The COVID-19 pandemic along with the accelerating impacts of climate change have underscored the fact that Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in America are at a higher risk of adverse health outcomes than their white counterparts. While public health experts have been concerned about racial disparities in health for decades, this new awareness, and new government actions, provide an opportunity to address the issue more effectively and find data-driven solutions. President Biden’s administration has made it a priority to use data to advance racial equity across a variety of domains, including health. His Executive Order 13985, “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government,” created the Equitable Data Working Group and has led to individual Agency Equity Plans, including new efforts by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The Center for Open Data Enterprise (CODE) and the IBM Center for the Business of Government (IBM Center) have now partnered to explore how data related to health risk, healthcare access, and health outcomes can be leveraged to reduce these disparities and improve health equity in the United States. This paper builds on discussions at the Roundtable on Open Data For Racial Equity in Healthcare held by CODE and the IBM Center in April 2022 with support from population health management company ZeOmega. It describes ways that data can be applied to improve equity in healthcare and provides insights and recommendations for the Biden administration, the healthcare industry, community-based organizations (CBOs), and other leaders.

Catalyst Miami is acknowledged for the contributions of its staff member, Natalia Brown. Click here to read the full report.

In 2019, Dade Heritage Trust invited several concerned organizations and individuals, including Catalyst Miami, to a meeting to discuss the increased loss of tree canopy in our community. The turnout was overwhelming, and it was clear that some action had to be taken to demand better from our decision makers regarding tree preservation and protection policy and procedures. The directive from the group was that we needed thorough research on current tree policies and trends, and education and outreach to the community to teach about the wonderful benefits of trees. The Miami Canopy Coalition was formed.

With a clear vision of next steps, Dade Heritage Trust received a grant from the Miami Foundation and a contribution from then District 8 County Commissioner, and now Miami-Dade Mayor, Daniella Levine Cava which provided funding for in-depth research and outreach which became the basis for this report. Click here to download it.

This in-depth case study examines Catalyst Miami's work over two decades, evolving to meet the needs of Miami-Dade County's low-wealth communities. The case study was developed for the Kresge Foundation’s Next Generation Human Services Initiative in collaboration with Harvard Business School.

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A white paper to demonstrate that increases in family income result in improved children's health outcomes. 

Read the document here.

The Prosperity Miami (PM) pilot initiative - a collaboration of Catalyst Miami, New Florida Majority, and South Florida Voices for Working Families - was an effort to build on the philosophy and practices of the groups mentioned above. Working collaboratively across organizations to blend services and community organizing rather than through a singular organization, the partners sought to meet the bottom-line needs of individuals, while also moving them into political organizing for broader social change. This paper highlights the lessons learned from this attempt at social innovation and provides implications for future similar collaborative efforts.

Read the document here.