We explore ethical and moral issues at the intersection of LatinX health, culture, and society.

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Mission

Founded in 2019 as the grassroots group LatinX Bioethics, Prospera Institute is the nation's first start-up organization dedicated to achieving racial health equity by centering Latino communities in bioethics. We explore ethical and moral issues at the intersection of LatinX health, culture and society leveraging bioethics frameworks to navigate complex ethical dilemmas impacting Latino communities. We prioritize community engagement, ensuring cultural values and beliefs are reflected in healthcare practices.

Vision

At Prospera, we envision a world of health prosperity where ethical considerations in healthcare fully reflect the cultural practices and lived experiences of Latinx communities, leading to human flourishing and more transparent, just, and health outcomes for all.

"Latinx communities are not monolithic. Our cultural beliefs, values and practices shape the ways we interact with health and healthcare."

Bioethics is the study of ethical issues emerging in medicine, science, technology, and society. It examines what is right and wrong in healthcare, research, and medical treatment to ensure that medical practices and public policies are fair and respect people's rights and dignity. In short, bioethics offers us a critical lens to uncover and address systemic inequities in healthcare.

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Core Values as Promise to Community

Community: We will share power with community stakeholders - engaging them in programs, research, conversations and social action strategies.

Cultural Humility: We will approach our work humbly, understanding that our target communities carry diverse experiences and intersectionalities.

Beneficence: We will always hold the best interests of Latinx communities not distancing ourselves from historical patterns that have fostered health inequality.

Social Justice: We will intentionally reinvest into communities and emerging leaders placing communities where they deserve to be - at the center of our mission.

Public Health Domains

Our Work

Social Determinants of Health

Prospera recognizes that health is deeply intertwined with social conditions and are committed to understanding and addressing the complex factors that contribute to health inequities among Latinx communities. We focus on the social determinants of health (SDOH), which are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. These factors significantly impact health outcomes and are deeply intertwined with the experiences of Latinx populations.

Our work explores the ethical dimensions of SDOH as they intersect with Latinx health. We investigate how factors such as socioeconomic status, education, housing, environment, and access to healthcare shape health outcomes and create disparities. Through our research and community engagement, we aim to:

• Uncover the ethical implications of SDOH on Latinx health: Examining how policies, systems, and cultural factors contribute to health inequities.
• Center the voices and experiences of Latinx communities: Collaborating with community partners to identify priorities and develop solutions.
• Promote health equity through policy and practice change: Advocating for policies that address the root causes of health disparities.

Our programs and initiatives explore specific areas where SDOH and bioethics intersect, including:

• Access to quality healthcare: Examining disparities in insurance coverage, language barriers, and cultural competency in healthcare delivery.
• Food insecurity and nutrition: investigating the relationship between diet, chronic disease, and access to healthy food options.
• Environmental justice: examining the impacts of pollution, climate change, green space access and other environmental hazards on Latinx health.
• Housing insecurity and homelessness: examining the impact on physical and mental health, as well as access to healthcare.
• Health disparities in rural and urban settings: Comparing the impact of SDOH on Latinx health in different geographic locations.
• Education and economic stability: exploring the connection between income, education level, and health outcomes.
• Immigration status and health: Analyzing the health outcomes of undocumented immigrants and the ethical implications of their limited access to care.
• Maternal and child health: Exploring the intersection of SDOH, maternal health disparities, and the ethical implications of reproductive healthcare access.

Science, Technology, Society

Prospera explores the complex interplay between science, technology, and their impact on Latinx communities. We examine how advancements in these fields both promise to improve health outcomes and raise critical ethical questions. Our work focuses on understanding the social, cultural, and ethical implications of emerging technologies and scientific discoveries, particularly as they relate to Latinx health disparities.

We are curious about how science and technology can be leveraged to address health inequities while also considering potential harms. We explore:

• Digital health disparities: Examining access to and use of health technologies among Latinx populations, including issues of digital literacy, language barriers, and privacy concerns.
• Precision medicine and genomics: Investigating the ethical implications of personalized medicine for Latinx communities, such as issues of consent, data privacy, and equitable access to genetic testing.
• Artificial intelligence in healthcare: Analyzing the potential benefits and risks of AI-driven healthcare tools for Latinx patients, including bias in algorithms and the impact on patient-provider relationships.
• Biomedical research and clinical trials: Examining the ethical conduct of research involving Latinx populations, ensuring equitable participation and representation.
• Emerging technologies and their impact on health: Exploring the potential of technologies like wearable devices, telemedicine, and biotechnology to improve Latinx health outcomes while considering ethical challenges.

Health and Human Rights

Prospera is committed to advancing health as a human right for all, particularly for Latinx communities disproportionately affected by health inequities. We explore the complex intersection of health and human rights, focusing on the ethical dimensions of policies, practices, and systems that impact Latinx well-being.

Our work centers the voices and experiences of Latinx communities to identify and address barriers to health and human rights. We investigate:

• Reproductive health and rights: Examining access to reproductive healthcare, maternal mortality, and the impact of restrictive reproductive policies on Latinx women.
• Criminal justice and health: Exploring the health consequences of incarceration, mass incarceration, and police violence on Latinx communities.
• Immigrant health and rights: Analyzing the impact of immigration policies on the health and well-being of Latinx immigrants, including access to care, deportation, and family separation.
• Health disparities and discrimination: Investigating the role of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation in shaping health outcomes for Latinx individuals.
• Global health and human rights: Examining the ethical implications of international health initiatives on Latinx communities, including issues of access to medicines, medical tourism, and brain drain.

Arts, Health, and Culture

Prospera recognizes the powerful role of arts, culture, and community in shaping health and well-being. We explore how these elements intersect with bioethics to address the complex health experiences of Latinx communities. By centering cultural values and artistic expression, we aim to promote holistic health and equity.

Our work explores:

• Health promotion through the arts: Utilizing arts-based interventions to address health disparities and empower Latinx communities to take control of their health.
• Storytelling and narrative medicine: Exploring the power of storytelling to humanize health experiences and promote empathy among healthcare providers and patients.
• Community-based participatory research: Engaging Latinx communities in research to co-create knowledge and address health priorities through culturally relevant methods.
• Traditional healing and medicine: Exploring the integration of traditional healing modalities with Western medicine to provide comprehensive care for Latinx communities.
• Cultural competency in healthcare: Examining how healthcare providers can effectively engage with Latinx patients by understanding and respecting their cultural beliefs and practices.

Upcoming Events

2nd Annual Health Equity for All Symposium

Saturday September 28, 2025

Bethel AME Boston

9am - 4pm

Learn More

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Lilly Marcelin, Founder and Executive Director

Resilient Sisterhood Project

"Prospera Institute brings a much-needed progressive vision to advancing bioethics and public health outcomes in Latinx communities. Its leadership already plays a crucial role in shaping relevant research and advocacy. As a partner of Prospera, we are excited about and fully support its future social action, community-based programming, and overall growth as an organization."

Partners