News

Smart Growth America, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is proud to announce the inaugural cohort for our new national technical assistance program: Zoning for Equitable Solutions and Thriving Communities (ZEST). ZEST marks a pivotal step in our work to dismantle the structural inequities embedded in land-use policy. Through this program, we’re building a national network of community-based organizations focused on zoning reform for health equity, helping create healthy and prosperous communities across the country. 

Why focus on zoning reform to improve health equity? Health inequities didn’t appear out of thin air; they’re a direct result of zoning codes that have dictated who gets to live where, who has access to healthy food, who has access to safe and affordable housing, and even a person’s life expectancy. This is especially true for vulnerable groups like children, older adults, and communities of color. Because zoning codes are implemented at the local level, and many health inequities are a direct result of the restrictions that zoning places on communities, we believe community-based organizations are well-positioned to drive meaningful changes that can benefit their communities now.

To move the needle on health equity, we’re launching the ZEST technical assistance program, a national network of community-based organizations, and equipping them with the tools, knowledge, and technical support needed to drive zoning reform and create healthier, more prosperous communities. Many of these organizations are already leading the charge to improve health equity, we’re providing them with the zoning lens and tools to connect the dots and shift outcomes.

Program goals

ZEST empowers community-based organizations to tackle health inequities by providing education and capacity-building support to reform local land-use policies and strengthen community health. In addition to receiving education materials and conducting policy analysis, examples of the types of projects for this program include:

• Expanding access to fresh, healthy food in underserved neighborhoods by supporting zoning changes that allow for local grocery stores, community gardens, and corner markets.
• Developing a practical advocacy guide to help community members push for zoning policies that promote health, such as adopting “complete streets” policies and organizing events to showcase the benefits of walkable, bike-friendly spaces.
• Working to change zoning laws so that everyone has access to affordable and suitable housing.

The ZEST Technical Assistance Model

Recognizing that communities vary in readiness and capacity, we have organized the ZEST cohort into groups based on shared missions, focus areas, and zoning reform goals. 

The first cohort of seven organizations will receive in-depth technical support and strategic guidance to advance their active zoning reform and healthy equity efforts. The first cohort will receive tailored work plans, hands-on implementation support, and funding to attend our national convening on zoning and health equity dedicated to shared learning and collaboration. 

The list of organizations in the first cohort includes:

• Elevated Chicago, Chicago, IL
• Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia, Chesterfield, VA
• Houston Land Bank, Houston, TX
• IMPACT Community Action, Columbus, OH
• Metropolitan United Methodist Church, Montgomery, AL
• Partnership for Smarter Growth, Chesterfield, VA
• Requity Foundation, Baltimore, MD

To round out the ZEST program, twelve additional organizations will receive lighter-touch technical assistance, resources, and support as they begin their journey into the zoning reform and health equity. The second cohort will benefit from educational tools tailored to groups new to the intersection of land use and health, along with virtual learning opportunities,  dedicated office hours, curated resources, and an invitation to the national convening. 

The list of organizations in the second cohort includes:

• Blue Zones Project Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL
• Connections for the Homeless, Evanston, IL
• Downwinders at Risk Education Fund, Dallas, TX
• Freedom Org, Tarboro, NC
• Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah (HEAL Utah), Salt Lake City, UT
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation – Puget Sound, Puget Sound, WA
• Organized Uplifting Resources & Strategies, South Carolina
• SAJE, Los Angeles, CA
• The Clean Air Coalition of WNY, Buffalo, NY
• The Rooted East Knoxville Collective, Knoxville, TN
• Verde, Portland, OR
• Women’s Resource Center, Newport, RI

All participating organizations will be invited to a national convening in Baltimore, MD, to share lessons, build momentum, and strengthen the growing movement for equitable zoning.

Zoning is more than a land use issue—it’s a public health issue. By rewriting the rules that shape where we live, what we build, and who benefits, ZEST is working to address long-standing inequities and support communities to create healthier, more prosperous, and more resilient places for everyone.

This isn’t just about changing policies on paper. It’s about building a coordinated, community-led movement to dismantle exclusionary zoning and advance justice, equity, and well-being from the ground up.