Health Equity Innovation Challenge Focus Areas

e encourage community-based innovators located in Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York and Philadelphia to submit ideas that aim to address health conditions that disproportionately impact Black and Hispanic communities, as well as entrenched factors known to drive disparities. We are currently accepting applications for Chicago, Detriot, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York and Philadelphia.

The goal is to improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities by promoting health equity, specifically through locally generated ideas to identify potential solutions that:

Prevent and Treat Illnesses that Disproportionately Affect Black and Hispanic Communities

Enhance Equitable Access to Healthcare

Stimulate Diversity in Science

Advocate for More Trusted Community-Based Healthcare

Focus Areas

Prevent and Treat Illnesses that Disproportionately Affect Black and Hispanic Communities

Such as advancing innovative solutions aimed at preventing or addressing health conditions through new screening and diagnostic technology platforms

Enhance Equitable Access to Healthcare

Such as technology solutions that help advance health equity and care for diverse individuals

Scientists wearing full protective suit working in the laboratory

Stimulate Diversity in Science

Such as solutions that encourage more young Black and Hispanic individuals to pursue careers in STEM and solutions that expand the diversity of the local clinical and research workforce

Nurse talking and doing a emotional support to a female senior patient at hospital

Advocate for More Trusted Community-Based Healthcare

Such as promoting culturally competent care or addressing bias in clinical care

Areas of Geographic Focus

The Johnson & Johnson Health Equity Innovation Challenge will begin with a focus on Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York and Philadelphia. The Challenge has the opportunity to identify potential solutions that could have a significant impact in these communities and potentially in other communities across the country.

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Chicago: Chicago

Black and Hispanic Chicagoans have died in far greater numbers from COVID-19 than other racial/ethnic groups.

Since the pandemic began, Black men and women in Chicago have accounted for 40.2% of COVID-19-related deaths, despite making up just 30% of the city’s population.

Many residents on the south and west sides of Chicago live in healthcare provider and pharmacy “deserts,” with no access to either within a half-mile to mile radius.
Detroit: Detroit

Over 40% of those who have died from COVID-19 in Michigan were Black, although the Black community represents only 14% of the state’s population.

While Black people are more likely than white individuals to suffer from diseases that may exacerbate the impact of COVID-19, Black residents in Detroit are also less likely to have healthcare coverage.

People living in Detroit are 38% less likely to have healthcare coverage than others living in the Tri-County area, and over 78% of Detroit residents identify as Black or African American.
Los Angeles: Los Angeles

Black men and women in Los Angeles County have higher stroke mortality rates than other racial or ethnic groups. Despite a recent decrease, stroke mortality rates for Black men have gotten worse.

In Los Angeles, the COVID-19 mortality rate for Hispanic individuals is nearly triple that of white residents.

Black Californians had the highest rates of new prostate, colorectal, and lung cancer cases, and highest death rates for breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer.
New Orleans: New Orleans

As of August 26, 2021, Black New Orleans residents have accounted for 51% of COVID-19 deaths.

Over 28% of Black residents in Louisiana report being in fair or poor general health compared to 19% of those who identify as white and 14% of those who identify as Hispanic.

Black New Orleanians are more likely to experience poorer health outcomes such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, preterm birth, and infant mortality than white New Orleans residents.
New York City: New York City

The death rate from heart disease in Hispanic people is 98 per 100,000 population and 105 per 100,000 population for Black people. For white and Asian people, heart disease death rates are 54 and 45 per 100,000 population, respectively—nearly half that of their Black and Hispanic counterparts.

As of December 2020, Black and Hispanic New Yorkers were more likely than white New Yorkers to test positive for COVID-19.

Black and Hispanic New Yorkers are less likely to have health insurance and adequate access to care and more likely to experience food insecurity, complications with childbirth, chronic health conditions like diabetes and asthma, and premature death.
Philadelphia: Philadelphia

As of April 5, 2021, Black people in Philadelpia made up 47.4% of the COVID-19 hospitalizations despite making up 43.6% of the population compared to 20.6% of white adults hospitalized with COVID-19.

