ZUNI, NM (Oct. 14, 2024) — The Zuni Youth Enrichment Project announced today that it is participating in a major exhibition titled “Health is a Human Right: Achieving Health Equity.” The exhibition will be on display at the David J. Sencer CDC Museum at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia, from Nov. 25, 2024 through Aug. 1, 2025 and will be complemented by an online experience available to people worldwide.
A collaboration between the David J. Sencer CDC Museum and the CDC’s Office of Health Equity, the exhibition shares contributions from more than 100 individuals, organizations and government agencies from across the United States, including ZYEP. These contributions include photographs, documents, media, artwork and objects.
“Health is a Human Right: Achieving Health Equity” examines the ways U.S. communities are advancing health equity in the 21st century, and it revisits topics from the CDC Museum’s 2013 landmark exhibition “ Health Is a Human Right: Race and Place in America,” which examined historic challenges in achieving health equity the past 120 years. Almost a decade later, the COVID-19 pandemic brought into sharper focus the health disparities that continue to persist in the United States.
The 2024-25 exhibition presents case studies of how local, state, and federal governments, tribal nations, nongovernmental organizations, academic institutions and activists are creating solutions to address persistent inequities and advance health equity in communities across the United States. Representative of larger efforts across the country to achieve health equity and focused on “good news wins,” the exhibition reveals how people, organizations and governments are working to ensure that every person has opportunities to achieve the best possible health outcomes.
The exhibition looks at models of “communities of practice” — how individuals, nonprofits and local, state and federal governments are reframing both problems and solutions to make sustainable differences. The stories range from housing and transportation innovations to the role of faith leaders in promoting health equity to educational advancements to solutions for addressing environmental health challenges.
ZYEP’s contribution included materials and photos related to its “Rooted in Healthy Traditions” after-school program. According to The materials demonstrate how ancestral practices can be done with today’s youth, strengthening past, present and future.
“Rooted in Healthy Traditions promotes cultural and social connectedness as well as holistic wellness by connecting Zuni youth to positive intergenerational mentors in programming that emphasizes traditional physical activity, art, nutrition, farming and Zuni language,” explained Tara Wolfe, ZYEP’s program manager, who also serves as the CDC grant project director.
“As our youth learn and practice healthy Zuni traditions and language,” she continued, “they are developing a positive cultural identity and building holistic health that is physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.”
The David J. Sencer CDC Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, uses award-winning exhibits and innovative programing to educate visitors about the value of public health. The CDC Museum is located at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30329. Visit David J. Sencer CDC Museum for operating hours, tips to plan your visit and access to the online exhibition that will be available after the exhibition opens to the public.
To learn more about the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project and its programs, and for information about making donations, partnering with ZYEP, and volunteering, call (505) 782-8000 or visit zyep.org. And, to stay up to date on the latest news and events, follow the nonprofit youth organization on Facebook (/zuniyouthenrichmentproject), Instagram (@zuniyouthenrichmentproject), YouTube (/ZuniYouth), and TikTok (/zyep09)
Founded in 2009, the nonprofit Zuni Youth Enrichment Project is dedicated to promoting resilience among Zuni youth so they will grow into strong, healthy adults who are connected with Zuni traditions. ZYEP fulfills its mission by providing positive role models, enriching programs, and nurturing spaces that contribute to the healthy development of Zuni youth. ZYEP strives to provide every child with the encouragement and opportunities they need to reach their full potential.
