Steering Committee Daniel R. Block, PhD Chicago State University James E. Bloyd, MPH Cook County Department of Public Health Kathryn Bocanegra, LCSW ENLACE Chicago Sheila R. Castillo, MUPP Midwest Latino Health Research Training & Policy Center Natalie Chadwell, MBA South Suburb Resident Sheelah Muhammad, DN Root Cause Linda Rae Murray, MD, MPH Past President, American Public Health Association Johnnie L. Owens, Jr. Centers For New Horizons Tiffany Pryor, MSW Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health Bonnie Rateree Human Action Community Organization Felipe Tendick-Matesanz MS ROC Chicago Reveca Torres Co-Founder, BackbonesOnline.com

Communications Agnes Markos

RAISING INCOME SAVES LIVES AND PROMOTES HEALTH EQUITY: COOK COUNTY PLACE MATTERS SUPPORTS THE FIGHT FOR $15 MOVEMENT

A 14-year gap in average life expectancy exists between people in low income and better-off Chicago area neighborhoods: Households at the bottom rung have much higher rates of poverty and family incomes under $25,000 per year. (Cook County PLACE MATTERS 2012)

Nationwide people with incomes above the federal poverty line typically live more than five years longer then those below the poverty line. (Human Impact Partners 2014)

HIV is becoming a disease of poverty, especially in communities of color. Poverty and HIV go hand-in-hand. (Suraj Madori, AIDS Foundation of Chicago)

Wage increases in California would prevent nearly 400 premature deaths among lower-income Californians each year. (Rajiv Bahtia 2014)

“Anything we can do to help enhance economic stability will have a huge public health benefit. This is a major public health issue.” (Minnesota

State Health Commissioner Edward Ehlinger) Income is not only tied to health, but to the things that create the

opportunities for better health, such as safe homes, nutritious foods and good schools. (American Public Health Association 2015)

A wage increase would decrease the risk of premature death by 5% for adults ages 24 to 44 living in households with an income of about $20,000. (Bhatia 2001)

The effects of income inequality on adults spill over and affect their children.

The ratio of CEO to average worker pay was 25 to 1 in 1970. In 200 the pay gap was 500 to 1. (Williams & Rosenstock 2015)

52% of Fast Food Workers 48% of home care workers, 46% of childcare workers & 25% of part-time college faculty rely on public assistance to feed their families and make ends meet (Jacobs, etal 2015)

Poverty and income inequality increase infant mortality-- the chance that a baby will die before their first birthday. (Williams & Rosenstock 2015)

The #FightFor15 movement is collective action that promotes population health by tackling income and poverty, two root causes of stark and unjust US health inequities.

Working to eliminate structural racism so that all people of Cook County

have the opportunity to live healthy lives

1640 West Roosevelt Road M/C 625 Chicago, Illinois 60608 708-633-8314 FAX 708-633-7995 E-mail: placematterscookcounty@gmail.com

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