A public health professor whose research focuses on the social determinants of health has been selected as a Lender Center for Social Justice faculty fellow for 2024–26.
Miriam Mutambudzi will examine how Black adults living in historically redlined neighborhoods may be disadvantaged in employment and lead to health outcomes. Redlining was a discriminatory practice that classified certain neighborhoods, particularly those with predominantly Black populations, as bad credit neighborhoods.
Mutambudzi is an assistant professor of public health in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. She is also a faculty member at three centers in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs: the Center for Aging and Policy Studies, the Aging Studies Institute, and the Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion.
In addition to Mutambudzi, an interdisciplinary team of student fellows will work on the project. Students from all disciplines and backgrounds who are passionate about community engagement and social justice are encouraged to apply for the two-year fellowships. Applications will be accepted through early October and fellows will be selected before the end of the fall semester. The faculty-student group will present its findings at a joint symposium in 2026.
We recently met with Mutambudzi to learn more about her project.
Why is this topic important?
This research addresses the ongoing challenges faced by Black communities due to the legacy of past discriminatory housing practices and the resulting impacts of these practices on the employment and health of community members.
Although the Fair Housing Act of 1968 was passed as federal law, it failed to completely eliminate racial discrimination in the housing market caused by the practice of redlining. Redlining is a discriminatory practice that began in America in the 1930s when banks and insurance companies denied or restricted loans, mortgages, and insurance to residents of certain geographic areas—primarily neighborhoods with predominantly black populations. Residents of these areas had limited access to credit and other financial services and were hampered in their efforts to purchase a home, invest in real estate, or improve their neighborhoods. The consequences were often urban decay and a perpetuation of poverty in these areas.
Although redlining is a historical concept, its effects are still very present today. Its legacy continues to limit many life opportunities, and predominantly black neighborhoods where it occurred remain socially and economically disadvantaged.
What impact do limited employment prospects or the lack of a good job have on health?
Both employment policies and discrimination policies are key factors contributing to racial health inequalities. Job insecurity, precariousness, lower wages, and periods of unemployment—which are more common among black workers—all contribute to income inequality and limit access to good health insurance and quality health care.
Young adults from disadvantaged neighborhoods face significant disadvantages when entering the workforce. Employment prospects in their communities are poor, limiting their chances of finding well-paying work that offers stability and opportunities for advancement.
This lack of quality jobs in their immediate area creates a vicious cycle, and the lack of high-quality, stable jobs nearby is a double-edged sword. Not only are opportunities limited, but these young adults are also missing out on important skills-building and network-building opportunities that come with these jobs. These factors further limit their potential and impair their ability to compete for better opportunities.
In addition, these young adults are more likely to experience involuntary employment interruptions, further hindering their career development. This inequality creates a system in which economic mobility becomes nearly impossible for those starting from behind. The cascading constraints created by limited employment opportunities in disadvantaged neighborhoods have profound effects on residents’ access to health-promoting resources, creating a cycle that undermines well-being.
For example, limited financial resources often lead to poor housing conditions: housing is overcrowded, poorly maintained, and lacks necessary amenities. In “food deserts,” nutritious and organic foods are generally more expensive and less readily available, leading to a reliance on cheaper, processed, and unhealthy foods. The jobs that Black workers are disproportionately employed in may contribute to these health problems, as their work is more likely to be physically and mentally demanding. All of these factors also contribute to an increased risk of health problems such as obesity, diabetes, respiratory disease, and high blood pressure.
Miriam Mutambudzi, assistant professor of public health in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, with a mural depicting the history of the college’s public health program.
What questions shape your research?
We don’t yet know much about how historically racist policies like redlining have affected the employment trajectories of black Americans. People can work for 45 years or more in their lives, so it’s important that we understand the factors that shape employment trajectories and the impact they have on a person’s health.
This project addresses three areas: developing an understanding of how historically segregated neighborhoods predict the emergence of racial disparities in long-term employment trajectories; examining how employment trajectories can predict chronic disease; and determining how education can moderate these associations.
In what way are the student fellows involved?
You will contribute to data analysis and management and conduct literature searches to gather relevant reports on social and economic inequalities and health outcomes. You will help synthesize the findings to provide background and contextual understanding of the study. Students will also have opportunities to engage with the local community, as my goal is to work with grassroots organizations already addressing the negative impacts of redlining in Syracuse.
What do you hope to achieve with this research?
My goal is to demonstrate how the discriminatory redlining policies of the past that systematically marginalized black communities continue to negatively impact the jobs and health of these communities today, regardless of the educational level of the residents.
Ultimately, we aim to raise awareness of the lasting impacts of discriminatory practices as fundamental social determinants of health that require significant attention and to inspire policymakers, community leaders and the public to take meaningful action.
