Collaboration between the community development and health sectors is increasing to improve lives in low-income neighborhoods. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and Federal Reserve System have fostered this collaboration, supporting regional conferences attended by the community development, finance, urban planning, housing, government, business, academic, philanthropy and health sectors. The meetings have helped lay the groundwork for innovative new ideas and public and private partnerships with shared goals – such as creating safe and accessible places to exercise, preventing chronic diseases, and building safe, affordable housing.

On Monday, November 7, RWJF, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and The Pew Charitable Trusts hosted the 2nd National Healthy Communities conference in Washington, DC. The all-day event included an update on progress, with panels on systemic changes needed in policy, data and financing. Featured experts included:

• Nancy Andrews, President and CEO, Low Income Investment Fund
• Melody Barnes, Director, White House Domestic Policy Council
• Raphael Bostic, Assistant Secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Development
• David Erickson, Director, Center for Community Development Investments, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
• David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health, Seattle/King County
• Neal Halfon, Director, UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families, and Communities
• David Kindig, Emeritus Professor, Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin
• Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, President and CEO, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Jim Marks, Senior Vice President, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Sister Lillian Murphy, CEO, Mercy Housing
• Todd Park, Chief Technology Officer, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Nichols Retsinas, Director, Joint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard University
• Aaron Wernham, Director, The Health Impact Project