Health, Equity, and Nature Accelerator
Launched in 2022, the Health, Equity, and Nature Accelerator was born in response to growing community demand and momentum for systemic change to address inequities at the intersection of health, climate, and nature.
The Accelerator activates equitable nature-based solutions through community and healthcare partnerships.
The Accelerator is an expansion of Brushwood’s community engagement, advocacy, and research initiatives.
While Brushwood has always focused on serving the Lake County community through programs, the pandemic led us to explore the root causes of health inequities and nature access through environmental justice in Lake County.
The Accelerator amplifies impact through cross-project alignment using community-driven practices, while sharing key results for scalability and collaboration.
The Accelerator includes three primary focus areas:
Data
Community-driven data is vital to advance equitable access to nature and enhance support for nature-based solutions.
Innovation
Brushwood is designing and launching TIERRA (Transforming Internal Experiences for Resilience and Restoration through Acceptance), a research-informed, nature-based training program for Community Health Workers to address trauma, health, and environmental injustices in Lake County, Il.
Action
The Accelerator mobilizes action with community, civic, and business leaders and partners from across Lake County to address economic and racial disparities at the intersection of health, the environment, and our changing climate.
Get Involved:
Join the movement for change! View the Health, Equity, and Nature Accelerator’s Action Toolkit.
Read the Report: Health, Equity, and Nature: A Changing Climate in Lake County, IL.
Read Integrating Nature Based Solutions and Values Based Care.
See the data on the stage! Learn more about Brushwood’s signature concert experience, Convergence.
Everyone deserves a healthy environment and access to the outdoors. Clean air, water, and access to the outdoors are vital to human health.
Published in 2023 in both English and Spanish, Health, Equity, and Nature: A Changing Climate in Lake County, IL outlines key findings and recommendations for improving wellbeing in Lake County, Illinois, by addressing systemic inequities at the intersection of environment and health.
The goal of this 92 page, 30 figure report is to serve as a tool for community members, organizations, and decision-makers to improve health and wellbeing in Lake County, Illinois.
2,000 copies of The Report have been distributed.
3,000 civic leaders, community organizations, advocacy groups, community members, and funders have engaged with the report findings through presentations, partnerships, and outreach.
