Explore
Welcome to our Explore page! Visit us here to explore the people, perspectives, and approaches shaping our work to improve health and community wellbeing across Georgia with new content updated on an ongoing basis.
Partner Spotlight
Advocacy in Action Under the Gold Dome
During the 2026 State Legislative Session, several of our Building the Field of Health Advocacy grantee partners visited the Georgia State Capitol to connect with legislators, share their work, and highlight issues affecting communities across our state. The Initiative is proud to support organizations like these and others shaping a healthier future for children, youth, young adults, families, and communities across our state.
Explore highlights from their time at the Capitol and scroll through their photos using the arrows below.
Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (GEEARS)
Elevating the Needs of Georgia’s Children and Families
GEEARS brought families and partner organizations together for their annual Strolling Thunder event at the Capitol, a day focused on highlighting the needs of our youngest Georgians. Participants with their strollers shared a visible message about the importance of supporting families with young children. The event was an opportunity to connect with lawmakers and underscore the role strong early childhood systems play in supporting healthy families, vibrant communities, and a thriving future for Georgia.
“Parents who took part in Strolling Thunder made this heavy lift with smiles on their faces and squirmy babies on their hips. During our virtual training sessions before this event, many shared with us that they advocate to model a valuable lesson for their children: If you want to help your community, you have to speak up. If you want to make change, you have to act.”
– Mindy Binderman, GEEARS Executive Director
HealthMPowers, Inc.
Centering Youth Voices Around Food Access
Members of HealthMPowers’ Youth Advisory Board visited the Capitol to share their thoughts around the importance of food access for children when school is not in session, including the role of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer program. By engaging directly with legislators, these young leaders highlighted the importance of consistent access to nutritious food for youth health and development throughout the calendar year.
“Visiting the Capitol was truly an eye-opening experience for me. This taught me that change can take place in seemingly “simple” ways. Your voice can help change a system- not only addressing one person’s concern. Learn. Testify. Start. Explore.”
-Pratima Yellayi, HealthMPowers Youth Advisory Board Co-Chair
BLKHLTH
Sustaining a Thriving Black Health Ecosystem in Georgia
BLKHLTH brought together Black clinicians, public health professionals, researchers, students, and allies at the Capitol to share insights on Georgia’s Black health workforce. Participants engaged in civic learning opportunities and connected with legislators to highlight the experiences, contributions, and priorities of Black health professionals across the state. Their efforts underscored the importance of a strong and supported workforce in improving community health.
“On March 3rd, roughly 50 participants engaged in civic training and educated state legislators about the needs, contributions, and lived experiences of Black health professionals in Georgia. Together, we championed priorities across workforce pipeline development, health sciences infrastructure, licensure and reimbursement reform, workforce benefits and protections, and workforce basic needs.”
-Khadijah Ameen, BLKHLTH Co-Founder and Director of Policy and Research
Georgia Appleseed Center for Law and Justice
Highlighting the Link Between Housing and Health
Georgia Appleseed’s Georgia Healthy Housing Coalition (GHHC) hosted the first-ever Healthy Housing Day at the Capitol, bringing together lawmakers, community partners, and organizations from across sectors and regions. The event highlighted the critical connection between housing stability and children’s health, education, and overall wellbeing. Young people with lived experience in foster care shared their thoughts on housing challenges and the importance of stable, supportive environments.
“Healthy Housing Day at the Capitol was a wonderful opportunity to come together as a statewide coalition and provide educational resources and data to lawmakers from both sides of the aisle about how housing policies impact Georgia children and their families.”
– Luci Ruiz, Georgia Appleseed Policy Counsel
Georgia Budget and Policy Institute (GBPI)
Spotlighting the Impact of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on Georgia Communities
GBPI partnered with members of the SNAP Coalition to host a day at the Capitol focused on SNAP and its beneficial impact across Georgia. More than 60 participants from different corners of the state came together at the Capitol to share information and perspectives. Community members, including individuals who themselves have had personal experience with SNAP, connected with legislators and helped underscore the role SNAP plays in supporting families and communities. The event also provided an opportunity to share information about the program’s reach and importance to people across Georgia.
“SNAP Advocacy Day was amazing! It was so incredible to see people from across the state show up ready to spread the word about this necessary and efficient program that serves 1.4 million of our fellow Georgians. We gathered early childhood experts, community organizers, faith groups, food and wellness organizations, policy advocates, and others to share how important it is to ensure 700,000 households in GA can continue put food on the table through SNAP! We’re so grateful for the work of the SNAP Coalition and our event co-sponsor, the Southern Poverty Law Center.”
-Erin Robinson, GBPI Vice President of Outreach & Strategic Campaigns
