REACH LoWELL

REACH LoWELL is an initiative funded by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), which focuses on effective racial and ethnic approaches to community health. REACH LoWELL seeks to eliminate disparities among the Southeast Asian and Hispanic/LatinX residents of Lowell, MA, with an emphasis on those who are at high risk of uncontrolled or poorly controlled diabetes. REACH LoWELL strategies include culturally tailored health promotion activities, systems change to increase physical activity and access to healthier foods in the community; and increased community-wide education, with the aim of increasing knowledge of health care systems.

JSI serves as evaluators on the REACH LoWELL team. It is an exciting opportunity to learn from Lowell residents, healthcare teams, and the many collaborators, such as those within the Greater Lowell Health Alliance. Particular challenges are strengthening population health initiatives in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, at the same time, partners are finding new opportunities to join together and launch promising innovations, many of which may be beneficial to retain post-pandemic as models of equity-based and culturally tailored population health transformation.