Boston and Beyond: Artists Bridging the Gap Between Arts and Public Health to Tackle Inequities

Rebekah Moore (left) and Aziza Robinson-Goodnight hope to expand their project

Beyond Creators: Linking the Arts and Public Health to Address Inequities

Boston And Beyond

In a transformative collaboration, Rebekah Moore and Aziza Robinson-Goodnight are breaking new ground by merging the worlds of art and public health to confront racial and health inequities head-on. These trailblazers are co-leading a groundbreaking research project at Northeastern University that recognizes artists as more than creators; they are essential community resources and potential catalysts for improving public health, particularly within communities of color.

The duo recently found themselves on an unexpected stage, presenting their research at the American Public Health Association’s annual expo. Moore, an ethnomusicologist and assistant professor of music, and Robinson-Goodnight, a celebrated artist, activist, and entrepreneur, are the driving forces behind a project that aims to leverage the arts as a form of preventative care to address behavioral health outcomes and behavioral change.

Moore explains, “We’re actually looking at the arts as preventative care, something that we can actually start seeing some results [from] fairly soon in terms of behavioral health outcomes, behavioral change… [We] are very committed to the idea that everything gets better when the community gets stronger.”

The project’s origins trace back to a creative partnership between Moore and Shan Mohammed, a clinical professor and public health expert at Northeastern. Mohammed shared Moore’s passion for highlighting the practical role that arts can play in public health solutions. Together, they recognized the potential of artists to contribute to complex health challenges, from chronic disease to mental health issues and more.

In 2020, Moore secured a Tier 1 grant to fund their interdisciplinary research, which brought together a diverse team of faculty and staff members from various disciplines. However, the outbreak of COVID-19 underscored the project’s urgency and relevance as racial disparities in health outcomes became glaringly apparent.

Robinson-Goodnight, who joined the project as a lead co-investigator, played a crucial role in embedding the research within the community. With her deep ties to the local arts scene and a personal connection to the transformative power of art, she adds a unique perspective to the project.

The heart of their research involves extensive interviews with Black, Latinx, Asian, and indigenous artists in Boston neighborhoods. Moore and Robinson-Goodnight have engaged in over 40 hours of conversations, exploring how these artists perceive the health of their communities and their roles in public health. The interviews also shed light on the challenges artists face, including limited housing, lack of arts education, expensive studio space, and systemic racism. These barriers not only impact artists’ well-being but also influence the community at large.

Robinson-Goodnight emphasizes the pivotal role of art in mental health and education, stating, “Having art and creativity at the core allows for brain expansion, allows for trauma release… It allows for all the things that people need, not just young people, to actually get through the times that we’re in, the times we’ve always been in.”

This research strives for systemic change, aiming to influence policies and programs at multiple levels. The project’s next phase involves focus groups with artists and health center leaders, led by student researcher Jordan Rhyner, who received the PEAK Experiences Award. Rhyner will contribute a research paper to disseminate the findings and engage with city leaders, researchers, and community organizers.

The ultimate goal is to spark collaborations that foster a deeper appreciation for the arts and advocate for programs and policies that integrate the arts into public health strategies. By reshaping the perception and value of artists within society, Moore and Robinson-Goodnight aspire to ignite a significant shift in how artists contribute to various aspects of professional and social life.

As Robinson-Goodnight aptly states, “Changing the image, changing the whole value system around what the contribution of artists is [and] what they bring to society would create a huge shift in how artists are integrated into different parts of professional life and social life.”

In a world where creativity knows no bounds, these visionaries are demonstrating how the arts can serve as a powerful force for positive change, uniting communities, addressing inequities, and enriching public health outcomes.

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