Critical Futures

Brian Smedley is a Senior Fellow and Equity Scholar at the Urban Institute, where he conducts research and policy analysis to advance health equity. Previously, he held leadership positions at the American Psychological Association, the National Academy of Medicine, the National Collaborative for Health Equity, and the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. His work has been recognized by the APA, NAM, American Public Health Association, and National Medical Association, among others.

Highlighted Work:

• “Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care.” National Academies Press, 2003.

Kasey Dudley is a community activist with a deep commitment to education and childhood development. Not only does she serve as Community Catalyst at Urban Institute, but she is also Project Director of the Parents as Champions for Healthy Schools program, a member of the Bloomfield NJ Commission for Civil Rights, and is among the first two Black women elected to the Bloomfield NJ Board of Education.

Highlighted Work:

• Bloomfield Commission on Civil Rights
• Parents as Champions for Healthy Schools
• “Meet the Black Women Bringing Juneteenth to Bloomfield”

The Urban Institute is a nonprofit research organization that provides data and evidence to help advance upward mobility and equity. Urban is a trusted source for changemakers who seek to strengthen decision-making, create inclusive economic growth, and improve the well-being of families and communities.

Highlighted Work:

• • Article: “Ending Health Care Inequities Is a Moral and National Imperative”
  • Event: “Unequal Treatment at 20: Accelerating Progress Towards Health Care Equity”

The Institute for Healing Justice & Equity (the Institute or IHJE) aims to eliminate disparities caused by systemic oppression and to improve individual and community health and well-being through systems change and deep community partnership. As part of these core goals, IHJE created a panel of content experts, community advocates, and organizations called the Anti-Racism Consortium. Each consortium member has a history of working to:

• develop and advocate for anti-racist health policy;
• address the root causes of health inequities; and
• develop programs and interventions that address multiple levels of medical racism, structural racism in health and the health care system.

In the Critical Futures podcast series, Consortium members describe their work and perspectives related to anti-racist health policy as well as structural racism in the healthcare system. These interviews are also conducted with a community partner that the members have worked alongside — with the goal of highlighting how to deeply work with community in a way that shares power and that moves us all towards liberation.