Bridging the gaps: Addressing kidney disease equity through community outreach

Since our founding more than 50 years ago, the American Kidney Fund (AKF) has worked toward kidney health equity in a number of ways including through its financial assistance and educational programs. In recent years we have tackled health equity with a renewed focus, launching AKF's health equity initiative, Kidney Health for All™. Kidney Health for All aims to improve kidney health equity, with afocus on four areas within Black and Hispanic/Latino American communities: (1) prevention and disease management, (2) home dialysis, (3) diversity in clinical trials and (4) transplant access.

These groups are more likely to develop kidney failure, with Black Americans four times as likely to develop kidney failure than white Americans and Hispanic Americans twice as likely. They also experience barriers accessing kidney care, with both groups being less likely to be referred to a nephrologist (kidney doctor) until the later stages of kidney disease.  

As part of the Kidney Health for All initiative, we have formed the AKF's Health Equity Coalition, launched a website for the campaign with newly developed resources and shared educational resources virtually and in-person with Black and Hispanic communities.  

Recently, AKF had the opportunity to exhibit at grassroots conferences, allowing us to do more community outreach for Kidney Health for All. These conferences are attended primarily by Black community leaders and members and we were able to provide information about various AKF programs, including our Kidney Health for All educational materials, and increase awareness of APOL1-mediated kidney disease (AMKD). AMKD is a spectrum of kidney diseases caused by a genetic mutation that primarily occurs among people who have Western and Central African ancestry (including people who identify as Black, African American, Afro-Caribbean and/or Latina/Latino). People with AMKD are at greater risk for developing serious rapidly progressing kidney disease. 

Here are a few important events that our team has attended:

Northern Virginia Baptist Association – Baptist General Convention 125th Annual Session (June 30-July3), Alexandria, Virginia

The Baptist General Convention of Virginia is a collective organization of 1,079 churches committed to "Bringing People Together, Growing Churches and Changing Communities." The Northern Virginia Baptist Association Commission on Health and Wellness invited the AKF to participate in the Baptist General Convention's 125th Annual Session. The event brought hundreds of in-person attendees over the course of four days for health education, ministry and training and education. AKF was able to share information from prevention through post-transplant living.

National Urban League Conference (July 24-27), New Orleans, Louisiana

The National Urban League (NUL) is a large influential gathering focused on civil rights and urban advocacy, estimating nearly 7,000 attendees this year. This event brings together leaders from various sectors that include business, health and wellness, social advocacy, and tech to foster invaluable networking experiences, gain insight into critical issues and initiatives impacting the communities served by the Urban League Network and strategize for justice. AKF participated as an exhibitor at NUL's annual Community & Family Day Expo which had an estimated 5,500 people in attendance.

National Baptist Convention Annual Session (Sept. 2-5), Baltimore, Maryland

The National Baptist Convention (NBC) Annual Session is the major business meeting of the largest African American religious convention and typically draws more than 20,000 delegates. AKF has had a relationship with the NBC organizers for over 10 years, serving as a partner with an initiative known as Health Outreach and Prevention Education (H.O.P.E) that aims to address health disparities existing within the African American community. AKF participated as one of the health and wellness exhibitors at NBC this year, which had an estimate of over 2,000 attendees daily.

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference (Sept. 11-13), Washington, DC

The Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) organized by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) is the leading public policy convention focused on issues impacting African American and the global Black community. The ALC with an estimated 12,000 attendees, serves as a platform where thought leaders, legislators, influencers and concerned citizens meet to discuss and address critical issues, develop partnerships and promote the political, economic and social advancement of Black communities. This year, AKF President and CEO LaVarne A. Burton took part in the expert panel "Protecting Health Equity in Kidney Care," discussing the urgency in protecting access to treatment for people living with kidney disease. In addition, AKF exhibited as one of the leading kidney health organizations with AKF Ambassadors Chris Bryant, Patrick Gee, John Bayton, Nichole Jefferson and Curtis Warfield on hand to answer questions and sharing their experiences living with kidney disease.

AKF believes everyone deserves to be as healthy as they can be, no matter where you live, what language you speak or the color of their skin. We are working to ensure that is possible by creating programs and sharing resources with communities at highest risk for kidney failure.