Our Voice: Citizen Science for Health Equity

The Our Voice Initiative activates the power of people as change agents to build healthier and more vibrant communities. Using the Our Voice Discovery Tool mobile app, local “citizen scientists” document features of their communities that impact their ability to lead healthy lives. They then review their own findings, prioritize areas for change, and mobilize to promote improvements that will support community health.

What is health equity?

Health equity means that everyone can live a healthy and vital life, regardless of economic or social circumstances.

 

Who are Our Voice citizen scientists?

Citizen scientists are ordinary people who gather and use their own data to activate change.

 

Creating healthier communties from the bottom up.

Our Voice supports communities members as agents of local change. Check out this video for a glimpse at the impacts across our global network. 

Our Voice Short Videos

Our Voice

Overview

How Our Voice 

Projects Work

Our Voice

Impacts

For more videos, visit the Our Voice YouTube channel!

Our Voice in Action

A Citizen Scientist in Her Own Words

Pam Jiner is a Citizen Scientist and “Street Fighter” who has used the power of data to advocate for infrastructure improvements in her Denver, Colorado community. Through her work as a Program Director for Montebello Walks and as a member of GirlTrek, Pam has engaged over a hundred community members to take action. Pam presented her work at the 2021 APHA conference. 

A Community Collaborator Shares Her Perspective 

Camille Llanes-Fontanilla, Executive Director of SOMOS Mayfair in East San José, speaks about the Our Voice collaboration that helped to shape the organization’s Equity Platform. SOMOS Mayfair supports children, organizes families, and connects neighbors to uplift the dreams, power, and leadership of community and address systemic inequities.

 

Our Beginnings: The NEATT Study

In late 2010, researchers from the Stanford Prevention Research Center identified a number of challenges to healthful living for seniors. In response, the center established Neighborhood Eating and Activity Advocacy Teams (NEATT) to organize seniors and improve their access to healthful food.

Meet Our Faculty Director

"We believe firmly that health is a right for everybody, regardless of their circumstances, regardless of where they live. We are trying to harness technology to ensure that everybody can live healthy and active lives."

Dr. Abby C. King, Professor of the Department of Epidemiology & Population Health and of Medicine, leads the Our Voice initiative.  This brief video was produced as part of the 10th anniversary celebration of the Stanford Center on Longevity.


Our Voice Impact

"This experience has changed my life.  I see inadequacies everywhere I go as it relates to pedestrian access and safety.  I even stop [at] construction sites to remind them to be considerate of the handicapped in our community.  Thank you all so much for this awareness and empowerment to require change."

~ Pam Jiner, GirlTrek Advocacy Leader, Denver CO