The work of disrupting systems that perpetuate disparities is the journey we are on — one we are privileged to share with many partners who collaborate to elevate oral health equity in rural, LGBTQIA+, and veteran communities. Together, we are taking collective action towards a destination of transformational change for a just and sustainable future.

A Roadmap
As with most journeys, we’ve laid out a route to get us from here to there, pinpointing spots along the way where we plan to make some strategic stops. Getting “there” depends a lot on our team, and they are on board, buckled up, and equipped with the skills and expertise needed to do the work in research, education, and communication efficiently and effectively. Along the way, we will assess our progress and make course corrections to ensure we get where we want to go. Detours happen – and if we hit any roadblocks that change our route, we will commit to keep going, knowing that an equity oriented oral health workforce lies ahead.

We are excited to continue to explore and invest in our communities of focus — including LGBTQIA+, veteran, and rural — and have added individuals with disabilities to that focus. We will engage others as conveners and touchpoints along the way as we catalyze a network of oral health equity advocates. We will create highly visual research guide books designed for rapid dissemination and uptake because we know that the more clearly we articulate our shared intention, the better the chance of successful arrival. As we journey, we will make strategic visits with current and future oral health workforce leaders, like during our Veteran Oral Health Hill Day, who can find additional pathways to change that will expand the roadmap and our desired impact.

Travel Companions
The “collective” in “collective impact” means we can’t go it alone. Our journey is richer because of our individual and shared experiences, and we’re thankful for the partners who have already committed to being alongside us. Are you interested in joining our journey? We’d love to invite you on this trip. Drop us a note at communication@aidph.org to connect!

Supplies
Before we leave on our trip, we need some supplies. What fuels us is our mission to disrupt systems of inequity, but we’ll also need funding and sustainability from our partners to recharge along the way. We’ll take along some playlists and podcasts, like our ECHO sessions and education and capacity-building curricula to remind us why we’re on this journey. Some great snacks, like our research briefs and visual dashboards, will keep us energized. We’ll share each successful stop along the way on our social media channels, blog, and website, and we hope that you’ll engage with us in these spaces.

Join the Journey!
As we work towards goals, we remind ourselves that it’s not only about meeting those – it’s about the pathways taken to get there, and the people who we supported and who supported us along the way. We feel the same way about our 2023 roadmap! We can’t do what we do without you – please join us on this journey, let us know where we can support yours, and consider working together to help us reach our destinations.