When a young father in Southwest Philly has to drive miles just to find fresh produce, or an older woman in North Philly skips a doctor’s appointment because the bus is unreliable, those choices speak to the state of health equity in Philadelphia.
That’s why we’re turning the Free Library into a hub for FREE community wellness resources with Community Impact Week, Nov. 17–21, at Parkway Central Library. Daily health events are free of charge and open the everyone!
What We Mean By Health Equity
Health equity means everyone has the opportunity to be as healthy as possible, regardless of their circumstances. While equality can give everyone the same resources, it’s equity that recognizes that some people and communities need more or different support to reach the same outcomes.
As our own CDC defines it, health equity is “the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health.”
Health Opportunity In Philadelphia Isn’t Evenly Distributed
Philadelphia’s story is one of resilience and of inequity.
- Citywide average life expectancy is 76 years, but it’s only 65 years for non-Hispanic Black men
- Nearly 25% Philadelphians live below the poverty line … for Latino residents it’s closer to 40%
- About 36% of Latino adults and 27% of Black adults describe their health as “fair or poor”
- Neighborhoods with fewer grocery stores, green spaces, and stable housing face higher rates of asthma, diabetes, and heart disease
- Only 7.1% of residents are uninsured but coverage alone can’t guarantee equitable outcomes.
Behind these numbers are families whose daily environments (including housing, jobs, schools, and access to resources) shape their health far more than medical care alone.
Why Gaps Persist
Health doesn’t start in hospitals, it starts in our homes and communities. Factors like limited access to quality care, structural racism, redlining, unsafe housing, and unreliable transportation all play a role. Chronic stress tied to poverty and discrimination further deepens these inequities.
Addressing these root causes, known as the social determinants of health, is essential if we want a city where all residents can thrive.
How Public Libraries Support Health Equity
We often note that today’s public libraries are about more than books: they’re trusted community hubs that meet people where they are, providing accessible, culturally relevant information to support lifelong learning and well-being.
In fact, a national survey found that nearly 40% of public library users nationwide report turning to their library for health information or support. That makes libraries powerful partners in advancing community wellness and health equity in Philadelphia.
At the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation, promoting health equity aligns naturally with our focus on information and resource access and community well-being. People often look to their public library for:
- Trusted, easy-to-understand health information
- Health-focused workshops, pop-up clinics and events with local partners
- Stories of lived experiences that make statistics real.
By providing equitable access and reliable information, public libraries are helping to bridge the gap between need and access.
How You Can Help
Whether a parent, policymaker, student, or neighbor, you can help to advance health equity in Philadelphia:
- Show up: Attend FREE Community Impact Week events at Parkway Central Library
- Connect: Partner with organizations working to bring resources into neighborhoods
- Advocate: Support policies that reduce barriers to health, like affordable housing, safe streets, and expanded transit
- Share: Talk about what health equity means and why it matters.
Looking Ahead
Health inequities are real, but they are not inevitable.
Imagine a Philadelphia where a child’s chance at a long, healthy life isn’t determined by ZIP code, where libraries and health systems work together to create lasting opportunity and well-being for every resident.
That’s the vision behind Community Impact Week, presented by the Free Library of Philadelphia Foundation along with our colleagues at the Free Library, Jefferson Health, Merck, the Independence Blue Cross Foundation, Senator Vincent Hughes, Kensington Health Sciences Academy, Black Girls with Green Thumbs, and the Black Brain Campaign.