Vending at the Coast-to-Coast: Why Data, Equity & Whole-Person Care Must Lead the Future of Public Health Event.

Coast to Coast data and equity.

Last week, I had the honor of serving as a vendor at the NAACP’s “From Coast-to-Coast: Data Driven Solutions for Health Equity” event hosted at Temple University’s Lewis Katz School of Medicine.

And the experience did something to me.

It wasn’t just another event.

It was a mirror, a moment of alignment, and a reminder that the work I’m stepping into is bigger than me.

Powerful Moments of Clarity

Sitting in a room where leaders like Chris T. Pernell, MD, MPH, FACPM spoke with precision and fire about the importance of protecting and leveraging our data… it was clear:

Data isn’t just numbers.

Data is direction.

Data is accountability.

Data is power—when used for equity.

Dr. Pernell emphasized something we don’t talk about enough, When our data is incomplete, misunderstood, or ignored, our communities receive incomplete, misunderstood, or inadequate care. That message landed hard.

Humbling Reminder

As powerful as the day was, it was also humbling. It reminded me of how deeply this mission matters. It brought me back to my first semester at Community College of Philadelphia, standing in a public speaking class, giving a presentation arguing that, Behavioral specialists—social workers, counselors, case managers, and community health workers—should be the lynchpin across all sectors. Healthcare, education, policy, housing, justice…every system that touches human life is shaped by human behavior.

One year later, after rooms like this, conferences across the city, and countless conversations with leaders who’ve spent decades in this work… That class assignment has evolved into a calling.

What the Data Tells Us — And Why It Matters

Healthcare data

Neighborhood data

The flyer

The neighborhood statistics shown at the event weren’t random—they were reflections of lived reality and systemic design.

Grocery Access

Many Philly residents live 10–15 minutes or more from healthy food—some have no real access at all.

This directly affects:

• Physical health

• Financial stress

• Emotional well-being

• The ability to maintain wellness routines

Green Space Access

Access to parks means access to movement, mental peace, and community.

Limited access = limited opportunity to regulate stress.

Housing Stability

Nearly one-third of Philly respondents struggle to pay rent. Housing stability shapes:

• Mental health

• Family safety

• Career stability

• Long-term planning

Pharmacy Access

If your closest pharmacy is far away, maintaining your health becomes a challenge.

Small barriers become big consequences.

Cultural Understanding in Healthcare

When providers don’t understand the community they serve, trust breaks. And without trust, treatment falls apart.

These aren’t just statistics—they are wellness barriers.

Connecting the Data to my work, the 8 Dimensions of Wellness.

Every category ties directly to the 8 Dimensions of Wellness and highlights the importance of whole-person, whole-community care.

1. Physical Wellness

Food access, green space, and medication access determine daily health.

2. Emotional Wellness

Housing instability and cultural disconnect increase stress, anxiety, and burnout.

3. Financial Wellness

Affordable housing and affordable food shape stability and decision-making.

4. Social Wellness

Community spaces like parks build connection and reduce isolation.

5. Spiritual Wellness

Feeling seen, respected, and understood by providers supports dignity and purpose.

6. Intellectual Wellness

Access to health information and meaningful conversations improves decision making.

7. Occupational Wellness

Health determines a person’s ability to work, grow, and sustain themselves.

8. Environmental Wellness

Your zip code should not determine your lifespan—but it often does.

This is why behavior, environment, and wellness must be addressed together.

And this is why your work matters in this space.

The Mission Moving Forward

Thinking of a master plan!

A call to Action

What I witnessed at Temple confirmed something for me, We cannot talk about health without talking about behavior. We cannot talk about behavior without talking about environment. We cannot talk about wellness without talking about equity. As I continue my journey toward becoming a trauma-informed behavioral strategist, and eventually earning my MSW and MPH, I’m stepping deeper into the intersection where:

• Data

• Human behavior

• Community wellness

• Policy

• And lived experience, all meet.

This is the work I’m being shaped for. My final thought.

Last week, didn’t just inspire me—

it clarified me.

My role is to help bridge the gap

between data and humanity,

between systems and the people they serve,

between behavior and wellness.

This isn’t just a career path.

It’s a mission.

And I’m just getting started.

Thank you to Dr. Terrilyn Hickman-Allen, EdD, LCSW, BC-TMH and the entire network of behavioral health professionals at Community College of Philadelphia who continue to model what integrative, human-centered care looks like. Thank you to the organizers for curating such a meaningful event. And thank you to the sisters, brothers, and community members who show up every day to push this work forward.

Peace be upon you family, yours truly the realest author you know!