The Health Equity Rising: Culturally Responsive Community Health Worker Certification Program addresses the public health inequities deeply rooted in Indianapolis's historically redlined neighborhoods. These communities face significant challenges, including a life expectancy gap compared to over-resourced communities, high maternal and infant mortality rates, and insufficient culturally responsive care.

This project is designed to support and elevate current community healers— women and mothers who have long provided healing and care within their communities but have often gone unrecognized and uncompensated for their essential work. Through this initiative, participants will gain formal certification, resources, and leadership development to strengthen their roles as vital contributors to community health.

Health Equity Rising goes beyond existing community health care worker certification by integrating training and support culturally relevant healthcare, social leadership and community organizing, and asset-based social practice arts. This project will create frontline community health workers who will be uniquely positioned to dismantle health inequities and lead health systems to respond to local public health crises with cultural humility and humanizing community repair practices.

The pilot version of the program will be offered free of charge to participants and will include barrier busters to remove obstacles to participation. Healers will receive training to become certified Community Health Workers (CHWs) and engage in leadership development that prepares them to guide meaningful change in their communities.

In addition to CHW certification, additional specializations will be provided focusing on birth doula, partner support, end of life doula, and others.

This program is grounded in principles of equity, cultural awareness, and the invaluable knowledge of those directly affected by public health disparities. By formally acknowledging and building on this expertise, the program seeks to close health gaps, foster better outcomes, and amplify community-driven efforts toward a healthier and more equitable Indianapolis.