Connection between communities is built through trust. In order to gain trust and introduce meaningful dialogue leading to change, there needs to be a desire to listen and learn. When we engage in a space of listening with the intent to empower, a mutually beneficial relationship can emerge. Rural communities, traditionally, have been underserved in regard to access to health information, both digital and in person. Part of the disconnect here is because of a tenuous relationship between urban healthcare providers and the rural populations that they seek to serve. There is a longstanding medical distrust that strongly contributes to vulnerable communities' hesitancy to rely on researchers and providers to apply well-vetted health information that influences health decisions.

Our two-dimensional piece creates a hierarchy of visual layers, each one in a different medium, which aim to communicate the need for more accessible and comprehensive health information and services in rural communities.

The bottom layer, made up of around 3500 woodburned marks, speaks to the inadequate ratio of physicians to patients in rural areas.

The middle layer, combining oil paint and photography, represents a future which bridges the cultural divide between urban and rural populations. The paint colors integrate with the photographs of agricultural landscapes, to capture the isolation, and also the possibility inherent in these places. The top layer, a collage of handwritten text on panel, incorporates detailed research on Health Information Sharing.

With the intention of engaging this work with the larger community, we hope to foster a better understanding of, and conversation around, health inequities. Uplifting rural communities is a step forward in creating real and sustainable connections.