--by Dr. Yvonne Goldsberry, Endowment for Health President

New Hampshire communities are made up of thoughtful, smart, caring people who know our democracy is built on solid ground. Together our people have worked to ensure that all Granite Staters have access to opportunity and good health, and that opportunity begins anew with each new generation. From the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s, to the shrinking of the manufacturing workforce during the 80s and 90s, to the recent shift in movement patterns that are increasing the number of immigrants in the state, we have thought deeply and dynamically to find solutions that support our communities to thrive. In their day, these challenges created strong headwinds, but our people persisted.

Today’s headwinds are no different. We face growing viciousness in our politics and a cost-of-living crisis. The labor force continues to shrink, and certain fields like health care and child care face staggering worker shortages that cause massive disruptions for all of us. New Hampshire has the largest percentage of residents with student loan debt (16%) of any state. Schools and other public spaces in New Hampshire are not safe for LGBTQIA+ youth. Our state is struggling with a surge in racialized violence. A widespread resurgence in antisemitism is making our Jewish neighbors feel unsafe in their communities. In the face of this, our charge today is clear: We need to protect and expand pathways to opportunity, and we must do so in ways that allow for open dialogue.

In recent months, Supreme Court decisions curtailed too many of the opportunity-expanding solutions developed in the past. The Supreme Court’s ruling in the Students for Fair Admissions case effectively eliminating the use of Affirmative Action in college admissions, and 303 Creative, Inc. v. Elenis, which allows businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ people, both create new barriers to opportunity and restrict our ability to build healthier, more vibrant communities. Yet, Affirmative Action, as well as laws and policies to prevent discrimination, not only benefit those who are directly affected; they’re good for us all. Research consistently shows that diverse learning and work environments promote critical skills like analytical thinking, creativity, communications, and collaboration. A well-educated populace that feels welcomed in our state is essential to the health of our democracy.

As harmful as these decisions are, they are not surprising, and they add to today’s headwinds. They reflect a feeling of scarcity, that there is somehow only so much opportunity to go around rather than seeing the abundance that our state has to offer. They promote a “color blind” society that pits communities against each other, and flattens the richness of our personal experiences, ignoring the ways that past discrimination and oppression have a very real legacy in our country today. These ideas represent thinking that does not reflect New Hampshire at its best: A vibrant state with many different people, each of whom can enhance our economic and social wellbeing, if we see them all.

All across our vibrant state, community members are banding together to create exciting new solutions. Most people are tired of overheated rhetoric and ready to work together. We have faith in our state’s democracy, even as our national democracy is in turmoil, and we have a deep commitment to the New Hampshire standard of having difficult conversations honestly and respectfully. We need a new way of talking about the issues that can provide a more reasoned narrative that will sink into the collective consciousness.

That’s why the Endowment for Health is embarking on a bold new multi-issue, multi-year campaign that will amplify community voices across our state and put the experiences of Granite Staters front and center. It’s why we are eager to partner with groups and leaders across the state to change the conversation around critical issues, spurring new thinking in the face of our challenges. As we move face first into the headwinds, this work is vital and urgent. We look forward to sharing more in the weeks and months ahead, and leveraging the attention that primary season will bring to our state to put this effort into action.

In this newsletter, we will look at the strong headwinds confronting our state’s healthcare workforce. You’ll read an in-depth Q&A from the new HealthForce NH Senior Director, Kate Luczko, and learn about this long-term strategy to address the troublesome healthcare workforce shortage.

Persistence in the face of headwinds is the hallmark of those who turn challenges into opportunities. By addressing seemingly intractable problems, we can create the conditions for the well-being of individuals, communities, and our economy. Together we can ensure that every young Granite Stater has an opportunity to grow up to thrive, that our state’s health care system is equitable and accessible, and that every older Granite Stater can age productively and with dignity.