I was born in Haiti, where I lived until age four. In my earliest years, I gained tremendous respect for the resilience and compassion of my grandmother, who was raising me there, and also for the community in which we lived.

Those years were marked by uncertainty and change—Haiti’s political instability and tremendous economic hardship to name a few. But our community always rose to the challenge—neighbors supported each other, and collectively carried each other through a crisis when it arose.

I’m grateful for that early experience, which shaped my belief in the profound impact collective action and support can have on a community’s ability to survive and thrive amidst uncertainty and devastation.

At CHC: Creating Healthier Communities, we work with partners around the country to address the barriers to health—creating communities where everyone can thrive. I’ve seen that even small investments at the community level yield tangible gains for society at large. Economic analysis by Deloitte shows that investing in health access across the US could add $2.8 trillion to the GDP by 2040. And the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionhas found that preventative community health programs aimed at managing chronic diseases can lower associated healthcare costs by up to 30%.

With so much happening at a rapid pace, it can be easy to get overwhelmed when looking for ways to help. Here are three ways you can take action to make a difference at the community level today:

  1. Support Local and Community-Based Organizations: The old adage, “think globally, act locally” is key at this moment. Donating to or partnering with community-based businesses and nonprofits contributes to economic stability while helping to sustain programs that benefit the entire community.
  2. Advocate for Change: When you see challenges arise, use your platform to bring light to those challenges. If you are unsure how to address a specific issue or barrier, bring it to others in your network to see what can be done. Continue talking about the challenges and the success stories you see.
  3. Use Your Spare Time to Volunteer:Community based health programs and nonprofits often depend on volunteers to provide essential services from food distributions to education workshops. Research shows that when we take time to help others, it can reduce negative emotions and contribute to overall emotional resilience. When we help others, we help ourselves.

In the coming weeks, I will take time to share highlights from CHC: Creating Healthier Communities programs that are making a difference at the community level, as well as new ways to get involved. In the meantime, if you or your organization want tailored suggestions about how you can connect with community, please reach out to me. We’re all in this together.

– Jean Accius, President and CEO of CHC: Creating Healthier Communities

Read the original post on LinkedIn.