My education, on top of decades of growing up as a white person in a country built by and for white people, led me to have seriously misguided and harmful views about the structural oppression that exists in the US, and I have a lot of work to do to re-educate myself and atone for my complicity in perpetuating it.
Prioritizing Non-Emergent Medical Transportation (NEMT)
I’ve been reflecting on the ways we travel to and from our medical appointments. Each year, 3.6 million Americans miss doctor appointments due to a lack of reliable transportation. It’s even been called “one of medicine’s biggest problems.”
The Impacts of Climate Change on Health
Although climate change has been an important topic for decades, Hurricane Katrina made Americans ask themselves if it might be to blame for more frequent and powerful hurricanes. The powerful and unusual superstorms of Sandy and Harvey increased the evidence.
Life at the Federal Poverty Level
In 2017, the federal poverty level (FPL) for an individual was set at $16,040 and $32,718 for a family of four. However, in Colorado, the income needed to meet basic needs exceeds the federal poverty level in every county.
Legislative Lessons
The first time I entered the Colorado State Capitol I was immediately intimidated by the trappings of power in the place—I felt small and insignificant. But, as I’ve continued to do this work, the Capitol has become much less frightening because of how much I’ve learned about the legislative process.