Wicked Problems

In the pursuit of creating a healthier and more equitable society, community-driven health initiatives emerge as powerful catalysts for change. These initiatives, often led by grassroots organizations deeply embedded within their communities, represent a powerful force for driving change and addressing healthcare disparities. By empowering local communities to take charge of their health, these initiatives create sustainable and impactful solutions rooted in each community’s unique needs and strengths. Researching the

In a world where abundance coexists with scarcity, where farmers’ markets flourish in affluent neighborhoods while food deserts persist in marginalized communities, the issue of food justice stands as a stark reminder of systemic inequities. Food justice encompasses every individual’s right to access healthy, culturally appropriate, and sustainably produced food. However, reality paints a different picture—socioeconomic status, race, and geographic location often determine access to nutritious food. Health equity reflects

Wicked problems are much like board games. Board games can look wildly different, but their inherent underlying premise–the nature of what it means to be a ‘board game’–stays largely the same. Wicked problems are classified by their multi-dimensionality, complexity, and inherent lack of solution. Like board games, wicked problems come in all shapes and sizes, but the inherent complexity of their nature–the nature of what it means to be a

Every day, we are confronted with problems–small and large scale. Design thinking provides a systematic approach to solving these problems. Formally, design thinking refers to the diverse and interrelated approaches, techniques, and tricks to scientifically addressing the problems we face individually and collectively.  This blog is dedicated to understanding the connection between design thinking and wicked problems. Wicked problems are problems without a singular cause or an immediate solution. They

We all care about our health, and when things go wrong, we typically blame some combination of bad genetics, risky lifestyle choices, and limited access to medical care or medical resources. Our social environment is a major factor in the relative outcome of our health.  Environmental factors and social factors that influence health outcomes are called the social determinants of health. The link between the state of our social environment