Implications of community leadership in HIA: Two examples from Minnesota

In 2011, ISAIAH, PolicyLink and Take Action Minnesota Hmong Organizing Program conducted a community-driven, equity-focused Health Impact Assessment of the land-use and zoning plans in low-income communities and communities of color surrounding a new light rail project in St. Paul. The HIA process was designed to put community leaders and organizations at the center of the project. In that spirit, 22 constituency-based community groups composed a Community Steering Team and this team formally participated in all aspects of conducting the HIA. After the HIA was conducted, ISAIAH led a robust advocacy effort to garner support from the city and other stakeholders to implement the housing recommendations of the HIA.

ISAIAH is currently partnering with Human Impact Partners to do a rapid HIA of the recommendations from a state-level taskforce on how to invest state education integration dollars. Though rapid, this HIA is also placing community leaders at the center of the process.

These two HIAs reflect a more community-centered approach to HIA than what is typically the practice. What are the implications of taking this approach in communities? What are the benefits? What are the challenges?

ISAIAH is a community organization grounded in the practices and principles of faith-based community organizing. Out of the experiences of marrying research, technical expertise with community-based advocacy, ISAIAH has learned many lessons on the challenges and opportunities of HIA for building community power and voice, as a tool in the context of advocacy and for advancing health equity in public decision-making.