laws targeting people of color, Black professionals built a thriving community during the 1940s and onwards. Right along Orange Blossom Trail, teachers, lawyers, artists, doctors, and other professionals bought homes to raise families and build generational wealth. Among these history-making individuals were Alzo Reddick, Orlando's first Black state representative; Belvin Perry, the first Black chief judge; and retired Navy Vice Admiral David Brewer III. These neighborhoods were a place of community, hope, and learning.
Decades later, with investments in other neighborhoods across Orlando and segregation loosening its hold, the community began to change. Other areas in Orlando experienced investments in infrastructure, education, economic viability, housing, and wellness. Black professionals who might have moved to 32805 chose to live elsewhere to benefit from these opportunities. Over the years, the lack of resources and flight of human capital, including physicians and other healthcare providers, left these neighborhoods. Against the odds, the spirit of the residents didn't wane.
The result was a health equity crisis. healthcare access points became fewer as the neighborhood matured. Dr. Bridget Williams, chief of staff for the Orange County Public Schools, noticed this gap when she was growing up in the area.
She said, "I grew up in West Lakes. For us, healthcare was the missing ingredient that we now have within the West Lakes community."
In 2016, Lift Orlando received data from a study on healthcare access points in 32805 conducted by a local hospital system. The results were alarming. West Lakes had very few healthcare access points like doctors, pharmacies, grocery stores, and gyms. There were a total of 12 compared to the 32789 ZIP Code, which had 112.
The challenge was evident—residents were not getting a fair chance at being as healthy as possible. A long history of disinvestment had driven critical amenities and healthcare services far away.
How to Build Health Equity in a Community
Eddy Moratin, president of Lift Orlando, commented, "In America today, our ZIP Code is the number one predictor of health outcomes." The results of the study confirmed this pattern in the 32805 ZIP Code.
Noticing unfair health outcomes is the first step to resolving them. In West Lakes, Lift Orlando took a collaborative approach to making healthcare access more just.
Residents, business leaders, committed partners, and Lift Orlando all agreed—restoring a fair chance to be healthy would require a big investment in health and wellbeing services in West Lakes. A group of residents gathered with Lift Orlando to create a plan, first identifying which services and amenities would make the biggest improvement to their health. Through these discussions, the group landed on a vision for a holistic, convenient center that would combine healthcare, financial planning services, mental health support, and community resources.
Eddy remarked, "In partnership with residents, we wanted to create a place to strengthen neighbors in all aspects of their lives. This space represents a home for a legacy of pride, community leadership, and services to ensure people thrive."
Using the plans, purpose, and partnerships from this discussion, Lift Orlando began building the Heart of West Lakes Wellness Center - a 30,000-square-foot space that combines holistic health and wellness services in one convenient, walkable location for residents of 32805.
The Heart is Here: A More Fair Chance for Neighbors to Thrive!
The Heart of West Lakes reflects the partnership among some key players in Floridians' health. Leaders from AdventHealth, Orlando Health, and Florida Blue all came together in the most significant healthcare partnership in Florida's history to create a community living room for the residents of West Lakes. This incredible milestone is a leap for health equity and removes a major obstacle for the 32805 ZIP Code residents.
This immense project enhanced pride that never waned, despite the community's challenges. These Orlando residents love their homes and apartments—and they wanted something to reflect their pride and love. The Heart intends to pump vitality into the West Lakes communities to restore what belongs: an equal and fair chance at health and wellbeing. Built FOR residents and welcoming for all, there's a place for everyone at the Heart.
There is still important work to be done to make sure that all Orlando residents have a fair and full chance to be as healthy as can be. Yet the Heart represents a key step in undoing the effects of disinvestment and restoring access to critical health and wellness services.
It will be a few years before Lift Orlando and its partners can measure the Heart's impact. We cannot wait to see tangible results that show more health equity in our city!
See a Health Equity Initiative in Action
Health equity refers to the idea that everyone should have a fair and full chance to be as healthy as possible. Data shows that right now, not everyone does have the same outcomes or chance to thrive. In West Lakes, a history of disinvestment meant that local residents had access to fewer healthcare resources or wellbeing amenities. The result was unfair health outcomes – West Lakes residents could expect to lead shorter lives than the average resident of Orange County.
In response, Lift Orlando, residents, partners, and business leaders formulated a plan to counteract these gaps – the Heart of West Lakes Wellness Center. Now, the Heart is here, it's open, and there's a place for everyone there, including you. Between financial resources, business training, a gathering place with healthy food options, and medical help, the Heart gives the residents of 32805 and surrounding neighborhoods a more fair chance to be healthy.
If you want to see the Heart in action, come on a tour of the West Lakes Campus! You can find full information for how to visit by clicking here. Together, we can strengthen neighborhoods so people can thrive.