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In this episode of Community Heartbeats, Dr. America Bracho shares how Latino Health Access transformed the way communities think about health. What started as a focus on diabetes management evolved into a movement for open spaces, safe neighborhoods, and systemic change.
Dr. Bracho discusses how health is more than just taking medication—it is about where people live, work, and play. When residents in Santa Ana reported that they had no safe places for exercise or outdoor activity, Latino Health Access mobilized to fight for parks, walkable neighborhoods, and community spaces. The journey was not easy, and it took over a decade to build a park in a neighborhood with no green spaces.
Listeners will learn about:
- The connection between chronic disease and community design
- How poverty and lack of resources shape health outcomes
- The fight for Parque Corazones Verdes, a community-led effort to reclaim public space
- Why social and structural determinants must be part of any health solution
This episode is a powerful look at how health is shaped by environment, policy, and advocacy, and how community action can create lasting change.
Listen now and subscribe to Community Heartbeats to hear stories of resilience, leadership, and the fight for a healthier future.
#CommunityHeartbeats, #LatinoHealthAccess, #HealthEquity, #PublicHealth, #CommunityHealth, #SocialDeterminantsOfHealth, #UrbanPlanning, #PromotoresDeSalud, #GrassrootsMovements, #ParksAndHealth
