How Changing "Equity" to "Fairness" Overnight Destroys Community Trust | Dr. Philip Alberti

What happens when organizations racing to survive suddenly scrub "equity" and "justice" from their websites—without asking the communities they serve? Dr. Philip Alberti, founding director of the AAMC Center for Health Justice, joins host Corey Dion Lewis for a powerful conversation about the real cost of changing language without changing process.

In this episode, Philip breaks down why speed matters, how community engagement isn't optional, and what it really means to build health equity for ALL communities—yes, including white ones. From navigating existential threats to imagining cross-racial movements for justice, this conversation challenges health equity professionals to hold the line on values while adapting to a hostile landscape.

Whether you're a health equity champion feeling the squeeze, a leader struggling with messaging, or someone who believes thriving communities are possible for everyone, this episode offers both validation and a roadmap forward.

Show Notes

In This Episode:

[00:00] Introduction - The LinkedIn post that started it all: "The more our organizations change their language, the less their communities trust them"

[03:10] The real existential threats facing health equity work—and the hidden cost of quick compliance

[05:29] Why the speed of institutional language changes sent the wrong message to communities

[08:18] The "health equity tourists" who jumped ship—and why that might not be all bad

[09:09] If health equity benefits everyone, why is it so divisive in 2025? Where did we lose the thread?

[11:25] Addressing the elephant in the room: health equity for ALL communities, including white ones

[13:10] Unpacking the false narrative that health equity creates winners and losers

[16:30] Why Black and Brown champions shouldn't have to build bridges—and Philip's fantasy nonprofit "The Daves"

[18:09] What's truly non-negotiable when it comes to language and messaging

[19:00] The 10 core principles of authentic community engagement from the National Academies model

[22:01] How to actually start building community partnerships (spoiler: just listen first)

[24:43] The organizational infrastructure changes that make community engagement possible

[27:57] What gives Philip hope: surprising public opinion data showing cross-ideological agreement

[31:49] Real-world example: Community Works and building relationships across political divides

[32:14] Health justice as both aspiration and operational framework—making the process the product

Key Resources Mentioned:

• AAMC Center for Health Justice: AAMCHealthJustice.org
• AAMC Principles of Trustworthiness Toolkit
• AAMC CHARGE (Collaborative for Health Equity Act Research Generate Evidence) - free to join, 1,800+ members
• Dr. Philip Alberti's article: "Health Equity Benefits All Communities" 
• National Academies model of assessing meaningful engagement
• Dr. Sarah Gollust's communication research on population health equity
• Community Works organization featured in The Nation
• The Vital Conditions for Health and Well-being

Guest Bio:

Dr. Philip Alberti is the founding director of the AAMC Center for Health Justice, where he leads work at the intersection of community engagement, health equity research, and policy change. A community-engaged scientist and pr