# Civic Engagement, Local Power, and Public Health in Des Moines

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/my-city-talks-6298840/civic-engagement-local-power-and-public-health-in-des-moines
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/my-city-talks-6298840/civic-engagement-local-power-and-public-health-in-des-moines.md
Podcast: [My City Talks](https://stenobird.com/podcast/my-city-talks-6298840)
Published: 2025-11-03T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://mycitymyhealth.transistor.fm/28
Audio file: https://2.gum.fm/op3.dev/e/pdcn.co/e/pscrb.fm/rss/p/pdst.fm/e/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/media.transistor.fm/8b373586/318cf0e1.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/my-city-talks-6298840/episodes/civic-engagement-local-power-and-public-health-in-des-moines
Duration seconds: 2155

## Resource

Civic engagement shapes health. In this episode, host Corey Dion Lewis sits down with Heather Jones-Brown and Victoria Weber to connect everyday actions like voting, emailing a school board member, riding the bus, and showing up at a neighborhood cleanup to measurable health outcomes. The conversation stays local. They dig into transportation, school boards, city councils, water quality, and how libraries, community fridges, and grassroots networks move the needle. You will hear: Why local elections often shape your daily health more than national races How transportation access influences employment, insurance coverage, food security, and mental health Practical ways to engage when your time or confidence is limited The hidden health power of libraries, community fridges, and neighborhood cleanups Links: My City My Health Conference info and merch: mycity.health NAACP Des Moines: naacpdesmoines.org Des Moines Public Library: dmpl.org Local news and policy explainers mentioned: Iowa Starting Line, Iowa Capital Dispatch, Des Moines Register Des Moines metro school board and city council meeting streams are typically available on each body’s YouTube channel or website Call to action: Register for My City My Health Des Moines, Nov 14: use code MCMH100 at checkout on Zeffy to claim the limited promo. Show Notes 00:01 Welcome and why civic engagement belongs in a health conversation 02:00 “Local civics matter the most” and how engagement looks different for everyone 04:45 Transportation as a foundation of public health 06:30 Commuting, job access, insurance, wages, and downstream health outcomes 08:15 Voting mindset for local elections and why school bonds matter for long-term community health 10:40 City councils, budgets, sidewalks, housing, pollution, and potholes as heal…

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