COVID-19 deaths are higher in Black adults (44.3%) than in other racial/ethnic groups.

Hypertension and related illnesses (e.g., kidney disease, heart attack and strokes) impact Black men earlier and more often than other racial/ethnic groups.

In Philadelphia, Latinx/Hispanic populations exhibit some of the highest rates of chronic conditions like asthma and childhood obesity when compared with other racial and ethnic groups as well as not being insured.; Chicago

Black and Hispanic Chicagoans have died in far greater numbers from COVID-19 than other racial/ethnic groups.

Since the pandemic began, Black men and women in Chicago have accounted for 40.2% of COVID-19-related deaths, despite making up just 30% of the city’s population.

Many residents on the south and west sides of Chicago live in healthcare provider and pharmacy “deserts,” with no access to either within a half-mile to mile radius.; Detroit

Over 40% of those who have died from COVID-19 in Michigan were Black, although the Black community represents only 14% of the state’s population.

While Black people are more likely than white individuals to suffer from diseases that may exacerbate the impact of COVID-19, Black residents in Detroit are also less likely to have healthcare coverage.

People living in Detroit are 38% less likely to have healthcare coverage than others living in the Tri-County area, and over 78% of Detroit residents identify as Black or African American.; Los Angeles

Black men and women in Los Angeles County have higher stroke mortality rates than other racial or ethnic groups. Despite a recent decrease, stroke mortality rates for Black men have gotten worse.

In Los Angeles, the COVID-19 mortality rate for Hispanic individuals is nearly triple that of white residents.

Black Californians had the highest rates of new prostate, colorectal, and lung cancer cases, and highest death rates for breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer.; New Orleans

As of August 26, 2021, Black New Orleans residents have accounted for 51% of COVID-19 deaths.

Over 28% of Black residents in Louisiana report being in fair or poor general health compared to 19% of those who identify as white and 14% of those who identify as Hispanic.

Black New Orleanians are more likely to experience poorer health outcomes such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, preterm birth, and infant mortality than white New Orleans residents.; New York City

The death rate from heart disease in Hispanic people is 98 per 100,000 population and 105 per 100,000 population for Black people. For white and Asian people, heart disease death rates are 54 and 45 per 100,000 population, respectively—nearly half that of their Black and Hispanic counterparts.

As of December 2020, Black and Hispanic New Yorkers were more likely than white New Yorkers to test positive for COVID-19.

Black and Hispanic New Yorkers are less likely to have health insurance and adequate access to care and more likely to experience food insecurity, complications with childbirth, chronic health conditions like diabetes and asthma, and premature death.; Philadelphia

As of April 5, 2021, Black people in Philadelpia made up 47.4% of the COVID-19 hospitalizations despite making up 43.6% of the population compared to 20.6% of white adults hospitalized with COVID-19.

COVID-19 deaths are higher in Black adults (44.3%) than in other racial/ethnic groups.

Hypertension and related illnesses (e.g., kidney disease, heart attack and strokes) impact Black men earlier and more often than other racial/ethnic groups.

In Philadelphia, Latinx/Hispanic populations exhibit some of the highest rates of chronic conditions like asthma and childhood obesity when compared with other racial and ethnic groups as well as not being insured.

Cheerful businessman working from home on phone

Submit an Idea

We’re looking for ideas and potential solutions that may help resolve the health inequities impacting Black and Hispanic communities. At Johnson & Johnson, we strongly believe we can do better to make care accessible—for everyone.

Submit an Idea

Race to Health Equity

Johnson & Johnson is committed to eradicating racial and social justice as a public health threat by eliminating health inequities for people of color. The company is committing $100 million over the next five years to invest and promote health equity solutions.

Our Race to Health Equity

Learn About Our Commitment to Bold Action
You Belong

The second annual You Belong: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Impact Review reflects on our diversity, equity and inclusion journey.

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Focus Areas

Areas of Geographic Focus

Chicago

Detroit

Los Angeles

New Orleans

New York City

Philadelphia