Dr. Chris T. Pernell, director of the NAACP Center for Health Equity, spoke about health justice and systemic inequality at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy’s annual Community and Belonging Lecture on March 4.
The event addressed the importance of equity in public health and the need for institutions to engage with communities to address disparities. The lecture is part of the school’s ongoing efforts to foster just, socially inclusive, environmentally sustainable, and healthy communities at various levels, according to the official website.
Dean Stuart Shapiro opened the event by highlighting the school’s commitment to equity and inclusion before introducing Dr. Patti O’Brien Richardson, Chief Community and Belonging Officer. Richardson acknowledged collaboration across Rutgers University for organizing the event.
During her talk, Pernell used a metaphor involving a bent fruit tree to illustrate how equal treatment does not always resolve structural problems. She said that while equality provides everyone with identical ladders, equity adjusts them based on need, but true justice requires addressing root causes: “I want you to think about what you do on a daily basis, and whether your work is just giving the community equal ladders. Or if your work is giving the community a ladder that is more specific to their needs and their priorities. Or if your work dares to make the tree upright. And that,” she emphasized, “is the most difficult work of all.”
Pernell discussed health disparities as resulting from differences in life exposures, access to care, and quality of care received—factors often determined by one’s environment or “backyard.” She explained: “A lot…50 percent of these factors can be traced back to your zip code.” She encouraged attendees to understand local systems before planning interventions.
She also referenced national reports comparing U.S. healthcare performance with other countries and pointed out persistent inequities within New Jersey despite its reputation for high-quality care.
Pernell concluded by stressing that effective change depends on community engagement: “In any ability to design, to carry out an intervention—whether it’s local, whether it’s state or whether it’s national—you have to activate community. You have to understand who community is, and you have to understand who has power in community, and how to coach your power with community.”
The Edward J. Bloustein School operates as part of Rutgers University according to its official website. The school has earned national rankings for its graduate urban planning program (third place) and undergraduate public health program (fourth place), advanced social impact through research centers focused on areas such as health and workforce development according to its official website, recognized distinguished alumni through its Hall of Fame since 2013 according to its official website, and appointed Stuart Shapiro as dean in 2023 according to its official website.