Health Means Business aimed to create a national discussion engaging small, medium, and large businesses about the interdependency between health and economic empowerment, and to promote a culture of health in America.
The Health Means Business campaign consisted of:
- Regional Forums. The campaign traveled to 10 communities through forums in conjunction with local and regional chambers of commerce. The purpose of each forum was to engage local businesses and other key community stakeholders, including members of the media, in discussions about health, education, and economic outcomes, and to encourage increased business involvement in building healthy communities.
- Research. In partnership with a prominent academic institution, the project produced novel research to draw the connections between health, education, and jobs. The final report drove a greater understanding of the link between business and health, and provided evidence about how health and economic empowerment are linked.
- Resource Center. The Resource Center engaged businesses (large and small) to work with their local chambers of commerce around health and economic issues. More than a simple listing of resources, the Resource Center contains specific tools for taking action to address a community’s health and economic issues.
- National Summit. This event showcased our momentum and lessons learned from the forums and the campaign, providing insights on a national stage. This event took place at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce headquarters in Washington, D.C. and brought together businesses, policy-makers, key health and education influencers, and others including the national media, to explore the critical link between economic outcomes and health outcomes, and the collective impact that stakeholders can achieve when focusing together on the health of communities.
- National Awards Ceremony. In conjunction with the National Summit, we hosted a Healthy 10 Awards Ceremony to honor ten local partnerships across the country that involved a private sector component, and led an effort to improve community wellness through greater economic opportunity. By showcasing collaborative partnerships that are creating a culture of health, the business community will be empowered and motivated to greater involvement in health outcomes.
