Ripples of Hope in the Mississippi Delta

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334 pp., 6.125 x 9.25, 6 halftones, 8 maps, 2 graphs

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-4696-8109-2
Published: December 2024
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-4696-8108-5
Published: December 2024
E-book EPUB ISBN: 978-1-4696-8110-8
Published: November 2024

Studies in Social Medicine

Paperback Available December 2024, but pre-order your copy today!

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The Mississippi Delta consistently ranks as having some of the worst health outcomes in the United States. Even with this stark reality, researcher David K. Jones (1981–2021) found “ripples of hope.” For four years, Jones turned to residents and local leaders to learn firsthand the intricate connections between race, place, and health in the region. Using an innovative mix of photovoice, policy, and social science research, Jones weaves their insights with data analysis to show how local, state, and national policies and structures, whether or not intentional, constrain or expand daily choices that affect health.

Blaming individuals for poor health choices isn’t the remedy. Jones describes how a community-led, goal-oriented approach to creating health equity policies is needed and that everyone benefits when we ensure that all people can pursue a healthy, fulfilling life. In this compassionate and practical book, Jones provides a roadmap for anyone who would like to make a difference, wherever they live. Jones calls on his readers to act for change and provides examples from the Delta to show how. He reminds us that small steps—"ripples of hope”—can save lives and improve health.

About the Authors

David K. Jones was an associate professor of health law, policy, and management at Boston University School of Public Health and the author of Exchange Politics: Opposing Obamacare in Battleground States.
For more information about David K. Jones, visit the Author Page.

Debra Bingham is the founder and CEO of the Institute for Perinatal Quality Improvement, LLC.
For more information about Debra Bingham, visit the Author Page.

Nicole Huberfeld is Edward R. Utley Professor of Health Law at Boston University School of Law and Boston University School of Public Health.
For more information about Nicole Huberfeld, visit the Author Page.

Sarah H. Gordon is assistant professor of health law, policy, and management at the Boston University School of Public Health.
For more information about Sarah H. Gordon, visit the Author Page.

Reviews

"Jones's book fills a glaring gap in health services research on place-based inequities. By drawing upon and synthesizing methodologies from a myriad of disciplines, Jones makes clear how equitable access to healthcare is insufficient for addressing population health inequities."—Arrianna Marie Planey, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

"With deep empathy, nuance, and specificity, Ripples of Hope depicts whole communities coming together to redress inequities in one of the country’s most distinctive regions. It’s a story profoundly rooted in one place, with the voices of local activists and providers shining through—this book brings the Delta to mind and depicts it with justice. But Jones's gift and the legacy of this work is to show how a place-based approach to health equity can build on every community’s strengths by addressing housing, jobs, food, and health care systems. It's an approach that places around the country are adopting, and this book has powerful lessons for everyone interested in bringing about change in a way that is both comprehensive and locally grounded." David M. Greenberg, Vice President, Community Research and Impact at Local Initiatives Support Corporation