Health is on the ballot, but power begins in community

Immigrant families in Wyandotte County bring resilience, cultural richness, and strong networks of care that hold their communities together. Their voices and leadership are powerful drivers of change, even if they aren’t always recognized that way. At the same time, the realities of daily life — navigating complicated legal systems, overcoming language barriers, or living with fear and instability — can push voting and civic participation out of reach.

Yet in the middle of that reality, something different is happening. By leaning into empathy, shared experience, and trust, Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation (AIRR) is mobilizing neighbors —mothers, fathers, sisters, sons, and daughters — to see their own voice as a source of strength. What might begin as a conversation on a doorstep or a community meeting quickly becomes something bigger: a spark of collective power that can’t be ignored. 

This is the spirit of Civic Health Month, which takes place every August. More than 400 organizations nationwide, from the American Medical Association to us here in Kansas City — join together to spotlight the link between democracy and health. At Health Forward Foundation, we believe health is always on the ballot (also available en Español). And during this month, we’re proud to celebrate AIRR’s work to ensure that immigrant and other excluded communities are not just included in democracy but are shaping it. 

We see civic participation as a health issue. Communities that vote are more likely to have responsive leaders, stronger public services, and safer neighborhoods. Yet systemic barriers like language access, voter suppression, and intimidation make it harder for many immigrant communities to fully participate. Supporting partners like AIRR is one way Health Forward helps close that gap, co-creating healthier futures by investing in the people and organizations most directly impacted. 

AIRR’s mission is clear: to end the humanitarian crisis facing immigrant families and to keep those families together. They believe every person, regardless of where they were born, deserves safety, dignity, and a say in decisions that affect their lives. Through advocacy, education, and grassroots organizing, AIRR is equipping immigrant communities with the tools to speak up and take action. 

With support from Health Forward, AIRR is expanding civic engagement in Wyandotte County. That includes deep canvassing, bilingual voter education, and leadership programs designed to grow long-term community power. Their outreach is intentional: relational organizing, bilingual interpreters, and resources that meet people where they are. AIRR has set an ambitious goal — mobilizing 25,000 Wyandotte County voters — because they know real power doesn’t come from one election alone. It comes from neighbors igniting belief in each other, cycle after cycle. 

This investment in AIRR is one piece of our broader commitment to civic engagement and advocacy — Health Forward recently awarded more than $6 million to 50 nonprofit organizations advancing democracy and amplifying community voice. 

Last year, AIRR educated thousands of potential immigrant voters with resources in Spanish and English, Know Your Rights trainings, and door-to-door conversations. Community leaders shared their stories, mobilized their neighbors, and brought new energy to the ballot box. This year, that momentum is only growing, creating ripple effects that strengthen both civic health and community health.

Want to learn more or get involved? Visit AIRR’s website or follow them on social media for updates on canvasses, voter trainings, and community events. Because when more of us can vote, we gain more than representation — we gain the power to create safer, healthier, more just communities.