About Us

The G2L Way

Global to Local’s mission is to advance health equity and improve health in U.S. communities through application of best practices from around the world. We develop programs and interventions to improve health, lower the cost of care, and empower underserved communities across the country. Communities affected by health disparities are diverse and include women, people of color, people experiencing poverty, immigrants and refugees. Disparities exist both in rural and urban spaces. Our objective is to adapt programs on a local level, share our learnings, and replicate our work across organizations and clinics nationwide.

In the U.S. we frequently associate healthcare with big MRI machines and surgery, often overlooking social determinants of health, such as behavior and environment, as critical contributors to poor health. Sustainable health, however, relies on functioning social and physical environments that work in concert with clinical care. After over six years of listening to Washington communities and partnering with global health experts, we have constructed a framework for adapting global health strategies in our own backyard.

Key learnings from global health include:

• Activate local community leadership.
• Use technology to overcome barriers and increase access to care.
• Generate campaigns around community-identified health issues.
• Empower community-based organizations.
• Link health with economic development.
• Link clinical care with public health and social services.

Visit the Resources page to learn more.

G2L’s Model for Community Health (PDF)

How We Got Here

Global to Local was founded by healthcare and public health professionals seeking a new approach to community health in the US. Launched by global health groups, community organizations and city agencies, our work began as a simple concept: to adapt global health strategies to underserved communities in the US. In 2010, G2L launched the first of several pilot programs designed to specifically meet the needs of communities in SeaTac and Tukwila, Washington. It was clear early on that health outcomes of residents in these communities were markedly different from neighboring communities.

Along the way, G2L has served more than 12,000 individuals while testing over 10 programs tailored to meet the needs of the community outside a doctor’s office. Today, Global to Local stands as a model for replication, bringing a world of opportunities to our U.S. communities.