The Power of Lived Experience in Policy Making

Traditional top-down approaches to healthcare policy have failed our most vulnerable communities. Here's how we're changing that narrative through community-led advocacy.

For too long, healthcare policy has been shaped by those who never had to navigate the very systems they design. The result? Policies that look good on paper but fall apart when they meet the reality of people's daily lives.

Our Policy Lab is changing this dynamic by centering the voices and experiences of those most affected by health inequities. Through our Community Policy Fellowship, we train residents from affected neighborhoods to become effective advocates for systemic change.

"I used to think policy was something that happened to us, not something we could shape," says Maria Gonzalez, a recent fellowship graduate who successfully advocated for expanded clinic hours in her neighborhood. "Now I know that our stories are the most powerful policy tools we have."

The fellowship combines policy analysis training with storytelling workshops, teaching participants how to translate their lived experiences into compelling advocacy narratives. Fellows learn to navigate city council meetings, write policy briefs, and build coalitions across different communities.

This year, our fellows have successfully advocated for three major policy changes: extended public transportation to health centers, multilingual health information requirements, and community health worker certification programs.

The impact goes beyond individual policy wins. By elevating community voices in policy spaces, we're fundamentally changing how decisions get made about health and healthcare in Colorado.